California’s Lost Lake Reappears 130 Years After Vanishing

Lake Tulare vanished like a magic trick, then came back 130 years later, and it is not subtle about it. In 2023, the dry basin in California’s San Joaquin Valley started filling again after a winter of snow and a spring of rain, turning “gone forever” into “wait, what?”

This is where it gets messy. The lake had been drained around 1890, and the water was redirected into irrigation canals that now feed farmland. So when the long-dormant water returned, local farmers suddenly had to deal with flooded edges, shifting conditions, and a whole ecosystem returning at the same time.

And then the birds showed up, like they had been waiting in the wings.

The once huge Lake Tulare fully disappeared around 1890 but returned in 2023

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP “If people could drain that land,” Underhill noted, “they would be granted ownership of parts of that land. So there was a big incentive for white settlers to start doing that work.” She described the transformation as a “deeply settler colonial project.”By around 1890, the lake had been fully drained. “Its water essentially was used to irrigate all of the arid lands around that area,” said Underhill. The region became crisscrossed with irrigation canals built to redirect lake water to farmland.

Then, in 2023, Tulare Lake came back.

“California just got inundated with snow in the winter and then rain in the spring,” Underhill said. “If you have a rain and snow event, the snow melts really fast,” and all of that runoff flows into the natural basin where the lake once existed.

Underhill’s point about settlers draining the land explains why the canals were built in the first place, and why the 2023 comeback feels so disruptive.

As Tulare Lake reappears, local farmers face significant challenges.

Fresno, located in the center of the San Joaquin Valley, is a dry region that receives minimal annual rainfall.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP

The long-dormant river sprang back to life.

Mario Tama

Fresno’s dry reputation makes the return even stranger, because one good snow and rain cycle can flip the whole valley from thirsty to watery.

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He states, "The return of this lake offers a unique opportunity to restore native habitats and improve biodiversity in the region." He highlights how water bodies like Tulare Lake play a vital role in carbon sequestration, which is crucial for combating climate change.

His work also indicates that revitalizing such ecosystems can enhance water quality and provide essential resources for wildlife. By implementing sustainable water management practices, communities can better adapt to changing environmental conditions while maximizing ecological benefits.

As the “long-dormant river sprang back to life,” farmers were not just watching nature, they were suddenly managing it, too.

The resurgence had immediate effects. “Birds of all kinds — pelicans, hawks, waterbirds” began to return, said Underhill. The Tachi reported sightings of burrowing owls nesting along the shore, a species considered “vulnerable or imperiled” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other species, including fish and amphibians, were also seen, likely brought in by the floodwaters.For the Tachi Yokuts, the return of the lake held deep significance. “The return of the lake has been just an incredibly powerful and spiritual experience,” Underhill said. “They’ve been holding ceremonies on the side of the lake. They’ve been able to practice their traditional hunting and fishing practices again.”

However, for many farmworkers and landowners, the flooding caused immense hardship. Entire homes were lost, and large swaths of agricultural land were submerged. Efforts are now underway to drain the lake once more.

Underhill said the lake could persist in some form for another two years, although future snowmelt or atmospheric river events could prolong its presence. “Under climate change,” she warned, “floods of this magnitude or higher will happen with increasing frequency.”She added, “At a certain point, I think it would behoove the state of California to realize that Tulare Lake wants to remain. And in fact, there’s a lot of economic benefit that could be gained from letting it remain.”

The lake’s return has ushered in the comeback of numerous species, including a variety of wetland birds.

Mario Tama

When pelicans, hawks, and waterbirds started returning, the burrowing owls nesting along the shore turned this from a weather story into a wildlife surprise.

She emphasized that the lake’s return is not unprecedented. “It happened in the ’80s, it happened once in the ’60s, a couple of times in the ’30s,” she said. “This landscape has always been one of lakes and wetlands, and our current irrigated agriculture is just a century-long blip in this larger geologic history.”

“This was not actually a flood. This is a lake returning.”

Still, signs of retreat are already visible. In March, a Guardian reporter visited the area and found only “sprouts of grass and thick mud.

Officials now anticipate its “imminent disappearance,” said Abraham Valencia of the emergency services office, unless “unforeseen snowmelt runoff causes upstream flooding.” As journalist Dani Anguiano wrote: “Despite the predictions, the lake is nearly gone.”

The reappearance of Tulare Lake after 130 years serves as a profound reminder of nature's resilience and the pressing need for sustainable practices in the San Joaquin Valley. The lake's resurgence brings a unique opportunity for both ecological renewal and a reevaluation of agricultural strategies in a region that has long prioritized farming over environmental health. The collaboration among various stakeholders, including farmers, scientists, and policymakers, is essential in navigating this transition. By working together, they can establish a balanced approach that not only manages the newly available water resources but also fosters a revitalized ecosystem.

As local communities adapt to the lake's return, innovation and ecological restoration will become crucial. The experience gained from Tulare Lake's reemergence could offer valuable insights for other regions facing similar environmental challenges, highlighting the necessity of harmonizing agricultural practices with ecological stewardship.

The lake is back, but the people who built their lives around it are the ones who have to catch up.

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