Lake Isabella Dam Remediation

[superkraut]

The Corps of Engineers is poised to fix purported deficiencies in both dams at Lake Isabella. The current alternatives on the table all include drawing the lake down to where for a few years, only a mud puddle would remain, and we could walk across the Aux Dam sailing area dry footed. It would also annihilate the Aux Dam rec area, with a proposal to "just take AuxDam users and move them over to the Ghetto". O really???
If you agree that they need to reconsider, and come up with a plan that will not kill the lake for at least 7 years, and with it the communities in the Valley, you need to write to the Corps and go on record that you are opposed to the current plans. Your comments must be received by May 22, or else you will be considered to agree with the current schemes.
Please, write to isabella@usace.army.mil, put "regarding DEIS" in the subject line.
Do it now. Pass this on to your friends and ask them to write in. We need a massive show of hands in order to be heard by the Powers that Be in Washington!
Eva
PS: I am posting any news regarding our campaign on the Lake Isabella Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/294638607227135/

[carl]

I have never been to Isabella, so please excuse my ignorance.
It might help to give us a little background so we could write something
that would make some sense. BTW Is there really a "ghetto" and I'm guessing by the name it's not a desireable place to sail?
I assume the Corps studied these dams and determined they were seismicly unfit. What would be the alternative to draining the lake and fixing the dams? I realize this plan would completely suck for all lake users for a long time. Several lakes up here in the bay area cannot be filled over 60% for same seismic reasons probably determined by the same Corps of Eng. (Anderson is the big one, but it's not a good sailing lake anyway).
Would you still be able to sail the lake if it couldn't be filled past 60%?
Most times it would probably be only 30-50% depending on time of year. That would seem to be the alternative to dam repair, concidering that any gov't organization wouldn't want the liability of a potential dam break flooding whatever is downstream of the dam.

[superkraut]

not a problem, Carl!
Like so many other Cali lakes, we have been restricted recently because of safety concerns. Specifically, we have been limited to 60% of gross pool these past 6 years. Its not fantastic, but quite ok, as far as the windsurfing and other recreation.
What looms ahead for us now is a proposed reduction to 13% of capacity, in order to first build a temporary cofferdam, and then remove same a few years later when repairs to one of our 2 dams are completed. Done during the winter, when lake storage is historically quite low, it would not affect recreation all that much. However - our water is not held in the lake for recreational purposes. Instead, it is owned by agricultural interests in the San Joaquin Valley. These interests will not agree to let the lake be replenished after cofferdam construction, if that should come at the expense of their agricultural water. Replenishing, then, would depend on Mother Nature providing some extra, which she traditionally does in 7 year cycles. We would, therefore, most likely be stuck with something near the 13% level for a number of years. And 13% will be so low as to cause toxicity in the water from the sediments which have accumulated for the past 50 years, trees will be exposed, the exposed mud will stink abominably - it would not be an inviting venue. Enter the town of Lake Isabella, which would see its economic base disappear with the tourists and lake users.
To avoid these dismal consequences, we are asking that instead of repairing the existing one, a second dam be built downstream from the original auxiliary dam.
PS: yes, there is a "Ghetto", which is actually the preferred site for advanced sailors. It is called the Ghetto, because when it was first opened as a launch site, it had only one porta-potty, no water, no other amenities. It has since acquired a proper brick-and-mortar outhouse, but the name stuck.

[carl]

Thanks SK,, letter sent!

[madmax7]

Letter sent

Surprised more people have not participated (from this venue)

Max[/b]

[superkraut]

thanks a bunch, guys, every letter counts! and for you tardy ones: there is still time, until Tues May 22, to be precise
Eva