Pájaro River Watershed Flood Protection Plan - The Pajaro River ...

Figure 16 – San Benito River channel at Mitchell Road about one-half mile downstream
(west) from the “new” Highway 156 bridge. The active channel is 1.0 km wide here. The banks
here against the old floodplain are only 6-8 ft above the riverbed but that floodplain is now
abandoned because the overwide channel accommodates all flow. Remnant floodplain is seen in
the upper northeast and northwest corners and a small portion of the left bank at the bottom of
the photo. Active bank cutting is toppling buildings along the right bank. Figs 8-10 (following)
show how distinct floodplain and Lake San Benito terrace levels are at this point on the right
bank.
DRAFT 7/22/03
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Pájaro Watershed Flood Management