A photo of Silver Lake, north of Baker, California, and the terminus of the Mojave River, taken during the very wet winter of 1938 by Burton Frasher (1888-1955), an important postcard photographer of the western states.
My attempt to recreate Frasher's image in January 2005.
Mojave River flood near Helendale - 2005
Mojave River near Helendale - 2005.
Mojave River flood near Helendale - 2005.
Mojave River flood (after first dam release in late December 2004) - houses damaged near Newberry Springs.
Mojave River flood crossing Harvard Road (Newberry Springs) - 2005.
Mojave River flood entering Afton Canyon - 2005.
Mojave River flood entering Afton Canyon above first trestle.
First trestle at Afton Canyon under "normal" conditions.
First trestle under flood conditions, January 2005.
Mojave River flood below first trestle - 2005.
2005 flood at Mojave Road crossing in Afton Canyon.
Mojave River overflow under I-15 bridge near Basin Road - flowing towards East Cronese Lake - 2005.
Basin Road flooded - 2005.
Mojave River overflow headed north to East Cronese Lake - 2005.
Flood advancing in Mojave River fan/delta south of Soda Lake.
Flooding across Soda Lake - 2005 (from Zzyzx Road).
Shoreline of Silver Lake on 1/8/05 on the east side of the mine-haul road crossing Silver Lake. Lake flooding began with heavy rains within the Mojave River drainage in December 2004. Note position of speed limit sign and relationship of water level to road berm in next images for comparison.
Image from 2/14/05. Water level has dropped slightly from last image taken in January. The latest Mojave River Narrows Dam release has yet to hit the lake.
Same day as previous, 2/14/05. I measured a maximum depth of ~44 inches in the middle of the flooded portion of Silver Lake this day.
Photo taken the next week, 2/22/05, by Marith Reheis, USGS. Flood waters have receded somewhat.
Photo taken 1/4/11 for comparison to 2005 shots.
Ready to launch for depth recon on 1/4/11. Deepest point measured, at approximate area of 2005 measurement, was 19.25 inches (about half of the 2005 max depth measured).
Sign along mine haul road on 1/29/05.
Same sign on 2/14/05, about the time of maximum flooding.
Same sign on 1/4/11. Water not nearly as deep as 2005 (compare to previous image).
Looking south towards Baker, California - 3/21/05.
Looking south towards Baker, 1/4/11.
Flood control channel flowing under Baker Blvd. on 12/23/04 - first of the big flood events that winter. Look at the clump of something between bridge post 11 and 12 from left.
MR6
