LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The long-running effort to improve Clear Lake’s water quality and reduce flood risk in the Middle Creek area has taken another step forward.

The county of Lake has received $750,000 in federal funding to support the Middle Creek Flood Restoration Project.

Congressman Mike Thompson visited with Lake County officials on Oct. 30, when he formally presented the check.

“Cleaning up the environment and protection from flooding is crucial to the health and safety of our community,” said Thompson. “This restoration is critical to preserving Clear Lake, reducing the cost of treating our drinking water, and preventing severe flooding. Proud to have secured this funding for Lake County.”

Thompson had announced receiving the funds for the Middle Creek project — as well as the city of Clearlake’s Burns Valley Sports Complex and Recreation Center Project and the Lakeport Armory Facility Repurposing Project — in December as part of the final 2023 appropriations government funding bill.

That explains the Dec. 29, 2022 date on the check that Thompson handed over to the county.

“There is no project more critical to sustainable Clear Lake water quality and a strong outdoor-recreation based Lake County economy than the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project,” District 3 Supervisor Eddie Crandell said in a written statement. “Congressman Thompson understood completing final Feasibility Stage steps with the United States Army Corps of Engineers was highly urgent and essential to moving this project forward, and we were grateful he fought hard to ensure this work was funded.”

The Middle Creek project will restore 1,650 acres near Upper Lake in the confluence of Middle and Scotts creeks to wetlands.

It’s meant to improve water quality in Clear Lake by removing up to 40% of phosphorus that comes from Middle and Scotts Creeks, the lake’s two largest tributaries, and reduce by 33% the concentration of chlorophyll.

Another critical outcome of the project will be flood reduction to protect nearby residents from catastrophic losses.

The funding that Thompson secured will help facilitate the removal of three miles of substandard levees, one pumping station and one weir structure.

Removal of the structures will carry tremendous ecological benefits by improving Clear Lake water quality and storage capacity, Thompson’s office said.

“Clear Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America, and it needs more wetland area to thrive,” said Marina Deligiannis, deputy Lake County Water Resources director. “Current sediment and phosphorus loads are estimated to be twice the pre-European levels, and about 71% of the sediment and phosphorus entering Clear Lake comes from Scotts and Middle Creek watersheds. This project could reduce Clear Lake phosphorus levels by 40%, helping to preserve a national treasure. Thank you to Congressman Thompson for recognizing this as a matter of high federal priority.”

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.