County public works and forest officials reported continuing problems related to repeated high releases from Independence Lake that have increased flows in Independence Creek, causing overtopping near the end of Hennes Pass Road and flooding downstream properties.

“We've engaged with the Forest Service and the water authority and asked them to try and figure out a solution to this,” Public Works Director Brian Davey said. Davey reported the county placed a berm along the road to protect county facilities; the berm was holding temporarily but there remains “some leakage” and properties below the diversion remain inundated.

Tom Perrick, district ranger for the Yuba River District, said the Forest Service is preparing or implementing fuels and other projects and that the agency, water authorities and county are coordinating on a work plan to address overflow and low-water-crossing concerns. “We've been working with Turkey River Watershed Council and a few other partners to try to engineer a new … low water crossing on the way up to Independence Lake,” a Forest Service representative said during the East Side update.

Local residents raised concerns about obstructions in the creek and urged county staff to contact downstream landowners; Bill Copeland, a resident who monitors local creeks, said debris and obstructions appear to be the cause of some overflows and suggested the county ask the responsible agency to clear them.

Officials did not report a final engineering solution at the meeting; they said additional field inspections, coordination with new upstream landowners and partner funding applications are underway. County staff and partners will continue investigations and report back to supervisors as plans are developed.