Herald and News: Lakeshore drainage association

Lakeshore drainage association

Klamath Falls Herald and News

July 23, 2006

In some areas, special districts are set up to maintain dikes.

On Lakeshore Drive, along the south end of Upper Klamath Lake, the county assessor’s office reports, about 20 homeowners contribute a total of $2,500 each year. The assessor’s office then provides the money to the Lakeshore Garden Drainage Association, and much of the money goes toward maintenance of the Lakeshore Drive dike or levee, which runs about one-half mile on Upper Klamath Lake.

After the Geary Dike failure, homeowner Bill Cox contacted county commissioners, asking how their dike or levee could receive inspection. Klamath County Emergency Manager Bill Thompson then invited Allen Irvine, president of the special district to the Corps of Engineers’ June 15 meeting.

The Lakeshore district plans on joining the Corps inspection program, and they expect to receive their first inspection in September, Irvine said.

Cox says much of the money goes toward the maintenance of pumps. Members of the association know the dike itself needs repair after they “go out and look at it,” Cox says. If it needs reinforcement, they haul rock to it.