Lake Gregory Improvement Committee (LGIC) Chairman Rick Dinon presented a progress report at the January 26, 2012 meeting of the Crest Forest Municipal Advisory Committee (MAC).
Lake Gregory Regional Park is the center of life in Crestline, a magnet for tourism and local recreational activities. The grounds include the San Moritz Lodge, which plays host to many private and public events such as weddings, conferences and charity fundraising events; Leisure Shores Senior Citizens Center; and a grassy area that is commonly known as “the ball field”. The lake itself offers trout fishing, swimming, paddle boating and a water slide. Several small booths house vendors who offer items for sale, such as sunglasses.
The Committee, whose members are not paid, was formed to address the remediation and rehabilitation of Lake Gregory in Crestline, which needs to be dredged and to have the dam repaired. Efforts have been made to acquire approvals for seismic remediation and dredging, with assistance from the office of Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford.
The County plans to reduce the amount of sediment running down into Lake Gregory by paving the shoulders on Lake Gregory Drive above the dam, and by reducing erosion at a county yard.
Dinon reported that the project can begin in the fall of 2012. Due to environmental issues, the work could not begin in the spring, when it would disturb nesting birds, and other wildlife is more abundantly present in the area.
There are two issues with the dam: the seismic safety of the physical structure, and the emergency water drawdown capability. Both of these problems have been dealt with at a similar earthen dam in northern California, at a reasonable cost.
A preliminary assessment of the dam’s seismic sensitivity has been submitted to the California Department of Safety of Dams (DSOD) and is under review by the State’s geologist. After that review, a final submission will be made, and then the Committee will work on a determination and acceptance of a method of repair, cost analysis and funding. They have identified a couple grants that might be available.
The Committee is conducted an orientation walk around the lake in December 2011 and plans an additional walk in February 2012, in order to educate the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as the departments of Fish and Game, and Water Quality, about Lake Gregory.
Future issues include maintenance to prevent problems from building up to emergency levels, and increase of revenues to keep Lake Gregory Regional Park viable. Community input is encouraged, and Committee members plan to distribute questionnaires at Goodwin’s Market, the Crestline Post Office and the Crestline public library on February 4, 2012. They also plan to distribute the questionnaire to local community groups.
Progress is being made in critical areas, and Lake Gregory will be repaired and maintained to promote a more prosperous future.
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