LAKEPORT — The Lakeport Police Department (LPD) is actively seeking information regarding recent reported vandalism to the AquaDam previously installed on the Clear Lake shoreline adjacent to Library Park in Lakeport.
LPD received a call from a Lakeport Department of Public Works (DPW) employee around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday reporting the AquaDam had been vandalized and half of the water had leaked out of the device because of ruptures, according to interim Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Officers arrived at the park and were informed that a seven-inch cut had been found on the lake side of the AquaDam adjacent to the park gazebo, Rasmussen said. Several other holes were also discovered, he said.
A DPW employee saw the AquaDam undamaged around 2 p.m. on Sunday, but LPD officers noticed water had leaked from the device while on foot patrol in the park around 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, Rasmussen said. Those officers did not observe evidence of vandalism at that time, he said.
Officers think the damage probably occurred Monday night or early Tuesday morning, according to Rasmussen.
DPW crews set up the device in late March to protect the park from flooding and other storm-related damage.
Rasmussen said LPD encountered problems with people jumping on the AquaDam and otherwise ignoring caution tape boundaries placed alongside the device.
“It”s disturbing that people don”t follow the caution barricades that advise to stay away from those items,” he said.
The apparent vandalism caused an estimated $2,000 in damage to the city-owned device, Rasmussen said. DPW crews removed portions of the AquaDam on Wednesday. The city plans to remove the remaining sections by week”s end, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen encouraged citizens with information about the damage to contact the LPD at 263-5491.
