Clear Lake Environmental Research Center(CLERC)
  • About Us
    • Who We Are >
      • About CLERC
      • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
      • STAFF
      • Collaborators
    • What We Do >
      • Fire & Forestry >
        • Community Projects >
          • Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project - Phase 1
          • Wildfire Resilience Project - Phase 1
          • Northshore Fuels Team
          • South Lake Chipping Program
          • Fox Drive Fire Prevention Project
          • Middletown and Cobb Evacuation Route Clearing
          • Bottle Rock Rd Project
        • Cost-Share Programs >
          • North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP)
          • Building Fire Resiliency in California's Coast Range Forests and Grasslands
      • Hitch Observation Program
  • The CLERC Lab
  • Resources
    • Current Conditions
    • Lab Forms
    • Report Hitch Sighting
    • Lake County TREX
    • Wildfire Resiliency Resources
    • The CLERC Library
  • Connect
    • CLERC News
    • Work With Us
    • Contact Us >
      • Landowner Contact Form
    • Donate
DONATE

The Rumsey Gauge

"What is Zero Rumsey?"
The natural level of Clear Lake is maintained by the Grigsby Riffle, which is a rock sill located at the confluence of Cache and Seigler Creeks near Lower Lake. The natural low water level of Clear Lake was established as "Zero Rumsey" and all subsequent lake measurements are based on this elevation.
Picture
Flooding in Library Park, Lakeport, California, February 28, 2017. (photo by: Will Evans)
As a legal measure, the Gopcevic Decree of 1920 establishes Zero Rumsey as 20.01 feet below the center of the large concrete star at the northeast corner of court house yard in Lakeport.  Zero Rumsey is equivalent to 1318.25 feet above sea level (1929 NGVD) and full lake is established as 7.56 feet on the Rumsey gage.​  In 2014, after several years of drought Clear Lake dropped to -.75 Rumsey, and water no longer flowed out of the lake.  A few laters in 2017, Clear Lake rose to 10.6 Rumsey, its highest level in nearly 20 years. 
Picture
The Grigsby Riffle at the Lake Street Bridge in Lower Lake, California during low water, 10/23/2014. (photo by: Will Evans)
Picture
Cache Creek looking downstream during low water, 10/23/2014. (photo by: Will Evans)

Explore

Clear Lake
About CLERC
Fire & Forestry Project Map​
​The CLERC Library
Blue Ribbon Committee

Connect

Contact Us
Lab Forms
Report Hitch Sighting
Upload Files

Give

Donate

Follow Us

Submit

Picture
Clear Lake Environmental Research Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 47-1489147) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
​

© 2022 Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, PO Box 636 Lakeport, CA  95453
  • About Us
    • Who We Are >
      • About CLERC
      • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
      • STAFF
      • Collaborators
    • What We Do >
      • Fire & Forestry >
        • Community Projects >
          • Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project - Phase 1
          • Wildfire Resilience Project - Phase 1
          • Northshore Fuels Team
          • South Lake Chipping Program
          • Fox Drive Fire Prevention Project
          • Middletown and Cobb Evacuation Route Clearing
          • Bottle Rock Rd Project
        • Cost-Share Programs >
          • North Bay Forest Improvement Program (NBFIP)
          • Building Fire Resiliency in California's Coast Range Forests and Grasslands
      • Hitch Observation Program
  • The CLERC Lab
  • Resources
    • Current Conditions
    • Lab Forms
    • Report Hitch Sighting
    • Lake County TREX
    • Wildfire Resiliency Resources
    • The CLERC Library
  • Connect
    • CLERC News
    • Work With Us
    • Contact Us >
      • Landowner Contact Form
    • Donate