Isabella Dam Safety Modification Project Situation Report

Lake Isabella - Lake Isabella, CA (Kern County)


by Lake Isabella Staff
11-7-2013

Highlights (last 30 days)
The draft report entitled "Isabella Lake 2013 Recreation Data Collection" was received from Gulf South Research Corporation. The report is currently undergoing review by U.S. Forest Service/Corps towards a final report. The data results from the final report will assist in development of a draft Environmental Assessment, which will be available for public review and comment near the end of summer 2014.

The Corps, with the USFS, is completing the draft Recreation Plan, following the two public meetings in September that focused on the impacts to recreation during and after construction of the dam safety project.

The development of a Habitat Restoration Plan will be initiated with a Corps/USFS meeting and site visit the week of 11 November. Per recommendations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Service's Mitigation Policy (Final EIS, appendix C: Final Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report), the Corps and USFS are committed to ensure protection and conservation of the most important and valuable fish and wildlife resources at Isabella Lake, while allowing reasonable and balanced use of the Nation's natural resources. The vegetation mitigation goals begin with establishment of new seedlings and elderberry shrub transplants by December 2015 to offset project impacts.

Looking Ahead (next 30 days)
Continue surveying and geotechnical investigations at the project site.

Continue coordination with U.S. Forest Service and the public in planning efforts for the relocation of recreation facilities.

Continue development of a laboratory scaled model of the dams and spillways at Utah State University, to conduct physical testing of water flowing through the new structures to aid in the engineering design of the project.

Current Lake Status (03 June)
The current pool resides at 52,936 acre‐ft, an elevation of 2529.02 feet (IPD) or 2532.78 (NAVD 88) which is 15% of the restricted pool. As part of our interim risk reduction measures, Isabella Lake has a restricted elevation of 2585.5 feet (361,250 acre‐ft). Current Lake Status can be viewed at www.spk-wc.usace.army.mil/fcgi-bin/hourly.py?report=isb

Project Web page:
www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/IsabellaDam.aspx
Sacramento District Homepage: www.spk.usace.army.mil
Phone: (916) 557-5100


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