After days of stormy weather, a new state-of-the-art gate in Stockton officially shut for the first time to prevent flooding.
More than a year after it was completed, the Smith Canal Gate was closed Monday because water levels rose to 8 feet, along with some other factors, including rising king tides and precipitation, according to Darren Suen, San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency executive director.
“It’s incredibly important keeping water off these levees to ensure that the levees don’t have to have water sitting up against them a long time, preventing the risk of flooding and people remain safe in their homes during these wet times,” Suen said…