><((((*> Welcome to Eagle Lake Guardians
THE NEW 501C3 NONPROFIT FOR EAGLE LAKE FORMED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS
Board Members: Rebecca G. Walker, Valerie J Aubrey, Phyllis Tomasini, Kathy Claytor & Pat Tetrault
CONTACT US: EMAIL eaglelakeguardians@yahoo.com CALL 530 825-2191 or 530 249-1430
2012 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS SATURDAY JUNE 2, AT 2pm AT EAGLE LAKE GENERAL STORE IN SPALDING. 503-150 MAHOGANY WAY IN SPALDING. (MAIN STREET TO THE LAKE IN SPALDING). BIG RED BARN YOU CAN'T MISS IT. 530-825-2191 SEE AGENDA HERE SEE OUR CALENDAR
2012
PHOTOS OF WATER DIVERSIONS/IMPOUNDMENTS ON PINE CREEK
2011
PHOTO'S OF WATER DIVERSION/IMPOUNDMENTS
BY LNF IN PINE CREEK VALLEY AND MCCOY FLAT
THIS LINK TAKES YOU TO THE GALLERY ON EAGLE LAKE FISHING DOT NET DUE TO
NOT HAVING A GALLERY ON THIS SITE.
Guardians, we're gonna have to keep an eye on the Horse Lake Wind Energy plans in Willow Creek Valley
EAGLE LAKE WINS!!!
2-2-12 THE VALVES WERE CLOSED DOWN IN THE BLY TUNNEL. GREAT WORK ONE AND ALL.
RESPONSE FROM STATE WATER RESOURCE CONTROL BOARD TO BLM: "TURN OFF THE VALVE IN THE BLY TUNNEL." Thanks to over 100 personal requests for it!! But, we will believe it when the valve is closed off for good!!
And, we will have witnesses since this is still a matter of public trust and
WE the Public still don't trust 'em!
Our Objectives: To enhance and protect Eagle Lake water quality, water level, Heritage trout fishery and avian habitat. We may seek legal advice or legal action depending on the issues. We are expanding our number of meetings to 4 per year. Only $15 per person to join the cause See our membership application here. We don't have toys or gifts to give out to members, just a nice membership card. No officers take any salary or other monetary gains. We are working at several different levels to engage the players in factual documentation regarding the Bly Tunnel flow and how much it is affecting Eagle Lake’s natural lake elevation.
Eagle Lake is the second largest natural lake in California and is located in Northeastern CA 30 to 45 minutes drive from Susanville, approximately 1 ½ hours from Lassen National Park and approximately 135 miles from Chico CA, Redding CA, Reno NV and Klamath Falls OR.
Over the last 20 years the water levels of Eagle Lake have fluctuated between 5098 ft elevation in 1992 and 5106.65 in 1998. In the year 2000 the lake elevation was a beautiful 5105.32 ft and with the exception of a couple years, the lake has seen a steady decline; ending 2010 at a historic low level of 5095.6 ft. To “enhance Pine Creek” well above the lake, several diversions have been created for artificial habitats among other shared uses. Due to our volunteer Guardians complaints to Lassen County Board of Supervisors and the State Water Resource Board in the fall of 2010 a RAC grant was expedited for a water study for Pine Creek watershed. Many years ago the creek monitoring stations were removed due to budget cuts so no data has been collected on the flows of Pine Creek vs how much gets to the lake. Records are scant at the egg collection facility but no data for what actually flows to the creek and out of the creek before it gets to Eagle Lake.
Another dilemma (problem solved 2-2-12) for Eagle Lake is the water flowing through the valve on the 8” pipe in the Bly Tunnel. As of 9-15-11 after Guardians attended several meetings and with the help of non-members, CDFG conceded to writing a letter to the powers that be recommending turning off the valve on the Bly Tunnel and on 12-21-11 State Water Resource Control Board issued a request to turn off the valves. The water board also once and for all, said all historic water rights had been revoked long ago. A fish rescue is anticipated prior to turning off the valve as Eagle Lake native fish species have entered the tunnel over the years. AFTER MANY LETTERS OF COMPLAINTS, ON FEBRUARY 2, 2012 BLM CLOSED THE VALVES ON THE BLY TUNNEL. On February 16, 2012 the lake elevation was officially at 5096ft. New "official markers" will be done at Stones Landing for lake elevation.
However, this is only solving half the problem. CDFG will monitor the situation in the coming years for any detrimental affects come from turning off the valve. We are still pursuing isotope testing at our expense to determine how much lake water is leaving the "horizontal well". We still intend to find out how much water is destined for Eagle Lake on Pine Creek vs how much water is diverted off before getting to the lake. There is more than one diversion or man made lake which are not limited to Pine Creek Valley. Drought years and low water affect the recreation as well as the Eagle Lake trout. Rock piles extend hundreds of feet out from the shore and some catch you off guard in the middle of the deep south basin. It becomes a hazard for safe recreation especially for newcomers and cause thousands of dollars in repairs, not to mention any injuries. Poor water quality affects the catch and release by stressing the trout to a point that they cannot survive long after being released. When the pH rises above acceptable levels (9.4) CDFG posts a “Volunteer Catch and Keep Recommendation” for the safety of the trout. Once water temperatures cool down in fall, the pH subsequently drops and the recommendation is removed. When CDFG came up with the Catch and Keep Recommendation their criteria was set for a uniform pH of 9.2. However, the lake rarely goes below 9.2 uniformly so DFG increased the uniform pH to 9.4 after the switch of biologists. Size of our trout is also affected. Our objective is to find answers in hopes of having something in place that protects Eagle Lake water levels which directly affect water quality in the high pH lake. We are doing our best and with the help of volunteer guardians we are plowing through the crowded middlemen and going further up the line. We will be updating more towards the end of July.
When every other lake in CA is full and still flowing, Eagle Lake is alone in the drought; our river in the air dried up. The lake ONLY came up a little over 2 ft which tallied up about 5 to 6 inches higher than last year’s high water at the same time. We were never even close to seeing 5 ft let alone 8 ft of water in the lake. Eagle Lake has NOT been saved by any means despite rumors earlier this year. Is she being robbed of snowfall? The lake is at her best elevation for the best water quality at an elevation of 5105 ft to 5106 ft. On average, we also lose about 2.4 ft between May and Oct (2010). We need to find a balance in order to prevent these low water levels now as well as in the future so this doesn’t happen again if it doesn’t have to happen. Eagle Lake is critical to the economy of Lassen County as well as being a jewel for CDFG's trout stocking program and every agency should do as much as possible to keep her at or near her peak for the safety of the lake, heritage trout, avian habitat and the recreating public who depends on it. The lake water is not supposed to be used for any other purpose and is supposed to seek its own natural level.
Eagle Lake watershed is getting a complete water study performed. In March 2012 requests will be being submitted for grant funding. The study is expected to take 18 to 24 months once planned (stage 1) and funded (stage 2). Groundwater and surface flow study is necessary to establish a general health of the aquifer as Lassen County exports water to Nevada at Fish Springs, a water supply for northern Reno & Sparks area. Eagle Lake's watershed is one of three included in the Susan River watershed area, the second is Honey Lake. Seems that there isn't much really known about the water in general and little to compare with for monitoring. This study will determine more of what is going on with the lake. We know the lake is special and volcanic in nature. We feel the minor tremors that occur quite often and see them on the lake as well. Google Earth Brockman Lava Beds on the west side of the south basin. Scars left by eons of volcanic and geologic activity are evident in many places. We're just glad that the county, state and federal governments have realized the importance of facts over assumptions. In the mean time, the lake will not come up much for the 2012 fishing season. We do have several years of evaporation statistics to compare with this year (being the first year that the Bly Tunnel valves have been closed).
Welcome to Eagle Lake Guardians. Together we can give the lake her own voice, claim her own water as stated by law and get back to having trout that are actually larger than every other stocked lake in the state and anywhere else Eagle Lake trout are shipped or stocked. It is going to take a lot of hard work but it looks like the government is on board once realizing they must consider the Eagle Lake Basin Area Plan as signed onto in the mid 1980s. We are preparing to go the distance and taking the necessary steps one at a time. ...at some point along the way, legal action may still come into play but we hope to use our funds for water studies to see what is going on, matching grants to clean up and enhance Pine Creek to benefit Eagle Lake and our Eagle Lake trout. Currently our membership stretches through 7 states! That should tell you that this is not just a local issue.
Guardian Good Deeds:
1) Paid for new solar charging units to replace two critical units that failed during the study of transmitting trout and releasing them upstream. This was a good year for the study and a minor change of getting an earlier start this year and the will and determination of Teresa and Karen to track these trout in their snowshoes 3.6 miles before making the 911 call to Val who insisted on knowing if there was anything that needed to be done or purchased to insure the success of this years study. We took action immediately and the solar units were up and working in around 6 days thanks to Teresa & husband creating the wooden stands.
2) pursued justice for Eagle Lake on closing down the valve on the Bly Tunnel. Rebecca and Val rallied the troops, traveled to Sacramento for 3 days in which we bugged the senators & assembly and DFG Commission. We got Eagle Lake on the Agenda for the Sept 15th CDFG Commission Meeting in Redding and by public pressure and a detailed report from the State Water Resource Control Board regarding the fact that no water rights existed for Eagle Lake water, CDFG conceded to writing a letter requesting the valve on the 8 inch pipe in the Bly Tunnel be turned off. The letter is dated 10-3-11 and Rebecca kept in constant contact getting DFG to get that letter out as soon as possible. AFTER SEVERAL EMAIL CAMPAIGNS, THE VALVES WERE CLOSED ON FEB 2, 2012
3) we're pointing out the facts. We are not in this for glory or fame, we are in it totally for preserving Eagle Lake and everything about her for future generations. Agencies are taking notice and are willing to work with us to benefit Eagle Lake. We have a lot of work cut out for us ahead. First things first, then we can begin on the projects that need to be done.
More is destined to follow.
Copyright Protected images and articles 2011
By Eagle Lake Fishing Information and Network
Trout looking for a fly watercolor image is copyright protected
By Dava Dee Montgomery, Susanville CA. 2005 and may not be
used unless authorized by the artist.
