[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 10/3/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

October 3, 2008

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People –

 

 

Diamond Valley Lake decision leaves private launches high and dry

Riverside Press Enterprise – 10/2/08

By HERBERT ATIENZA

HEMET - Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California's largest freshwater reservoir and a premier fishing destination, will shut down its private boat launches indefinitely at the close of business on Oct. 13.

 

Continuing drought conditions and the need to conserve water are the reasons for the closure, said officials of the lake's owner, Metropolitan Water District.

The lake will remain open to the public, including for those who fish from the shoreline or use the surrounding trails.

Rental boats will be available until it becomes impractical to operate, and kayaks and canoes that meet lake guidelines will be allowed to launch as long as boarding docks are serviceable, MWD officials said.

 

"We're disappointed," said Josh Moreno, a fisherman and employee at Last Chance Bait and Tackle shop in Hemet.

Moreno said the shop will likely lose business because of the closure of the boat launch lanes.

"We get a lot of people from out of town that fish this lake," he said.

 

He added that he hopes the lake's private launches will not be closed for a long time.

MWD General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger, in an Oct. 2 e-mail sent to MWD directors and member agency managers, said the lake's storage levels have receded as water is drawn to meet the region's needs.

 

By Oct. 13, he said, the water level is projected to drop to about 480,000 acre-feet, which is the end of the existing boat ramp at the lake's marina.

Kightlinger said MWD realizes the popularity of the lake for boaters and fishermen, but "the reservoir's primary purpose is to help maintain water supply reliability for Metropolitan, our 26 member public agencies and nearly 19 million Southern Californians."

He said MWD is informing Hemet and Riverside County officials about the decision, and working with concessionaires to notify pass holders and dry storage renters about the situation.

 

He said the boat launch lanes could close earlier "if conditions warrant."

MWD spokesman Bob Muir said the lake's storage capacity is 810,000 acre-feet of water.

Since January, when the lake held nearly 597,000 acre-feet, MWD drew 107,000 acre-feet to meet member agency needs, dropping lake level 24 feet.

MWD has been receiving less water than usual from its water sources, primarily the Colorado River, depleting supplies in the lake, Muir said.

It's not known when the boat launches would reopen, though the MWD board would consider extending the boat ramp at the meeting Oct. 14, he said.

Even if approved, he said, it would take some time for the ramp to be extended to allow boat launches.

 

Diamond Valley Lake, encompassing 4,500 acres, is an emergency and backup water supply for the district, which serves cities and water districts in six Southern California counties.

 

Muir said the lake has about 12,800 private boat launches a year. Between 650 boats to 1,600 boats launch each month, with the peak months being April and May.#

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_lake03.218866c.html

 

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