Spring time has officially arrived!
Rainy weather brings out the Wild flowers. In between rain showers, the overcast conditions make for great photography. No harsh shadows to deal with and due to the rain there are a huge array of different Wild Flowers, all within a short walk.
It wouldn’t be Spring in California without poppies
The misty mornings have left their mark on the leaves.
Lots of vibrant pink and purples
Mist rolling down the adjacent hillsides
A blanket of yellow across the meadows.
Contrasting colors make for great photos!
An update on the Dam repairs
The repair work on the lower section of the dam has been completed, and just in time… The recent rains have brought the Lake level several feet higher than the State mandated. As can be seen from the photograph, there is still work to be done at the higher elevations. The City are planning to open the reservoir to limited recreation as soon as possible, estimates range from the end of April to…..
Once the repair work is completed, the State has mandated that the reservoir never exceed the 280′ level, (actual 80′ deep at the dam), which means the pump station will be inoperable. In essence, until the new dam is constructed, the Lake will behave very much like it did before the pump station went into operation, be it at a lower water level – If it rains as it has this winter, there will be temporary a flood condition that will slowly subside as the water is released. If there is little or no rain, the Lake will slowly shrink in size.
How this will affect the Grebes nesting cycle is still unsure? The timeline for completion of the proposed new dam is currently 12 years. In that time frame new vegetation may grow and provide material for nest building, but the areas available for nesting may be too exposed to the wind and predators? Historically Grebes have not nested when the Lake levels have been this low. As a founding board member of the Friends of Lake Hodges, https://friendsoflakehodges.org/ I encourage you to take a look or better yet, get involved.
