LAKE COUNTY >> Lake County’s roads were in decent shape as of Thursday afternoon despite the inch or more of rain that fell on some areas during the morning hours.
Yet according to Accuweather forecasts, another line of storms was expected to hammer the county after 8 p.m. Thursday night, capable of dumping an additional 1.5 inches. The National Weather Service placed the county under a flood watch.
In anticipation of this, road crews spent this week’s moment of calm clearing out drainage on Mathews Road, Argonaut Road, Kelsey Creek Road and other areas throughout the county.
The county Public Works Department expected Scotts Valley Road to flood. Projections are for the route to remain flooded throughout the weekend.
On Wednesday, in advance of the forecast storm, the Yolo County Flood Control & Water Conservation District began water releases for flood control purposes from Cache Creek Dam.
At the time, Clear Lake had reached 6.19 feet on the Rumsey Gauge. The Yolo district opened the dam, increasing flow out of the lake from 10 cubic feet per second to 323. As of 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, water levels in the lake had risen to 6.45 feet Rumsey.
Clear Lake is considered full at 7.56 on the Rumsey Gauge, a mark not seen since March of 2011.
District management is closely monitoring the California-Nevada River Forecast for Clear Lake, the National Weather Service forecasts, and real-time monitoring of lake and creek levels to respond as necessary.
According to Lake County’s Office of Emergency Services, no significant damage had been recorded in the three major burn areas as a result of the Thursday morning rains.
The Lake County Department of Public Works took significant steps in the wake of the Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fires to prepare for the potential damage that could be caused by of El Nino weather events. Streams and creeks were cleared of brush and debris; sandbags and muscle walls were placed in areas that had the potential for mudslides; and erosion control was provided on lots that participated in the CalRecycle Debris Removal Operation.
Still, the Lake County Department of Water Resources reports that creeks are rising, and peak levels are expected to occur today
