Eric Gromala, who won the 2004 state championship as part of the SRJC men's medley relay team, is now a Forestville firefighter who helped rescue people trapped in the 2019 Russian River flood. On Saturday, March 16, he returned to SRJC for the swim team's alumni meet and won the 50-yard breaststroke race. (Video by Jill McCormick /SRJC swim team)

An extended ocean heat wave that spurred a series of ecological anomalies off the Northern California coast — including toxic algae, mass sea lion strandings and the collapse of the bull kelp forest — also promoted the northward migration of an unprecedented number of southern, warm-water species to the region and points poleward, including 37 whose presence has never been documented so far north, according to a new study from the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory. (UC Davis)

Flood waters create havoc at Village Bakery in the Barlow business district in Sebastopol. Workers upright a cold case that was tipped over in the flood waters that reached about three feet in the business. Story here: http://pd2go.net/Z9WnCs

Pumps are being used to clear flooding from the westbound lanes of Highway 37 near Novato, Calif., on Friday, March 1, 2019.

Russian River-area communities saw the worst flooding in years this past week. Keep up with flooding updates here: https://bit.ly/2GU0INh

Press Democrat reporter Julie Johnson records some of the damage in Guerneville on Thursday, March 1, 2019, after extreme flooding this week. Keep up with updates here: https://bit.ly/2GU0INh

BonnieSewGood upholstery shop in Guerneville is flooded after heavy rain this week. “I’m trying to salvage my machines,” owner Bonnie Plevney said. “It looks like a hurricane hit it.” Read more here: https://bit.ly/2GU0INh (Courtesy of Dustin Coupe)

Business owners in Sebastopol’s Barlow district tried to squeegee and pump water from their flooded storefront on Thursday.

A man walks through floodwaters with his bike in Guerneville while listening to "Don't Worry, Be Happy" on a personal speaker on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2019. Keep up with the latest storm updates here: https://bit.ly/2EDhrls (Video by Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

CHP helicopter taking off from Main Street in Guerneville Wednesday February 27, 2019 with medical evacuee. (PD's Kent Porter)

Waterlogged lowland homes along the Russian River during the worst flooding seen in more than 20 years. Scene captured by PD"s Julie Johnson from a rescue boat. Story here: http://pd2go.net/NcoV5C

Russian River flooding 11 am Wednesday February 27, 2019, seen from Neeley Road and Highway 116. Keep up with storm updates here: https://bit.ly/2U75w4B

Facebook live by PD's Martin Espinoza from Guerneville Wednesday, February 27, 2019. (The blurriness is due to spotty connection.)

The shopping and restaurant area called The Barlow in Sebastopol is being flooded.- “it’s just going to keep getting worse,” business owners say. More here: http://pd2go.net/mCALzs (PD's Alexandra Bordas, Wednesday February 27, 2019 )

Swift water rescue technicians remove a man and his cat from a submerged RV on the north end of Guerneville, near Fife Creek Commons. Keep up with storm updates here: https://bit.ly/2U75w4B

The creek overflows on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The Press Democrat is a newspaper in Santa Rosa California covering Wine Country, Sonoma County and the North Bay. Video shared by Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.

Piner Creek is inundated amid heavy rain on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The storm follows an already wet winter. With more heavy rain still on the way and major flooding expected along the Russian River by Wednesday, Sonoma County officials are recommending lower river‑area residents evacuate. Read more here: https://bit.ly/2StOSul

Northwestern Pacific Railroad moved a full-weight train Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, over the section of repaired rail line adjacent to Highway 37 that a breached levee washed out earlier this month. Video courtesy of Tom Hyland, Northwestern Pacific Railroad.