As California droughts continues to become a major environmental, economic, and water quality problem, residents of the greater Mendocino region are growing increasingly worried about their water supply.
Will the water shortage in the lake that supplies the town’s water supply come to an end before long?
How long can the current water reduction from drought continue without adversely affecting Lake Mendocino’s fish population and its economy? This article will explore these important questions and offer some possible solutions to the water shortage.
Since drought is affecting almost every water body on Earth, we can no longer ignore the question of how long the California drought will last. Some might suggest that it will not affect the fish population of Lake Mendocino for up to three years. This could be true depending on how long the precipitation lasts during the winter. If the precipitation does not last the three years, there is still a good chance that fish will be impacted even if the lake does not have enough water to support them.
Fish will experience a variety of problems ranging from diminished numbers to higher levels of stress, which ultimately will impact their survival.
For now, we can only wait and watch as the fish population of the Mendocino basin suffers due to the lack of water in the reservoir. One thing we do know is that fish will not be able to survive without the water from the reservoirs. The fish will eventually migrate to other regions if they are unable to survive in the current water conditions. Fish are sensitive to changes in their environment and if there is nothing to feed on for a long period of time, then the fish will die. There is hope for the fish though, as the fish have the ability to adapt and change their environment to survive.
If the water level in the reservoir does not rise above zero for three months or more, then the reservoir managers must reassess their water use and storage plans. It might be time to re-think how the reservoirs are being managed. There have been cases where fish were removed from the productive waters because the reservoirs were at levels where they did not support any kind of fish population. If this happens frequently, it is wise to reevaluate the management strategies used to manage the reservoir.
If the current trend continues, it will be difficult for cities like Livermore to keep up with their water needs. When this happens, the Fishinger dam will also become a major problem. Fish will eventually stop coming out of the dam because it is too high. The water will also go out of the underground storage reservoir and the only way for the city to refill its water supply is by taking water from other sources.
This means that the Fishinger dam will not only be in trouble for the next twenty years or more, but it could be in trouble for hundred of years. This is why the Fishinger reservoir has been placed on the National Wild Water Priority List. Any damage to the dam will have severe consequences for the fish and the surrounding environment. It is also illegal to disturb or build structures in or around Fisher Dam. This was caused in part by the state of California.
Fish populations have always been successful when there is plenty of fresh water. When the reservoir runs low, the fish have a hard time reproducing. Fish will usually wait until there is enough water to support them before breeding. If the water supply is depleted, this causes stressed out fish and can lead to their unfortunate passing.
Some have suggested that we should draw down our usage of water as much as possible. This will reduce the amount of water used for just about everything. However, this will take care of only the immediate effect and the long term effect will come through increased drought. In Mendocino, this would mean a serious reduction in the water used for drinking, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
