LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The winter storms that have battered Lake County resulted in Clear Lake’s level rising still higher on Thursday, along with additional closures of public facilities.
Lake County weathered another day of night of heavy rain on Thursday, and the National Weather Service said more rain is expected on Friday, with clear conditions through Wednesday night, when rain is expected to return.
The National Weather Service’s flood warning for Lake County, issued earlier this week, remains in effect until 9:15 a.m. Saturday.
Clear Lake passed the 9-foot Rumsey flood stage late Wednesday, and was at 9.48 feet Rumsey just after 1 a.m. Friday.
The lake is expected to pass 9.8 feet Rumsey this weekend before the waters begin receding early next week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The lake level continued to rise on Thursday due to heavy rain. For the 24-hour period ending at 1:45 a.m. Friday, the following totals, in inches, were reported: Boggs Mountain, 4.28; Hidden Valley Lake, 1.38; High Glade Lookout (Upper Lake), 2.82; Indian Valley Reservoir, 0.93; Lower Lake, 1.44; Middletown, 2.01; Soda Creek, 2.18; Upper Lake, 1.40; and Whispering Pines: 4.0.
The Cache Creek Dam continued to release water at a high rate on Thursday, at one point recording a release of 5,770 cubic feet per second, the highest release amount recorded since March of 2011, when the lake last flooded, according to United States Geological Survey data.
Among the weather-related developments on Thursday were two significant closures: Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville and Lakeport’s Library Park.
At Clear Lake State Park, officials said the main park roads, campgrounds, cabins, launch, day use and restroom facilities were flooded, with the park to remain closed until it’s safe for visitors to access once more.
At Library Park – where in recent weeks city crews have removed docks due to the rising water – Clear Lake breached the park’s seawall and flooded into the parklands, causing damage, saturating the lawn and playground, and creating a situation city officials concluded was too hazardous for visitors.
In Lakeport, Esplanade, E and K streets, and Konocti, Lupoyoma, Helena, Lily Cove and Oak Knoll avenues were closed to nonresidents due to flood waters.
In the unincorporated county, several road closures also remained in effect due to flooding, including parts of Scotts Valley Road, Lakeshore Boulevard from Hammond Avenue to Stokes Avenue in Nice, and Laurel Dell Road from Scotts Valley Road to Mid Lake Road in Upper Lake.
Clearlake Public Works Director Doug Herren gave the Clearlake City Council a brief update on conditions at the council’s Thursday night meeting.
Herren said that, despite the storms, the city hasn’t had many issues up until this week, when it had to close the remaining two boat ramps at Redbud Park’s Thompson Harbor.
He said those ramps are closed until further notice, and aren’t likely to be reopened until Clear Lake’s level falls back to around 7 feet Rumsey.
Thursday was the first day in the midst of the recent storms that the city had a storm-related road closure, Herren said.
On Thursday afternoon, Lower Lakeshore Drive at Lakeshore Drive was closed due to high water and debris in the roadway. Herren said there is the potential for further road closures around that area, also known as the “gooseneck.”
Herren said there also are some minor mudslides on San Joaquin Avenue, with his crews working the area around the clock.
“We’re doing the best we can,” he said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.