California levees bolstered to halt san joaquin flood
| Knightsen, Calif.
Work crews are strengthening delta levees on the rain-swollen San Joaquin River, which has already flooded rich California farmland, forced farmers from their homes, and swept away 3,000 cattle in Contra Costa County. Two earthen levees near Knightsen broke Friday, flooding 10,000 acres and forcing evacuation of 50 people from two islands, Holland and Webb. Officials feared that strong north winds and rising tidewaters would further erode the levees and flood Veal Tract, a heavily populated peninsula.
The flooded islands were submerged under 15 feet of water, and herds of cattle were huddled in waist- deep water on the highest ground they could find.
