Chapter 18.10 - RESERVOIR RECREATION AREAS

 

Sections:

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18.10.010            Intent – To Protect Water Quality.

18.10.020            Boat Docks.

18.10.030            Boating Laws and Compliance.              

18.10.040            Body to Water Contact Restriction.

18.10.050            Camping.

18.10.060            Fish Cleaning.

18.10.070            Intake Area.

18.10.080            Pets.

18.10.090            Penalty-Misdemeanor.                

18.10.100            Recovering Material from the Reservoir.

 

18.10.010 Intent – To Protect Water Quality.

Modesto and Woodward Reservoirs are a domestic drinking water supply source. In order to preserve the quality of the water supply, and to maintain the health and sanitation of the water, the provisions of this chapter are enacted. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

 

18.10.020 Boat Docks.

Boat docks and surrounding areas may be used solely for docking boats and associated activities. All other activities, including but not limited to fishing, swimming, or diving, are prohibited.

 

18.10.030 Boating Laws and Compliance.

1. All boats in any recreation area must comply with the provisions of the Harbors and Navigation Code, the regulations of the California Department of Boating and Waterways, and any other regulations enacted to implement these laws. Violation of this section shall be punishable as provided for such violation by state law. (Ord. CS 512 §5, 1993; prior code §10-2(b)).

2. All vessels shall visibly display current registration and quagga/zebra mussel stamp as required by state law. 

3. A valid California Boaters Card is required to operate a vessel. This includes owners, renters and operators of vessels regardless of age.

4. Moored or beached vessels may not be left unattended for more than twenty-four hours, except in a designated boat mooring area.

5. Patrons must abide by all signs and markings regulating boating, such as buoy marked speed and restricted zones.

6. Watercraft trailers must be removed from the water promptly after loading or unloading.

7. A watercraft must not be occupied by a number of persons greater than the vessel’s designed weight and/or passenger capacity.

8. Use or operation of any watercraft on county reservoirs is not permitted between the hours of one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. (Ord. CS 574 §3, 1994; Ord. CS 512 §2, 1993; Ord. CS 458 §3, 1991; Ord. CS 262 §1, 1987; Ord. CS 20 §19, 1983; prior code §10-2(c)).

9. Operation of all watercrafts in the area between the buoys and the water quality wall at the reservoirs is punishable by a five hundred dollar fine. (Ord. CS 1120 §1, 2012; Ord. CS 512 §3, 1993; Ord. CS 262 §2, 1987; Ord. CS 20 §§20, 21, 1983; prior code §10-2(d)).

10. It is unlawful to move, remove, damage, mutilate, or deface any one of the posted signs or marker buoys. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

11. Any vessel which is equipped with an onboard sink or toilet outlet must have its sink or toilet securely sealed and plugged so that no leakage can occur before it may be operated on the reservoirs’ waters. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

12. Staying overnight or sleeping onboard any boat moored on the reservoirs is prohibited. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

13. Boat racing is not permitted unless prior authorization is obtained from Director or authorized agent.

 

18.10.040 Body to Water Contact Restriction.

The body to water contact restriction is enforced annually typically between September through May when imposed by South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) at Woodward Reservoir.

 

18.10.050 Camping.

 Camping is not permitted within fifty feet of the high watermark. The fifty-foot line is posted for the visitor’s information. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

 

18.10.060 Fish Cleaning.

Unless there are stations designated for that purpose, no person may clean fish while on the reservoirs, or while on land within the boundaries of the recreation area. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

 

18.10.070 Intake Area.

No fishing, boating or swimming is permitted within five hundred feet of the intake to the water treatment plant. The five-hundred-foot safe zone is marked by fences on land and by log booms, buoys, and all signs on the water to designate the closed area. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

 

18.10.080 Pets.

1. Subject to Section 18.06.040 of this title, no person may bring pets or other animals into the Modesto Reservoir recreation area. Service animals, as defined in Section 18.04.280 of this title, are permitted at the Modesto Reservoir recreation area, subject to the same term and conditions set out in Section 18.06.040 of this title.

2. Service animals must remain further than fifty feet from the high watermark, except when performing a service for their owners. While performing the service, the animal should always remain under the control of its owner. (Ord. CS 927 §3, 2005; Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

3. Dogs permitted to enter reservoir recreational areas are subject to a fee as defined in the current adopted fee schedule, excluding service animals as defined in 18.04.280.

 

18.10.090 Penalty—Misdemeanor.

Violation of any provision of Sections 18.10.030 J, 18.10.030 K, 18.10.050 and 18.10.070, shall be punishable as a misdemeanor as provided in Section 1.36.010. (Ord. CS 574 §1, 1994).

 

18.10.100 Recovering Material from the Reservoir.

Any object or foreign matter which in any manner has been dropped, deposited or fallen into a reservoir must be recovered. Such material shall include, but not be limited to, sunken boats, anchors, boat motors and waterfowl blinds