Lake Sonoma Record Low Water Levels
It’s April and Lake Sonoma Water Levels are at Record Lows for this time of year. I saw some pictures of how low Lake Sonoma was so I decided to go out to see the lake for myself. For this adventure I made sure I had a raft and my drone with me. My wife was also curious about how low the lake was so she came along with me.
About Lake Sonoma
Lake Sonoma is a reservoir lake West of Healdsburg, Geyserville and Cloverdale. In 1982, Warm Springs Dam across Dry Creek by the US Corps of Engineers. After the dam was built, Lake Sonoma was “filled” to the size that the lake is today.
Properties and Pomo Natives in Lake Sonoma
Before the filling of Lake Sonoma, many property owners were bought out. The US Army Corps of Engineers also had a team of archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, architectural historians, ethnobotanists, historians, and Native American traditional scholars study the area. My wife’s ancestors were the Pomos that inhabited the area and there are many tales that still surround the Lake Sonoma area but we’ll save that for another vlog.
Interested in more Pomo Culture? Check out our Frog Woman Rock Vlog!
Trees in the Lake
Along with old properties that were submerged by the lake, trees were also completely engulfed by the water. In this vlog we see trees that were not visible before these dry conditions. Usually when kayaking or boating at Lake Sonoma, you float right over the trees. It is a good idea to look out for trees if you are jumping or diving out of your boat.
Shells Everywhere
All throughout the lake you can find shells. The dry ridges that show previous water levels are littered with shells. I believe the low water level conditions have attracted more birds to the lake. I have never seen as many birds in lake sonoma as I did during this trip. The fishermen also let us know that there was a Bald Eagle flying around earlier in the day.
Rafting in Lake Sonoma
In order to be able to raft in Lake Sonoma we had to walk a very far distance. Due to the water levels being so low the normal ramp used at Yorty Creek to drop in was completely dry. The walk to the nearest body of water took us through a muddy lake bed. Once we got our raft in the water, it started going flat. Luckily we were able to take care of this problem. Next time we will canoe or kayak.
Documenting Lake Sonoma
The main purpose of this vlog was to document the low levels of Lake Sonoma while telling the story about my wife and I’s adventure. Every now and then “rare” things happen in Northern California. My curiosity always takes me to those places-like the time I went Snow Sledding in Sonoma County or when I looked for the Gingerbread Monolith in San Francisco. If you enjoyed this vlog please like and subscribe.
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