$5 Million Allocated to Lake Gregory

The Board of Supervisors approved an additional $5 million to repair the earthen dam at Lake Gregory Regional Park bringing the total budget for the project up to $9 million. “We must make this investment to protect and preserve Lake Gregory so it can continue to serve as an outstanding recreational amenity that attracts visitors to our mountain communities,” San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Chair and Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford said. In 1986, the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) notified the County about possible seismic deficiencies in the earthen dam that formed Lake Gregory in the late 1930s. The County hired consultants to evaluate the dam and address the issues raised by the State. However, no action was taken to meet the requirements, and in February 2010, State officials ordered removal of flashboards from the dam’s spillway because of seismic concerns. The boards increased the water level by trapping runoff and were historically kept in place throughout the summer swim season. DSOD also notified the County that it had to repair deficiencies in the dam that could make it susceptible to collapse following a major earthquake. In 2012, the Board of Supervisors set aside $4 million to fund in repairing the dam; however, officials determined that additional funding is necessary to complete repairs that will meet DSOD requirements. The County plans to use a buttress to stabilize the dam. This will require approvals from multiple regulatory agencies and could be completed as soon as the fall of 2016. In addition to allocating funding to repair the dam, the Board of Supervisors also approved $50,000 to complete improvements to the southern entryway into the park. The improvements will make the entryway compliant with the Americans with the Disabilities Act.