Lake Don Pedro Powerhouse
Sierra Sun Times file photo

February 20, 2017 - At 10:25 a.m., Turlock Irrigation District (TID) confirmed that the Controlled Spillway at Don Pedro Reservoir will be opened today at 3:00 p.m.

Deconstruction of Bonds Flat Rd. has begun and TID power customers will be de-energized in low lying areas. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) for general aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) below 4,000 ft. and within a 2 nautical miles of the Don Pedro dam have been issued starting at 3 p.m. today and ending at 3 p.m. tomorrow for the safeguard of emergency personnel. As part of the plan to use the controlled spillway, the portion of Bonds Flat Road within the spillway channel itself will be removed to avoid the release of roadway material into the Tuolumne River and facilitate restoration of that road segment sometime this summer. As of this morning, TID and Don Pedro Recreation Agency staff has closed the launch ramps at Don Pedro Reservoir and are not allowing any recreational boating on the lake until further notice.

For whatever period Bonds Flat Road is closed, all through traffic that would normally use Bonds Flat Road will need to plan on using alternate routes. The only major alternate routes available will be Highway 49 to Highway 132 or La Grange Road (J-59) to Highway 132. Travelers are reminded that: 1) repairs to the James E. Roberts Bridge on Highway 120 will continue to require periodic nighttime closures; and 2) Marshes Flat Road from Highway 49 to the top of Kelly Grade has been closed indefinitely due to storm damage. Provided with this press release is a map highlighting the location of recommended alternate routes and closures. 

Additional information on both Don Pedro Reservoir and the James E. Roberts Bridge can be obtained at the following links:

Don Pedro Reservoir – www.tid.org/flows
James E. Roberts Bridge - www.dot.ca.gov/dist10/JamesRobertsBridge/index.htm
Source: TID