SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District will host two public information meetings March 26-27 to help inform local property owners and interested members of the public about the Isabella Lake Dam Safety Modification Project’s real estate acquisition and relocation assistance benefits process.
The purpose of the meetings is to provide an additional information forum for property owners who have already been contacted about acquisition or relocation, and to also provide an overview of the real estate process, schedule, legal requirements and construction impacts to any interested members of the local community or news media. The public meetings will include a formal presentation and informal open house where attendees will have the opportunity to speak to Corps real estate and project team experts about the real estate process and construction project.
During the ongoing engineering and design phase for Isabella Lake Dam upgrades, the Corps identified 12 properties downstream of the dam that will be impacted by construction. Impacted property owners have already been officially contacted or notified by a Corps real estate specialist as part of the process. There may be additional property owners contacted in the future, but everyone affected by this initial phase of acquisition has been contacted at this time. Until officially contacted or notified by a Corps real estate specialist, property owners are encouraged not to change, plan or do anything in anticipation of being contacted.
Public Meeting Locations - Lake Isabella
March 26, 2014
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Kern River Valley Veterans/Senior Center
Community Room 1
6405 Lake Isabella Blvd.
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
**Formal Presentation/Q&A Session 7-8 p.m.**
March 27, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Kern River Valley Veterans/Senior Center
Veterans Room 1
6405 Lake Isabella Blvd.
Lake Isabella, CA 93240
**Formal Presentation/Q&A Session 10-11 a.m.**
Meeting Agenda
• Open-house style with information booths an hour before/after the formal presentation
• Formal presentation (followed by question and answer period)
• Overview of the real estate process/purpose, impacted areas and properties, real estate timeline, project purpose and schedule, key contacts
The public and media are encouraged to contact the district's public affairs office with additional questions at 916-557-5100 or spk-pao@usace.army.mil
Completed in 1953, Isabella Lake Dam is located approximately 42 miles northeast of Bakersfield. The reservoir is impounded by two earthen dams on the Kern River and Hot Springs Valley. Today, Isabella Lake and its dams help reduce flood risk for Bakersfield and the surrounding region, and are a primary water source for water users throughout Kern County. The Isabella Lake Dam Safety Modification Project looks to address overtopping, seismic and seepage issues identified with Isabella Lake’s main and auxiliary dams to reduce the likelihood of dam failure. In 2013, the Corps entered the pre-construction engineering and design phase of the project. Relocation of State Highway 178, Lake Isabella Boulevard and other relocation construction work is scheduled for 2015-2016. Construction of the dam modifications is scheduled to begin in 2017.
For more on the Isabella Lake Dam Safety Modification Project visit: http://bit.ly/IsabellaDam
Release no. 14-009