Thursday Night Red Tail Lake got its first real slalom ski sets.  See the video links here.
This video was taken from inside the boat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A6TsE1UUWk
and this video was taken from the end of the lake facing east.  Lars Miller tearin it up!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuhNGcweGRk

Also to update other happenings.  The lake is about 6' deep and could easily take another 2' for a total of 8' deep!!!  That is awesome.  Depth makes maintenance and weed control much easier. The forage crop was swathed over a week ago and is now being baled.  Time to start planning our next crop.

We launched the boat yesterday morning and went for a ski. The lake level is about 4.5 ft. and has about 2.5 more to go. Gosh, it's beautiful out there. Quiet, great views, warm water, even saw a Red Tail Hawk...but I guess that's expected.

Unfortunately waterskiing has not been much of a priority lately.  What is wrong with us?  Unfortunately, there has been alot to focus on and waterskiing has taken a back seat.  While the lake has been filling slowly and consistently, the forage crop has developed well.  The grain has not matured enough to cut and offer the best quality hay, so the cutting has been delayed for a few more days.  That delay does not allow for sunflowers to be planted early enough, so switching crops to something different is now under consideration.  There are a few other options that look viable with the water source being available in the lake.  We'll likely make a decision on what crop to select as soon as the forage is removed and we can incorporate any remaining stubble.  A few different grain crops and melon crops are available as good options.  Also our neighbor was able to get a second well installed in the lake prior to filling.  As soon as he is annexed into the water district, Red Tail Lake will offer additional water delivery to his parcel.  Just another benefit of this farm reseviour.

Even though we have yet to have a boat on the lake, most people in the local area are already referring to Red Tail as "the water ski lake".  I often wonder if we never skied on the lake, if it would continue to be referred as such.

We did squeeze in a quick ski out at The Ridge with Marcus Brown and Terry Winter last saturday afternoon.  Its really nice to be around people that love the lake life.  Even though skiing is more than a hobby for those families, they still seem to be loving the sport as much as ever.

With spring work in the area nearing completion, we are looking forward to what the Red Tail Lake property has in store for the remainder of the summer.  Using the lake for its combined purpose of irrigation and recreation is going to be very satisfying!

Less than one month ago the Ching Family from Oroville, and the Mautz Family from Paradise along with thousands of friends lost their beloved Brent, Kristen, Hailey, and Caleb who were residing in Durham, CA.  Words do not explain this loss.  For the water skiing community we lost some of our best friends also.  Brent was an accomplished skier with Kristen tearing up the course for the first time in the summer of 2008.   Hailey (5 years old!!) went from skiing double to long line slalom… THE highlight of the year.  Meanwhile Caleb (3) did not miss many passes on his doubles…   The Ching family enjoyed their last summer here on earth enjoying their new ski lake that was filled for the first time in the spring.  They spent nearly every day on the lake and gave it all the use it could handle.  We are all so fortunate to have known the Chings and feel even more fortunate to be involved in their dream of living on a lake.  Please keep them and their families in your prayers.  No set on the lake will be done without them cheering us on.  We will miss you Ching Family!!

  

   

Red Tail Lake Update – April 2009

Only a few more weeks to go…  Boat Ramp is in, Ag well pad is poured, boat guide and slalom course anchors installed.  Just a few final touchups before the lake will be filled soon!!  Alfalfa being cut this week and forage crop only a few more weeks from being hayed.  We should be using the lake by May 1^st.  The canal was just charged the other day.  This was a good example of a need for irrigation water prior to the lake being charged for irrigating permanent crops.

 

It looks like we will hold off until the fall to complete the docks.  Simply running out of time this spring.  However here are pictures of similar docks built on the other two lakes completed in the past two years.  It’s hard to believe that this is the third lake built in three years.  All are awesome projects that have turned out better than expected.

 

  

While the lake is filling with water and the forage crop tillering and taking off, the property and lots have attracted wildlife along with the great views.  The property looks absolutely great!

In terms of Red Tail Lake, the winter progress has been steady.  A new fence stretching the length of Cow Trail Lane was installed along with a initial gate in December.  Long terms plans have a very nice gate similar to ones seen here. www.trailswestgatecompany.com.  Also during the winter months we have been able to deliver the initial dock steel on site.  Hoping to get started with construction on those docks here early in the spring! 

Spring is almost here.  We received somewhat of a Miracle February in terms of Rain!!!  California needed it.  The “Ski Lake” here at Red Tail Lake captured nearly 2’ of water in the bottom of the lake.  Meanwhile our other on-farm reservoir in Orland was filled through the strong rains.  The water conservation efforts of this otherwise storm runoff has paid off.  We are supplementing our own need for water with these lake/reservoir projects.  Now only if we can stress this sustainability value over the seldom used but more prevalently discussed recreational element.  Which by the way water skiing and recreation in general is a “Non-Consumptive” use of water.  More education on that topic would be helpful show how properly designed lakes have a primary use that offers exceptional secondary benefits.

The lake side wet well was installed on parcel #2 so that the property can be directly irrigated out of the lake. This provides very efficient water use along with maximizing the storm water captured during the winter.  As the lake is holding water extremely well, it has become obvious that we will only be losing evaporation.  With good ground water levels in the Biggs area, this lack of ground water recharge is acceptable and really a huge asset to the parcel owners.  This assures us that we will not be paying for water to recharge the local aquifer that is already in a very plentiful region.  With the Thermalito Afterbay just miles north of this land, I don’t think we could keep up with the ground water recharge that it provides this area.