Watershed Protection District

The Lake County Watershed Protection District was originally created as the Lake County Flood Control and Water Conservation District as a political subdivision of the State of California established under the Lake County Flood Control and Water Conservation Act, of the State Water Code in 1951. The District is administered by the Director of Water Resources who reports to the County Board of Supervisors, which acts as its Board of Directors.

The Lake County Watershed Protection District is a management structure that was endowed with specific authorities by the U.S. Congress and the State Legislature providing the County of Lake with the authority to - for example - create publicly-funded water impoundments for the protection of public health and safety purposes cited in Public Laws and State Statutory Code.

Separate from the responsibilities of the Lake County Watershed Protection District, the County of Lake (Department of Public Works, Water Resources/Lakebed Management Division) accepted responsibility for the protection of Clear Lake's basin from the State Lands Commission in 1973 (PDF) which led to the creation of lakebed management and shoreline protection ordinances found in various chapters of the county's Municipal Code. View the EPI-Center Archives, Lake County Clean Water Program: What Is the Lake County Watershed Protection District? - March 26, 2021 (PDF) for additional information.

Planning & Programs

The Watershed Protection District administers the National Flood Insurance Program for Lake County, manages the Municipal Stormwater Program, plans and implements flood control projects, aerial photography, groundwater management planning, watershed management planning and development of grant proposals. The District is responsible for maintaining 10.5 miles of levees and 13.4 miles of creeks in 4 zones of benefit and a groundwater detention structure on Kelsey Creek. The District also operates and maintains the Adobe Creek Reservoir, the Highland Creek Reservoir, and the Highland Springs Park and administers the Invasive Mussel Prevention Program.