As we get closer to winter, Washoe County is preparing Lemmon Valley for any potential problems that could come from Swan Lake. A utility supervisor for Washoe County says there are some changes in store for their preparations this year.
Washoe County is putting pumps along Lemmon Drive. The County took them out this summer, but now it feels they need to put them back in for winter. “We anticipate that the lake is not going to drop this year. And that we're going to need utilize these Hesco barriers,” said Washoe County Utilities Supervisor, Dave Hughes.
The pumps and barriers are the County's way of battling flooding that's plagued Lemmon Valley. “Seepage pumps help keep the water from puddling up on Lemmon Drive,” said Hughes.
He says the County has learned from their battles fighting flooding from Swan Lake. ”Hesco barriers that over the last two years that haven't been problem some, we are going to reallocate those to areas that we know we need to put them in,” said Hughes.
The change in barrier locations isn't the only change the County is planning. “We're putting up a webcam actually at the sewer plant that gives you true lake elevations. You will be able to log into it once it’s up and running. The public can see what the lake elevation is,” said Hughes.
Hughes says the County also has crews out 24-7 keeping an eye on the pumps to make sure it doesn’t freeze up or get plugged. He also says that a diver will also be coming in on Thursday to make sure the culvert pipes they plugged up from the flooding two years ago, are still closed.
