Water shortage on agenda for Supervisors
With water-levels at Lake Mendocino at alarming low rates during what usually constitutes one of the wettest months of the year, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors is prepared to hear contingency plans to offset the loss.
The report from Water Agency General Manager Roland Sanford is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday during the board's regular meeting as it sits as the Mendocino County Water Agency.
"As reported in the Mendocino County Water Agency General Manager's Report in January, Lake Mendocino water storage levels are at an historic low for this time of year and the prospects for significant rainfall (in the short-term) are not good," stated a portion of the attached agenda summary. "As of Jan. 22, lake storage was approximately 20,000 acre-feet lower than it was this time of year in 1977 (the second year of the record setting 1976-1977 drought.) Unless significant rainfall occurs, the Ukiah Valley and surrounding region will experience an unprecedented water supply shortfall that will create significant economic hardship."
The report went on to state that Sanford would present an update to the board "regarding local water purveyors' efforts to address this situation, and identify options and actions the county can take to help blunt the impact of a drought, should dry conditions prevail over the remainder of the rainy season."
At the same time last year, the lake level stood near 70,000 acre-feet, in contrast with it's current standing of just over 31,000.