Lake Mendocino levels no longer dire

Lake Mendocino's water level has risen so much in the past month that the reservoir on the upper Russian River is now being managed with an eye toward flood control.

The volume of stored water remains below normal but is once again back to a level where the Army Corps of Engineers has resumed control over releases downstream. During typical wet late fall and early winter months, the agency's role is to manage the lake and Coyote Dam for flood control.

But because of dry conditions, the Sonoma County Water Agency until earlier this month had been controlling releases downstream largely for purposes of fishery protection and downstream drinking water supplies.

As of Monday, however, there was slightly more than 50,000 acre feet of water stored behind Coyote Dam, compared with slightly less than 28,000 acre feet Dec. 18. That was the lowest volume of stored water since 2002. On average, an acre-foot of water is enough to meet the demands of four people for a year.

The lake is 20,000 acre-feet shy of normal water levels.

Still since late December, the lake's elevation has risen 17 feet because of periodic heavy rains.

Forecasts of more rain are good news for about 6,000 customers of the Redwood Valley County Water District, the only public agency to directly draw its water supplies from the lake. Until the December rains, lake levels neared the point where the district would have been unable to pump from the reservoir.

By Dec. 11, the situation was so dire that district directors had asked customers to cut use by 40 percent.

The current volume has eased those concerns.

Lake Mendocino can at a maximum hold back 122,000 acre-feet of water, although 70,000 acre-feet is considered adequate for water supplies.

When the Russian River reaches flood stages, Coyote Dam serves primarily to regulate river flows downstream.

At peak flood conditions, the dam can prevent the river from rising 2 feet in Guerne-ville.

You can reach Staff Writer Mike Geniella at 462-6470 or mike.geniella@pressdemocrat

.com.