The pump supplying water into the main drain canal is currently on and pumping water into the canal.

Efforts have continued this year within the main drain canal to improve the flow of the water and to guide it toward the lake.

As of August 15^th, the water level within the lake is more than two feet higher than the same time last year. The late spring and heavy winter rains have helped maintain the lake level higher than previous years, and helped prolong higher ground water levels*.

Water loss due to evaporation and percolation are expected to continue into the fall, though the rate of drop will be less dramatic than seen in the previous months. This is due to the consistent supplemental water being pumped in, as well as shorter seasonal day lengths and evaporation rates.

*Ground water levels rise and fall regionally fluctuating between six to sixteen feet below ground. It is not controlled by any entity and has numerous variables that lead to the rise and fall of its levels.

Did You Know:
Bridgeway Lakes is both a recreation amenity and a storm collection basin.  The Lake fills during the rainy season and/or through groundwater.  As the weather warms and/or in dry years, lake levels naturally decrease. 

Additional Questions/Comments?
Please see the City’s website for additional information at westsacfun.org or contact City staff at 916-617-4620. 

Lake Level Factors
Lake levels are impacted by a number of factors:

• Over the years, groundwater levels have dropped due to the increasing frequency of drought conditions and aquafers being overdrawn.
• Lack of rain reduces the amount of water available to recharge groundwater levels and/or drain directly into the Lake.
•  High temperatures result in evaporation of canal and Lake water.

 Lake Safety

• The Lake is designed to accommodate fluctuating water levels, but residents should take extra safety precautions when accessing or using the Lake. Private docks may no longer be safely accessible and residents may want to consider dry docking units until Lake levels improve. 

•  Water quality is monitored throughout the year and trash and invasive vegetation are removed regularly. The Lake is intended for watercraft and fishing, but not for swimming.

•  As water levels drop (especially in the shallow canals), the aerators are turned off to prevent them from clogging up with mud.

 Managing Lake Levels
The City recognizes that maintaining consistent Lake levels is important for recreation purposes, as well as the general aesthetic and health of the Lake.  To accomplish this, both near- and long-term solutions are underway which include the following:

• Pumping well water from an existing City well into the Main Drain Canal/Lake to supplement water levels (Underway).
  
  
• Maintaining and improving the Main Drain Canal and smaller, connector canals to allow better water flow, when available, into the Lake (In Process).
  
  
• Design, permit and construct a dedicated well/pump for managing Bridgeway Lakes water levels (In Process).

Schedule

• The City is currently using an existing, but more distant well/pump to move water into Bridgeway Lakes via the Main Drain Canal, but in warm weather, lake water evaporates almost as quickly as it can be replenished.
  
  
• Maintenance work on the Main Drain Canal is underway to improve water flow from a nearby pump/well into Bridgeway Lakes.  This is expected to be an ongoing effort.
  
  
• Studies are currently underway for the design, permitting and construction of a dedicated well/pump for Bridgeway Lakes.  The current State Executive Order pertaining to drought conditions limit new permitting for groundwater use. This means that it will take longer (several years) to permit and construct a new well/pump.  Additionally, increasing construction costs have resulted in a significant increase of estimated project costs. Because of this, the City is currently exploring other sources of funding, including grant funding, to help offset the additional costs.