It's always an exciting event when the Gualala River breaks through the sandbar for the first time in months. This is what the river looked like today. It's full and flooding into its floodplain. The beach where kayaks are launched was underwater.

This is a place where the sandbar might be breached.

Or perhaps here, at the northern most point.

Here's what the river looked like yesterday, Thursday, as the storm was lifting.

Compare this photo with my first photo to see how much more water came down the river in just one day.

So we are on river watch! To be there when the river opens is very exciting. I hope to be watching when it happens this year.