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When James Marshall made his customary inspection of the sawmill he was building for John Sutter. Marshall had run water through the mill's tailrace to wash away loose dirt and gravel, and he noticed some shining flecks left behind by the running water. -
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Thousands of people flocked to the area, and thus, the miners were nicknamed 49ers. -
The winter of 1850 still ranks as the 15th wettest in California since 1849 with a total 33.10 inches of rain. -
If you direct forceful stream of water at the earth, it will carve a ditch and carry away the loosened soil. powerful pressure water could blast away the hillsides concealing gold ore.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/turning-water-to-gold-170493109/ -
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In California, in 1870 counted 308,000 residents and the population had almost tripled since 1847 because of the Gold Rush.
https://www.loc.gov/collections/california-first-person-narratives/articles-and-essays/early-california-history/from-gold-rush-to-golden-state/ -
After the word spread, thousands of people traveled because of the gold rush which boosted the population and San Fransico grew. -
A rule was changed in 1865 after the Gold Rush so a series of laws restricted the impact of mining on rivers to hopefully try to save the land and stop their urge for gold.
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/after-gold-rush/ -
In the 1880 there were not many natives left because of the Gold Rush and they didn't even care because all they wanted was gold.