Environment Q. Does the lake interfere with the flood plain?
A. No. The flood plain works the way it always has only better! The lake excavation actually increased the flood plain capacity. Excavated soils from the lake area were removed and used to amend the new vineyard sites outside the flood plain. The lake waters on average now sit below natural ground. The geotechnical engineers left “free board” within the berm around the lake except at the Atascadero Creek floodway where the no excavation was done and surface was reinforced with special erosion mat that allows indigenous grasses to grow and weave a tight rooted surface for water to flood accross without erosion. So, in the winter when the creek floods it flows in an out of the area as it always has; but now with even more capacity, more control and less erosion. We’ve encouraged reforestation of the banks and growth of a shade canopy over the creek. We’ve planted redwood, oak, willow, alder and cottonwoods at the recomendation of Alan Buckman and Bill Cox of the Department of Fish and Ga
