Memorandum
Date: June 9, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors, serving as the Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District
From: Dr. Pawan Upadhyay, Director, and Michael Bedar, Program Coordinator, Water Resources Department
Subject: Consideration of Discussion from the Middle Creek Restoration Project Committee on the Middle Creek Restoration Project (MCRP) - Status Update and Direction on Property Acquisition Strategies
Executive Summary:
The Lake County Watershed Protection District and the Middle Creek Restoration Project (MCRP) Committee request that the Board of Supervisors receive an update on the Middle Creek Flood Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration Project and provide direction on key next steps related to property acquisition, funding strategy, and coordination with state and federal partners.
The MCRP Committee includes Supervisor Crandell, Supervisor Sabatier, Merry Jo Velasquez, Harry Lyons, and Water Resources Director Dr. Pawan Upadhyay.
The Middle Creek Restoration Project is a multi-benefit initiative aimed at reducing flood risk in the Upper Lake area, restoring wetland and habitat conditions, and improving water quality in Clear Lake. Recent scientific analysis indicates that wetland restoration in this area could reduce sediment and nutrient loading to Clear Lake by approximately 36% or more, with additional reductions achievable through vegetation establishment. These outcomes are critical to long-term watershed health and harmful algal bloom (HAB) mitigation.
The project continues to make substantial progress, with approximately 79% of project properties acquired, in process, or tribal-owned, reflecting strong forward momentum. However, key challenges remain, including acquisition of unwilling properties, potential funding gaps, and evolving requirements from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Staff is seeking Board direction on strategies to address remaining acquisition cha...
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