As of July 8th, the water level within the lake are comparable to last year’s levels, and two feet higher than the same time in 2022. 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.

RD900 is working on a large project this summer/fall in the canal system which requires that water levels are lowered within the canals. RD900 is an integral part of keeping the City safe from floods. Part of their long term safety plan for the canal system includes reinforcing and rebuilding the canal walls to prevent further erosion and to maintain the canal clear so that water can freely flow during storm events. 

In order to prevent water flowing out of Bridgeway Lakes into the Main Drain Canal, the gates that connect the lakes to the canal have been shut. The lake will not receive any supplemental water from the main drain canal this summer.

As temperatures rise and the days lengthen the water levels have lowered due to increased evaporation. The lake will likely continue to drop 9-12 inches monthly throughout the summer until it reaches an equilibrium with the local water table.

Once construction has been completed, the gates will be reopened, but it is unlikely that water will run into the lake until the rains return.

Alternative water sources have been reviewed to supplement the lake levels, including pumping from the deep water shipping canal, alternate RD900 service locations, using potable water, or pumping ground water. At this time none of the alternative sources are feasible this season. 

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 not be safely accessible when lake levels are low 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

• 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.

• Alternative studies are also being discussed to see if the canals and the Lake off Marshall can be modified to help reduce water loss and improve retention.