The floods came and wiped it out and it was a total loss

In 1773 Father Serra writes to Antonio Maria de Bucareli y Ursua:

“ In the midst of all their troubles the Fathers sowed during the first year a piece of ground in wheat; it sprouted and grew very well. But, unfortunately for want of property knowledge of the territory, they had sown it in low land and then the floods came and wiped it out and it was a total loss."

From Carmel Valley History