Once management learned of the potential of the recent weather crisis, I put into motion several items to prepare and contingencies to deal with the actual event.

January 15, 2010 - I had directed our Operations Department and Maintenance Team to remove all debris grates covering our storm water catch basins. All V-Ditches and drains were inspected and cleaned as needed. I met with the Superintendant of the Mojave Narrows Park and Jesse Flores of Supervisor Mitzelfelt's office to arrange a contingency plan should our lake require emergency water release.

January 18, 2010 - After reviewing the forecast, I had directed our Operations Manager, Richard Arglen to visit with the Fish Hatchery and request the diversion to the river of all of their water. We also turned off all of our wells.

January 19, 2010 - All team members were put on alert and regular inspections of the storm drains and v-ditches were ordered.  Monitoring of the lake was elevated to hourly.

January 20, 2010 - As the heavy rains came, I had Megan Blehr, our Director of Community Services and Disaster Preparedness, contact the regional Chief of the Fire Department to meet at Autumn Leaves south of Pebble Beach. The drainage ditch into that area from the Victorville boundary was creating a flooding event on Autumn Leaves and presented a possible risk to those homes on the east side of the road. I asked the Chief to provide 200 sandbags and ten tons of sand to be delivered to Spring Valley Lake. I directed Public Safety to distribute warning notices to the effected homes on Autumn Leaves. An E Blast was sent out to residents advising of the availability of sandbags and sand within our community.

January 21, 2010 - As the rains continued, we continued to monitor the lake level and I had ordered the gates open to increase the outflow from 4 million gallons an hour to 6 million. All team members were put on Code Red and we all worked actively with San Bernardino County Fire Station Engine 22 to respond to the dozens of flooding calls. I contacted the Lahoten Water Board and filed formal complaints regarding the uncontrolled storm water flows into our community. At 1:41PM, I contacted David Zook, the Chief of Staff of Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt and requested response from the County's Office of Emergency Services to respond to the flooding on Autumn Leaves and the increasing storm flows into Spring Valley Lake from Hesperia and Victorville.  At 1:53PM, the EOC contacted me that they were responding with five fire companies and the Road Crews. At 2PM, David Zook arrived to tour the affected areas with me so that Supervisor Mitzelfelt could be continually updated and co-ordinate the necessary resources. Jan Zimmerman of the Lahoton Water board also responded. I toured with both David and Jan to review the issues and damage. The county crews, our PSD, Maintenance, Operations and I quickly responded to the flooding that was impacting the home on the Parkway. Quick and decisive response saved the house from any serious damage. The washout forced the closure of the Parkway, Tamarisk, and Huerta. In an effort to help with the expedient cleanup of the Parkway, I asked the county to dump the hundreds of yards of sand at our Equestrian Estates, so that the Association could use the material as arena sand. This saved the Association $7000 and reduced the time required to clean and reopen the Parkway.

At 4:30PM, I ordered all discharge gates open to reduce the increasing lake level and we were discharging 10.5 million gallons an hour. I also contacted Supervisor Mitzelfelt's office regarding the emergency discharge (any amount above 7 million gallons an hour normally creates a financial impact to the Association). The team continued to work with the county responding to the flooding calls. At 8:30PM the Parkway was reopened.

January 22, 2010 - The lake level began its decline.  A full tour of the community was performed and thankfully, all is well.

Thanks and gratitude is extended to all of the Firefighters, Fire Command Officers, Fire Capt. Guy Planagan, Fire Chief Tracy Carleton, the Sheriff Deputies, CHP, SVL PSD, Maintenance, County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, and his staff, and the Spring Valley Lake (Apple Valley) Starbucks for donating coffee to the cold and weary.   

Respectfully yours,

Jon Sabo