Levee break near Stockton floods fields, threatens water quality

Friday, June 4th 2004, 5:55 am

By: News On 6

STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) _ A levee break flooded farm fields, forced the evacuation of nearly 300 people and sent authorities scrambling to safeguard drinking water for cities as far away as Los Angeles.

A fisherman first noticed water bubbling under the levee about 8:15 a.m. Thursday and reported it to authorities, said Chris Stevens of the San Joaquin Valley Sheriff's Department.

About 65 feet of the inland levee gave way about 8:45 a.m., said Coast Guard Petty Officer Wendy MacLean. It grew to about 300 feet by early afternoon.

The break allowed saltwater from the San Francisco Bay to rush into a freshwater delta. Drinking water is channeled from the delta _ 738,000 acres of wetlands and waterways _ to much of California.

The federal Bureau of Reclamation quickly cut its water exports from the delta by 80 percent and increased flows from the Sacramento River to stabilize the freshwater supply, said spokesman Jeff McCracken.

``Right now we're just keeping our fingers crossed that we can get this thing stopped as soon as possible,'' McCracken said.

Officials with the Metropolitan Water District, which imports water to cities in Southern California, said there was enough water stored at reservoirs for its 18 million customers to weather the break.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission said its water supply was not threatened.

The floodwaters were being contained by Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad tracks that carry freight and Amtrak passenger trains through the San Joaquin Valley.

``It was like an ocean. I've never seen anything like it,'' Giovanni Stagi said after trying to save farm equipment from the rising water.

Authorities evacuated the area, but there are few homes in the rural farming region. Officials said there could be as many as 300 migrant workers living in camps nearby.