Posted on November 4, 2024
The City of Hercules is done with the algae blooms impacting Lake Refugio.
So it’s dredging it, following the City Council’s Oct. 22 approval of an agreement with LSA Associates to get the environmental permits, complete the final design and do analytical testing on sediment material for the Lake Refugio Dredging Project.
The lake was last dredged in 2005, so it’s time, according to the city, which stated that during storms, sediment travels down Refugio Creek, settles into the bottom of the lake and fills it. This process creates unattractive shallow areas and algae blooms during the summer, when the lake is stagnant from lower flows.
“The algae blooms have proved very difficult to treat despite using aerator fountains and regular chemical treatments,” said the City of Hercules.
This isn’t LSA Associates first rodeo when it comes to Lake Refugio’s dredging. It was selected to complete a 30 percent dredging in 2018, and made “substantial progress,” but the project was abandoned “due to the high cost and City’s financial position at the time,” according to the city. Back then, the dredging was estimated to cost between $500,000 and $1 million.
Due to the current urgent need to remove the lake sediment, coupled with the one-time General Fund/Capital Reserves monies that are available, the city said that now is a better time for the Lake Refugio Dredging Project to resume.
The city said it’s asked LSA Associates to provide a proposal that updates/builds upon their prior work of getting the necessary permits, completing the 100 percent design for bidding purposes, and testing the soil to determine the proper disposal methodology.
“We look forward to maintaining the beautiful Lake Refugio for our community to enjoy. Stay tuned for project updates…,” said the City.
