Monday March 17, 2025
The Cool Down —
Tulare Lake, formerly the largest freshwater body west of the Mississippi River, has returned to California’s San Joaquin Valley after unprecedented snowfall and storms flooded the region last spring.
This historic lake covered 800 square miles before being drained for farmland in the late 1800s. Following a series of atmospheric rivers in early 2023, the lake swelled to cover 120,000 acres at its peak, submerging over 10% of Kings County. Though now receded to about 4,500 acres, its return has sparked conversations about what happens next.
The lake’s reappearance brings both opportunities and hurdles. For the Tachi Yokut Tribe, who called it “Pa’ashi” or “Big Water,” the lake’s return has restored sacred connections. The recharge has added 3.8 million acre-feet of water to depleted groundwater systems in a region facing severe water scarcity. Migratory birds and native fish are returning to habitats long vanished.
Many tribes, scientists, and conservation groups see the potential for a balanced approach that could help protect the region from future floods while creating water storage and restoring wildlife habitat. This would be especially valuable as California faces more extreme weather patterns that alternate between drought and flooding.