YOLO COUNTY-
Roadways in western Yolo County experienced minor flooding as a major rain storm moved through the area Thursday.
But Highway 16 was closed due to a mudslide.
In fact, numerous parts of the highway were also covered with rocks – some weighing several hundred pounds. They continued to fall every few minutes, making it dangerous for crews to work while it continues to rain.
It most likely will stay closed through the duration of the storm.
But some growers and ranchers in the Capay Valley just below the closure didn’t mind the storm. Just the opposite.
“It’s a blessing,” rancher Don Hayes, a life-long resident of the Capay Valley, told FOX40.
The water is expected to green up surrounding vegetation and provide more feed for cattle and sheep.
“This is great,” Cleveland Bullard said. He raises naturally-fed livestock in the Capay Valley.
He says water draining from the surrounding hills has filled a watering pond that has been dry for several years.
Cache Creek has gone down to a trickle during the drought years, but now raging runoff water makes it dangerous to go near. Torrents of water are cascading through the Cache Creek Canyon, sweeping through trees and shrubs that are usually high and dry.
Rural roads in the area experienced minor flooding as drainage ditches struggled to contain the rain water runoff, but most remained open.
