The following is a press release from the National Park Service.
INDEPENDENCE, CA — Heavy summer rains the night of July 22-23, 2013, caused significant damage at Manzanar National Historic Site.
Shepherd Creek on the north side of Manzanar, and Bairs Creek on the south, jumped their banks, flooding the auto tour road and burying significant site features, including Merritt Park, along with gardens in Block 12 and Block 34.
National Park Service (NPS) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) staff are in the process of assessing the damage.
“The blessing of significant rainfall for this parched valley has also yielded an operational challenge for Manzanar,” said Superintendent Les Inafuku. “We’re thankful that our staff and local LADWP crews are safely working to survey the damage and prevent further flooding.”
The auto tour road and west boundary roads are closed until further notice, making the cemetery inaccessible by car. The visitor center, which features 8,000 square feet of exhibits, an award-winning introductory film, and bookstore, remains open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily. The restored World War II-era mess hall and two reconstructed barracks in Block 14 are also open. Visitors who choose to explore Manzanar on foot should wear sturdy shoes, hats, sunscreen and carry water.
To learn more about Manzanar, visit https://www.nps.gov/manz, or call (760) 878-2194 extension 3310. Manzanar is also on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ManzanarNationalHistoricSite.
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LEAD PHOTO: Flood waters from heavy rains in the Eastern Sierra during the night of July 22-23, 2013, caused significant damage to key features at the Manzanar National Historic Site, including Merritt Park. Photo courtesy National Park Service.
Flood Damage At Manzanar National Historic Site, July 22-23, 2013
Photos courtesy National Park Service. Click on any photo to view a larger image, and to scroll/click through the gallery.
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Manzanar Committee 
So sad to learn. So many volunteer hours have been spent to reconstruct the gardens, and buildings. Hopefully measure can be implemented to mitigate the affects of flooding in the future.
Paul J Gomez