Lodi Lake fares well through the storm, but worries remain

Lodi Lake was able to weather the recent storm pretty well.

According to Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Jeff Hood, the Woodbridge Irrigation District lowered the Woodbridge Dam, which helped to keep the Mokelumne River flows from causing any major damage.

The main portion of the park seems to be intact, Hood said. However, city officials have not checked the nature area or Pigs Lake because they were hesitant to put a boat on the water due to the erosion issues the park is facing.

Hood said the heavy rains that drenched Lodi in the last week can cause high river flows, which erode the banks at Pigs Lake. The gap between the Mokelumne River and Pigs Lake has been narrowing over the years, and Hood said the more energy in that the area, the more likely there will be damage to the banks.

He said if the river was higher there would have been more risk of losing some of the soil along the riverbank. Fortunately, the Woodbridge Irrigation District dropped the dam in advance to prepare for the heavy rain flow and there were no overflows into the lake, Hood said.

As a public safety measure and to preserve Lodi Lake, the city closed the park during the recent storms.

Hood said that the park is at the mercy of Mother Nature and flood control when it comes to erosion. He explained that flood control is the most important function of the Camanche Dam, adding the dam has to be operated with the public in mind.

While water levels remained consistent at the lake, heavy winds caused at least three trees to fall in the nature area Tuesday night. The fallen trees cost the city approximately $5,000 to remove. If the winds had gotten any stronger, Hood said it would be a lot more devastating on the trees.