LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Board of Supervisors were recently updated on an engineering study for the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project — an effort intended to create additional storage and available new water.
“New water is created through changes in the water balance through changes in the water balance,” explained Scott De Leon, Lake County Water Resources Director, who presented the report.
Changes include decreased irrigation from reclaimed farmland; lake surface area increases evaporation; increased storage leads to the lake not filling as fast; more storage at a given lake level and having additional storage at 7.56 foot Rumsey, according to a hydrologic study performed by San Rafael-based Stetson Engineers, Inc.
“These changes require renegotiation of the Solano Decree, which governs summer lake operations to insure Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District’s senior water rights are protected and to determine how much ‘new’ water is available,” De Leon said. Water currently released as flood waters will be stored for beneficial use.
If the lake is full at 7.56 feet on the Rumsey Gauge on May 1, then 150,000 acre-feet of water is available to Yolo. However, if it is below 3.22 feet Rumsey on that date, then no water is available to Yolo. Furthermore, an additional 3 feet of water evaporates from the lake surface during the summer months, meaning a drop between 3 to 6.5 feet can be experienced. On average, Clear Lake fluctuates 5.6 feet each year.
“An acre-foot of water is the amount of water that will cover one acre of land one foot deep, or approximately 326,000 gallons,” according to the website.
Approximately 2,200 acre-feet of water would be available from 817 acres of crops being currently irrigated with lake water in the project area, which would be taken out of production upon implementation.
A request of appointing two board members “to work with staff and meet with Yolo so we can discuss our strategies and work out the details,” Lake County Water Resources Engineer Tom Smythe said. “It’s beyond just engineering at this point.”
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said he did think appointing new board members would be needed, as he and District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith sat on the two-by-two representatives committee to discuss similar topics, which “is a natural fit.”
During public comment Betsy Cawn asked what the water would be used for.
Farrington said it could be used for potable supplies, environmental purposes, flood protection, and agriculture benefits and would be purveyed through special district’s.
The board unanimously approved to appoint Farrington and Smith to work with county staff, as well as Yolo Flood staff and board members to discuss the potential changes to the Solano Decree.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
