Rollins Lake at lowest level in eight years

Rollins Lake Reservoir might seem a bit low this year, but its high banks and its extended boat ramp are normal for this time of year.Each year, according to Paul Moreno, spokesman for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, canals in its system are drained out for scheduled inspection and servicing.At the end of October, Rollins water level was recorded at 38,000 acre feet, according to Sue Sindt, Operations Supervisor for the Nevada Irrigation District, which owns Rollins Lake. NID allows PG&E to share water capacity in the lake.The capacity of Rollins Lake is 66,000 acre feet, covering 26 miles of shoreline. Over the years, the lake's water level has been even lower. In 1984-85, it was at 32,000 acre feet, but in 1977 it measured an all-time low of 5,170 acre feet.At the current state, it has once again reached its lowest level since 2002 when it registered at 34,000 acre feet. Rollins Lake receives its water from two sources. First is a natural flow from rain, and second, from the Drum Canal inlet. Water exiting Rollins Lake flows through the Bear River Canal. The Drum and Bear River canals are owned and operated by PG&E.According to Brittney McKannay, a spokesperson for PG&E, Drum Canal was out of service for maintenance beginning mid-September and repairs were completed Nov. 16."During our inspection of the Bear River Canal, PG&E inspectors noticed a section of the canal needed to have its lining replace to assure safe and reliable operations," McKannay said.However, the Bear River Canal continued its flow, exiting the lake with a range of approximately 800 cubic feet per second, Sindt said, until Oct. 15 when the consummative demand for irrigation and agriculture dropped off.The projected finish date for the Bear River Canal is mid-December, depending on the weather, according to McKannay."Because the water coming into Rollins Lake was restricted due to a scheduled maintenance by PG&E in September, and the water continued to exit to feed the Bear River Canal until Oct. 15, and without the natural flow into the lake from rain, that creates a natural drop in lake levels," Sindt said.Despite the low water levels at Rollins Lake, fishing has been productive, according to a fisherman. "The fishing is still pretty good. We are still pulling trout out of the lake, even with the low water level," said Bill Tye of Weimar. "What concerns me is that when it does start raining, the lake will get muddy with all the runoff from muddy banks, and that will effect the fishing then." According to Kevin Thomas, Environmental Specialist with the California Fish and Game, the low lake levels shouldn't harm recently planted trout."We plant from 8,000 to 12,000 fish each year in Rollins Lake with success and so the low water level is not really a concern. Fish will naturally seek a water temperature in any level of the water to which they will survive," Thomas said.------------------------------ROLLINS LAKE: BY THE NUMBERS• 1965, year dam was built• 252.5 feet, height of dam• 212 feet, current water level• 26 miles of shoreline• 66,000 acre feet of capacity• 38,000 acre feet, current level • 5,170 acre feet, all-time low in 1977Source: Nevada Irrigation District