Sean Doherty Blog- Relics of Days Gone By

In July of last year I composed a blog on how water used to flow through the Sacramento Valley. I wanted to add to that subject a little bit.

Floodwater made for quite a challenge to the residents of the valley at the turn of the last century. This region would remain covered for a large part of the year, creating a transportation nightmare for anyone with business or family in low-lying towns, such as Grimes or Colusa in my area.

Elevated causeways used to be much more prevalent years ago than just I-80 and I-5. To reach cut off low-lying towns, miles of concrete causeways were constructed and portions of them still stand today.

This first picture is from Pass Road northeast of the small town of Meridian, on the west side of the Sutter Buttes. It marks a great beginning or a scenic end to a short drive through our valley landmark.


The next picture is of the old Hahn Road causeway northeast of the town of Arbuckle on the road to Grimes. They are standing the test of time, albeit more colorfully than intended, thanks to artistic high school seniors.

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Sean Doherty is a 3rd generation rice farmer living out his dream, being a rice farmer in Dunnigan.

He farms in Yolo, Colusa, and Sutter Counties with his wife Melissa, and three kids, Hannah, Gus, and Mary. He enjoys being in the fields, watching the seasons, and sharing it with his family.

Read more about Sean in Rice Farming magazine