Lake Lopez update

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1551

Just went up to check it out. 1/9/17 Its up 2 1/2 feet over the last few days. All the creeks are running strong. Must hill sides are oozing water. More rain on the way. The issue is that windsurfing area is still dry. After 2 plus years out of the water the weeds and brush are up to 6 feet high. In the past if the lake was at 50 to 60% it was worth a trip up. Plenty of area to sail. Now I think it needs to be 70% or more to have enough water to clear the top of some brush. I talked to the ranger and there are no plans to clear the area.
A controlled burn by the county would clear the area and add capacity to the lake. Just sayin........Tony

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 346

you ought to strongly lobby for weed abatement, Tony! the weeds that we grew here at Isabella during the dry years, caused a plethora of problems, from fouled fins and propellers, to a toxic algae bloom due to all the organic matter in the lake when it finally did come up

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1551

Hi Miss Eva,
its like talking to a wall with these people. They do not want to do anything until it all goes wrong. I suggested that with the lake down to 20% it would be a good time to remove 50 years of sediment from the exposed areas. Thus increasing capacity of the lake. I'm pretty sure that suggestion went right into the round file. Are you going to SPI this spring? Tony

superkraut · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 346

no - it looks like we will have a fabuloutastic season here at Isabella, and I plan to utilize this bounty until I drop, particularly since 2017 will be the last year before the Corps of Engineers moves in on us to mess with the dams.

Aeolian1 · Joined: 29 Mar 2016 Posts: 11

Hey Tony, BBTom here, so how many more feet would the lake have to come up to be sailable and clear the plant growth you mentioned?

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1551

This is just a guess but 70% of full and that is still a very long way up from now..

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1551

I will update you guys as the rain brings the lake up but its going to take a bunch more....Tony

bprice · Joined: 21 Oct 2000 Posts: 138

Current capacity is 25.3%... so it's got a long way to go. Official website:https://wr.slocountywater.org/site.php?site_id=16&site=ad5cdb23-3e46-41f0-98a9-b169a505c0f4

bprice · Joined: 21 Oct 2000 Posts: 138

Looking at some past data, 70% has a lake height of 504 ft, current height is 462 ft, so that's another 42 feet. The winter 2010/11, it went from 55% to 95% in 4 months, so it is possible.

NOVAAN · Joined: 28 Sep 1994 Posts: 1551

Mike have seen how tall the weeds are? I guess the lake bottom muck is good plan food....