-Headline News

The Chester High School limnology program went operational again March 14 with the receipt of 500 pounds of Eagle Lake trout from the California Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Crystal Lake Hatchery.

The subject of whether the city could give preference to local contractors, even when their bid is not the lowest, first came before Portola’s City Council during discussions about the A15 road improvement project scheduled for this summer.

Mayor Pro Tem Juliana Mark brought the subject up and referenced the local economy as the motivation. Since then, City Attorney Steve Gross researched the city’s possibilities and presented a concise report to the council at its Feb. 11 meeting.

The City of Portola is reporting that as of this morning the Rocky Point gauging station is reading 9 feet (1 foot above flood level). But the city has received no reports of flooding thus far.

City Manager Jim Murphy said he has checked the area where the city experienced its first problems, a residence at the south end of West Street, and the water was right up to the front deck of the house, approximately 1 foot before the resident will have to vacate the house. The river is very wide at this location, so it will take a greater amount of water drainage to raise this area by one foot. “The cold weather of last night seems to have helped suppress the runoff into the river,” said Murphy. “Let’s hope that it doesn’t get too warm during the daylight hours and start the melt again.”

Click here to see the most current flood stage readings.