The May 5, 2008 article on endangered salamanders contained information about Lagunita and its dam that needs clarification. Lagunita is a storm water collection basin for foothills runoff. That function and the resulting water containment is what attracts salamanders to breed there. The dam is considered safe for water containment of these runoff flows up to several feet above the current water surface elevation to the level of the dam’s spillway, which is located south of the Driving Range. The California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams inspects it annually. Their inspections cover the condition of the dam itself and its major components, as well as its operation and maintenance procedures.

In years when winter rains have partially filled Lagunita and salamanders have been attracted to it for breeding, we supplement runoff to Lagunita with lake water from our creeks and lakes in order to sustain them, particularly when spring rains are not adequate. Lagunita’s water percolates into the ground rapidly, recharging groundwater, so we do not routinely fill it to the brim because of water conservation reasons. We rely on the water we store in Felt and Searsville Lakes for the summer’s irrigation supply.

Tom W. Zigterman, P.E. is the Stanford Associate Director of Utilities, Department of Sustainability and Energy Management