Mokelumne River Closed Due To Dangerous Conditions

CLEMENTS, Calif. (CBS13) -- Authorities have restricted access to the Mokelumne River due to the greatly increased the flow from the Camanche Reservoir after storms earlier this week forced authorities to move to flood control measures.

The East Bay Municipal Utility District said Tuesday's storm dropped 1.6 inches of rain in the area, and combined with a heavy, rapidly melting snowpack, water levels in the area have climbed to dangerous levels.

Officials authorized a release of 4,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) from the reservoir early Thursday morning and increased the flow to 5,000 CFS by noon.

Authorities said the Mokelumne River will have dangerous debris and strong currents, along with unusually cold temperatures, for a number of days.

Despite the upcoming holiday weekend, officials said they had no choice but to close the river.

"People get into trouble real quick," said Mokelumne Fire District Captain Rob Firman. "They're using stuff that's built for swimming pools. With the snags and the brush and the sticks they're getting hung up and it tears them apart real quick."

Firefighters rescued 22 people in a four hour period and said the number of rescues is continuing to climb.

Conditions on California rivers are the most dangerous on record, with 23 drownings reported so far this year.