California rivers continued surging today as upstream dams were opened to make room in reservoirs for still more runoff water.

Today the creek's level dropped more than 12 feet after an upstream dam, the Gilboa, had been closed.

It will have a heavier flow of water after the area's infrequent rainstorms or when more water is released from upstream dams.

Prior to construction of the upstream dam, the Thornapple River was prone to flooding.

Additional upstream dams would directly and indirectly affect 25,000 indigenous peoples in the entire Xingu basin.

The Jirau Dam is currently under construction, while the smaller upstream dams are still in the planning stages.

Construction of upstream dams and growth in irrigation have reduced water flow, and the floodplains are drying up.

The river is full after infrequent rainstorms or when more water is released from upstream dams.

California is the only state that even requires property buyers to be informed of potential jeopardy from an upstream dam.

But the fierce torrent of the Verdon runs at a more sedate pace now in the region, thanks to upstream dams.