Date: March 10, 2011
Los Padres National Forest

Abbott Lakes Restoration Project

KING CITY, CA…. The Monterey Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest is proposing to re-fill the lower Abbott Lake at Arroyo Seco. The Abbott Lakes Restoration Project is all on National Forest Service land.

The proposal is to pump water from the Arroyo Seco River during winter and spring when river flow rates are high. Haviong a full lake in the summer will benefit firefighters by providing access to an open water source, and it will also benefit the threatened steelhead trout in the river by keeping pumps and helicopters out of their area.

Taking water from the lake, instead of the river, in the late summer when flow rates are low will minimize impact to steelhead and their habitat.

“I’m looking forward to hearing from the community on this proposal,” said Monterey District Ranger Sherry Tune. “We want to ensure that any concerns the public has are properly addressed as we move forward.”

To encourage informed participation from the public in this planning process, a description of the proposed action along with the purpose and need for action is available from the Monterey Ranger District office in King City, at the Big Sur Visitor Station, or electronically from peterharris@fs.fed.us.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit suggestions and/or comments by standard mail or email to: Peter Harris, 406 S. Mildred Ave., King City, CA 93930 or peteharris@fs.fed.us.

For more information contact the Monterey Ranger District at (831) 385-5434, or on-line at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres.