Yolo County is nearing the end of its annual withdrawal of water from Clear Lake. As of Friday the lake level was at 1.68 feet on the Rumsey Gauge and Yolo County is presently withdrawing 230 cubic feet per second.
Yolo County”s water allocation is governed by the Solano Decree. According to the decree, when the lake is full at 7.56 feet on the Rumsey Gauge as of May 1, Yolo County receives it full water allotment.
Yolo County can withdraw water until the lake level drops to 1 foot on the Rumsey Gauge or until Oct. 31 whichever comes first.
When the lake level is lower than 7.56 Rumsey then Yolo County get less water.
On May 1 the lake level was at 6 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. Using a formula under the Solano Decree, Yolo County can draw the lake down to .73 feet of the Rumsey Gauge. However, there is also the evaporation factor. Typically summer evaporation causes a 3 foot drop in the lake level. It is estimated that Yolo County”s water withdrawal plus the evaporation will drop the lake level to .73 foot Rumsey by the end of September. At that time all water releases will be halted with the exception of a small water flow through the dam to maintain the fishery in Cache Creek.
