CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The city of Clearlake said that on Tuesday it closed Thompson Harbor at Redbud Park in the interest of public safety due to Clear Lake’s rising level.
Due to the storms in the region, the water level of Clear Lake reached monitor stage – 8.0 feet Rumsey – on Tuesday morning, with the lake expected to reach flood stage, 9.0 feet Rumsey, later in the week.
Those high water levels make the docks at Thompson Harbor unsafe. As such, the city reported that its Public Works crews detached the floating docks from the concrete ramps to keep the
docks from being damaged by the rising water level.
The city said the ramps at Thompson Harbor are not safe to use when the docks are detached. The docks will be reattached when the water level recedes back to 8 feet Rumsey.
Boaters should also be aware that a mandatory 5 mile per hour boating speed limit takes effect when Clear Lake reaches 8.0 Rumsey for at least 24 hours.
The speed ordinance requires boaters operating a motor boat within one-quarter mile or less of a shoreline to maintain idle speed.
The ordinance was approved by the Board of Supervisors during the 2017 flood to minimize wake damage to lakeshore properties and to help ensure the safety of boaters operating while heavy debris loads are present on the lake.
“We are disappointed to have to take this action as it impacts the ability to launch out of Clearlake,” said City Manager Greg Folsom. “Fishing and tourism are significant drivers of our economy and we will reopen Thompson Harbor as soon as it is safe to do so.”
City of Clearlake closes Thompson Harbor
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