Mojave Narrows damage pegged at $2 million

VICTORVILLE •  The storms that pounded the Victor Valley last week destroyed the Horseshoe Lake dam at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, completely draining the lake water and washing more than 1,000 pounds of trout and catfish onto nearby wetlands.

Preliminary estimates to repair the dam and stabilize the lake run about $2 million, according to Maureen Snelgrove, interim director for the San Bernardino County Regional Parks Department.

In addition to restoring the dam, county officials plan on building up the banks and cleaning the lake bottom for a healthy revival of the recreational portion of the park.

“What it allows us to do is to actually improve the habitat in the lake,” Snelgrove said.

One week before the dam broke, the lake had been stocked with 1,000 pounds of trout, on top of already-stocked trout and catfish, Snelgrove said.

The fish fell victim to the brutal weather when mounting saturation from the string of rain storms caused a hole in the dam about 20 feet wide and 15 feet deep on Jan. 20. By the weekend, the hole had deepened below the lake bottom, draining all of the water onto established wetlands and into the Mojave River.

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For additional information on the junior fishing workshop call (909) 387-2461. For trout derby information visit www.sbcounty.gov/parks or call (760) 245-2226.

Natasha Lindstrom may be reached at (760) 951-6232 or at nlindstrom@VVDailyPress.com.