Don Pedro Reservoir Near Capacity: Bonds Flat Road To Close
Don Pedro, CA — In anticipation Don Pedro Reservoir potentially reaching capacity, and therefore needing to utilize a controlled spillway, Bonds Flat Road will close on Monday.
The specific stretch of Bonds Flat Road is between J-59 and Highway 132. The Turlock Irrigation District, which operates Don Pedro Reservoir, reports that the current elevation is 826.3 ft. and the maximum storage level is 830 ft. The forecast for Monday and Tuesday calls for a combined 4.9 inches of precipitation, which could put Don Pedro over capacity. Concrete barriers will be placed on Bonds Flat Road at around 9am on Monday so that no one can pass through.
If the controlled spillway is utilized, the Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services reports that Bonds Flat Road will be compromised to the point of requiring reconstruction during the summer.
Opening up the spillway would result in heavy flows down into the Central Valley. Landowners along the Tuolumne River are urged to take needed steps to protect property and livestock.
Tuolumne County OES recommends the following alternate routes:
For whatever period Bonds Flat Road is closed, all traffic that would normally use the 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: I) 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.
We’ll pass along more information as it becomes available.
