[env-trinity] Trinity Journal (8/10)- Reservoir serves many purposes

[Tom Stokely]

Reservoir serves many purposes

http://www.trinityjournal.com/news/2011-08-10/Front_Page/Reservoir_serves_many_purposes.html 

Studies show long-term economic, environmental impact on Trinity County somewhat mixed
BY SALLY MORRIS
THE TRINITY JOURNAL

When full, Trinity Lake is 17 miles in length, 1-4 miles wide and has 145 miles of shoreline.
PHIL NELSON | THE TRINITY JOURNAL . FLIGHT PROVIDED BY TONY EDWARDS
As campers flock here and boaters converge on Trinity Lake to enjoy high water levels not seen in years thanks to a bountiful snowpack last winter, it’s easy to see the impact of tourist dollars on the local economy as visitors crowd store aisles to load up on supplies.

However, the long view depicts a more boom and bust picture of the economic impacts on Trinity County associated with the federal government’s completion of Trinity Dam 50 years ago.

Many promises of jobs and growth to rival Lake Tahoe were made to local residents at that time as Congress recognized that Trinity County would be economically and socially impacted by construction of the Trinity River Division to divert water to California’s Central Valley for irrigation and municipal uses.

For one thing, the project flooded 14,500 acres of land in Trinity County, much of which was privately owned, relatively flat and highly suitable for future residential, agricultural and commercial development.

To offset the loss of private land for development and the tax base that went with it in a county where more than 75 percent of the land was already owned by the federal government, ongoing payments in lieu of taxes were promised to the county.

The government also promised low-cost electric power to help stimulate the local economy — an asset that was delayed in delivery and took many years for the Trinity Public Utilities District to develop and realize.

Few studies on the local economic impacts of the Trinity River Division exist. One commissioned by the TPUD several years ago concluded that overall, the county’s economy has mainly suffered.

It found that the government provisions to aid in recovery have fallen far short of replacing what was lost, while other California communities greatly benefited from low-cost Trinity River water and power delivered.

The study by David Kelley at California State University, Chico identified $33.6 million in lost local property tax values; $1.6 million in foregone agricultural revenue; $40 million in undelivered electricity; $11.5 million in lost purchasing power; $11.9 million in lost local income; and $2.4 million in foregone taxes on power facilities.

While that study focused largely on hydropower impacts, the author also identified a $4.2 million loss in local revenue due to decline in the Trinity River’s fishery resulting from dam construction and reduced flows downstream.

The Kelley study did not evaluate the recreational benefits of Trinity Lake, but cited them as a possible offset for lost fisheries. It noted that prior to dam construction, the Trinity River provided a constant source of recreational activities and revenue to local citizens whereas lake recreation is not constant — it fluctuates with the water level.

While the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam and calls the shots on lake levels based on annual precipitation amounts, Trinity Lake is part of the National Recreation Area managed by the U.S. Forest Service that operates the campgrounds and boating facilities.

A Forest Service study was conducted a few years ago that focused on the relationship between water levels at Shasta Lake and the economic impact of recreation spending on surrounding local economies. Some of the information was extrapolated to include Trinity Lake and Trinity communities.

It concluded that during nondrought conditions, the lake produces an 11 percent change in economic activity and jobs for the local economy. However, in drought conditions when lake levels fall, the study results showed as much as a 33 percent difference in economic activity between average drawdown years and low-water years.


Light glistens off Trinity Lake earlier this summer. The lake serves as a major economic draw for the county.
PHIL NELSON | THE TRINITY JOURNAL
While the Trinity County economy experienced a boom during the dam construction years, it has been subject to ebbs and flows ever since depending in part on the water year.

It suffered years of loss due to decimated fisheries, but has also benefited from millions of federal dollars spent on the resulting Trinity River Restoration Program. One outcome has been increased annual river flows — intended to restore fisheries, but providing an added benefit to local rafting companies and whitewater enthusiasts.

Recent drought years helped to spark a citizens’ group at the north end of the county called the Trinity Lake Revitalization Alliance to engage the Forest Service and Bureau of Reclamation in efforts they hope will improve recreational access to the lake during future low-water years when only one launch ramp is available for use.

The group claims that in light of reduced national forest logging and mining opportunities in the area, water-based tourism now accounts for as much as 90 percent of the economy at the lake end of Trinity County and businesses close as water levels plunge.

This year’s high lake level is resulting in welcome business to the private resorts and marinas, stores and restaurants. Some say they could use more than one good year and they are finding that visitors, though plentiful, are reluctant to spend money as the national and state economies continue to struggle.

Trinity County and Weaverville Chamber of Commerce volunteers say they have been very busy fielding phone calls and requests for information about the county’s recreational opportunities. Web sites have also been active.

“The lake level makes a big difference, at least psychologically. If it’s not full, people feel there’s no reason to come up even though there’s still plenty of water to have fun in,” said Trinity County Chamber of Commerce President Pat Zugg.

She joked that an occasional rainy day in the middle of summer is also a good thing.

“It drives the campers into town to visit our shops, go to the museum and eat out. We could really use about one rainy day a week,” she laughed.


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