Lake Mendocino suffering from flooding, staffing shortages

It’s historically one of the busiest holiday weekends at Lake Mendocino, but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation area already is failing to keep up with the hordes of visitors seeking fun in the sun and water over the long July 4 weekend.

Monday, trash overflowed from dumpsters and trashcans, and the camp office was closed. Water lapped at picnic benches and limited access to one boat ramp and blocked the road leading to 100 campsites.

“I’m very worried about Lake Mendocino,” said Mendocino County Supervisor Carre Brown, whose district includes the lake.

She said her constituents also have complained about problems with gang graffiti and homeless encampments at the lake.

A critical shortage of staff and volunteers has left the Corps unable to deal with those issues, said Mike Dillabough, the agency’s San Francisco district chief of operations and readiness division.

The lake has four rangers - half its normal complement - and is short on maintenance employees and office staff.

Volunteer numbers also have dwindled, he said, in part because people are put off by vagrants and drug users who move in when campers move out.

“We can’t get enough people to take care of the place,” Dillabough said.

The Corps is in the process of drafting a short-term solution that could include a total shutdown of Lake Mendocino’s recreation areas or a partial closure.

Late spring rains have overfilled the reservoir. Flooding has cut off some 100 campsites on the east side of the lake and left debris scattered across recreational areas where people camp and picnic.

Brown said she’s worried about the loss of recreational opportunities at the lake and the economic impact. The lake is arguably the county’s biggest inland recreational draw, generating an estimated half million visitors and $10.9 million annually in visitor spending, according to a 2012 Corps report.

The lake’s problems have garnered the attention of outdoor enthusiasts, who are rallying to help clean up the mess.

Chris Ostrom, co-owner of Pacific Outfitters in Ukiah, said the store’s nonprofit, PacOut Green Team, plans to rally volunteers and launch its first cleanup at the lake Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m. Mendo Mill is donating buckets and trash grabbers, and county Supervisor John McCowen - who has been a leading force in homeless camp cleanups in the county - is volunteering.

“One way or another, I guarantee, we will get the trash removed,” McCowen said.

Dillabough said people who want to volunteer for other work at Lake Mendocino or at other Corps facilities are welcome. The Corps typically offers a free day of camping for each hour worked.

Despite the problems at Lake Mendocino, at least one visitor Monday was enjoying himself.

“It’s actually convenient to have the water like this,” said Ben Westbury, of Ukiah, who was wading in the water-filled parking lot of the south boat ramp.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 707-462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MendoReporter.