It’s clear skies ahead for the 2016 recreational boating season, which opened on schedule April 15 with optimism of remaining that way through the summer months and until Oct. 14.
“The (water) projections don’t show there is a threat of closure early like last year,” said Tamara Clark-Shear with the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. “The (Santa Clara Valley Water District) determines the water need in the county. We’ve been told that we would be open.”
Last year, Anderson Reservoir closed prematurely Aug. 17, 2015, after a ruptured water pipe near Casa de Fruita forced SCVWD to use more reserves from the local waterway. The pipeline from San Luis Reservoir acted as the county’s main supply to its water treatment plants, according to SCVWD officials.
“Based on the current plan, we expect (water) storage at Anderson to be above the minimum storage level for recreational boating through Labor Day Weekend,” said Colleen Valles, spokesperson with SCVWD. “That’s our expectation. Things are subject to change.”
If the water level reaches around 40,000 acre feet, then boats can’t be safely launched. Currently, Anderson’s water level is at 50,570 acre feet of water. An acre foot covers an acre of land 1 foot deep—enough water to supply two families of five for a year, Valles explained.
Anderson’s capacity is 90,000 acre feet. However, it cannot be filled to capacity until the dam is retrofitted for seismic safety. That $200 million project is still scheduled to begin in Spring 2017, according to Valles.
When you can boat: April 15 through Oct. 14 (7 days a week from 8 a.m. to half-hour before sunset)
Where you can boat: Calero, Coyote Lake, Anderson, Lexington and Stevens Creek Reservoirs will be open to all boating.
Where you can’t boat: Almaden, Chesbro, Sandy Wool, Cottonwood, Grant, Guadalupe, Uvas, and Vasona are closed indefinitely to boating, including model boats.
For updates on boating: Visit parks and rec website at sccgov.org or call (408) 355-2201.
