Boating restrictions due to mussels?

On May 8, 9:09*pm, "Mike" wrote:
Mike,

Where are you located? I'm in San Jose, and most of my boating is in the
Anderson Resevoir. I read exactly what you stated in the Mercury News this
morning. Inspections would be OK in my book, but the launching fee should
cover it. Any additional cost should not be passed on to us. I do realize
that the mussels are a menace, but not to the point of prohibiting boating
on the few lakes we have available to us, here in Santa Clara County.

I'm also in San Jose. I do most of my boating in Calero. Was there
yesterday and there was a crew filming for the local news.

Already they are backing off on the possibility of a complete ban on
boating. Should have seen it coming. They did the same thing a few
years ago with MTBE. Scare the hell out of the public with talk about
a complete ban, then make them jump through hoops to still be able to
go boating.

What I find interesting is how late they are to the party this time.
They were on top of MTBE early and rightly took some credit when it
was banned. The mussels were found 4 months ago practically in our
backyard. The did some initial testing and made sure the press was
there to film their scuba divers working, but took no steps to address
boating. Clear Lake, East Bay MUD and others have already started
inspection programs. Also, Anderson and Calero reservoirs are
connected via underground pipeline with San Justo. They all get water
from San Luis reservoir and both Anderson and Calero are 'downstream'
from San Justo.

I have no doubt we will end up paying for inspections. Neither the
county, who runs the public access part, or the water district wants
to pay for anything new. I also don't think they'll issue season
passes. Boaters in this area are much more likely to travel long
distances to launch their boat. There aren't any large reservoirs in
the area that offer camping. I was at Lake Berryessa just last
weekend.

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Wrote a letter to the editor of
the local fishwrap late yesterday. We'll see if they publish it.

-mike

Interesting. I knew about Anderson and Calero being fed from San Luis, but
even if they're downstream, from San Justo, isn't it still a seperate pipe?

I'm with ya about lack of camping around here. We usually get down to San
Antonio a couple of times a year for that.

--Mike

"phishrace" wrote in message
...
On May 8, 9:09 pm, "Mike" wrote:
Mike,

Where are you located? I'm in San Jose, and most of my boating is in the
Anderson Resevoir. I read exactly what you stated in the Mercury News this
morning. Inspections would be OK in my book, but the launching fee should
cover it. Any additional cost should not be passed on to us. I do realize
that the mussels are a menace, but not to the point of prohibiting boating
on the few lakes we have available to us, here in Santa Clara County.

I'm also in San Jose. I do most of my boating in Calero. Was there
yesterday and there was a crew filming for the local news.

Already they are backing off on the possibility of a complete ban on
boating. Should have seen it coming. They did the same thing a few
years ago with MTBE. Scare the hell out of the public with talk about
a complete ban, then make them jump through hoops to still be able to
go boating.

What I find interesting is how late they are to the party this time.
They were on top of MTBE early and rightly took some credit when it
was banned. The mussels were found 4 months ago practically in our
backyard. The did some initial testing and made sure the press was
there to film their scuba divers working, but took no steps to address
boating. Clear Lake, East Bay MUD and others have already started
inspection programs. Also, Anderson and Calero reservoirs are
connected via underground pipeline with San Justo. They all get water
from San Luis reservoir and both Anderson and Calero are 'downstream'
from San Justo.

I have no doubt we will end up paying for inspections. Neither the
county, who runs the public access part, or the water district wants
to pay for anything new. I also don't think they'll issue season
passes. Boaters in this area are much more likely to travel long
distances to launch their boat. There aren't any large reservoirs in
the area that offer camping. I was at Lake Berryessa just last
weekend.

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Wrote a letter to the editor of
the local fishwrap late yesterday. We'll see if they publish it.

-mike

On May 9, 8:19 pm, "Mike" wrote:
Interesting. I knew about Anderson and Calero being fed from San Luis, but
even if they're downstream, from San Justo, isn't it still a seperate pipe?

Not sure how it's plumbed, but it is an extension. The big outlet at
Calero was shut off right away and hasn't been used since. Now they
are bringing in water with the smaller pipes below. My guess is those
pipes are connected to Anderson with San Luis cut off just upstream of
the split below Anderson. Also noticed that Coyote creek below
Anderson dam is running much slower than usual. I think they were also
using San Luis water there to restore salmon and steelhead habitat in
the creek. None of the reservoirs, including San Justo, have striped
bass. So we at least know some filtering or screening is done between
San Luis and the other reservoirs.

Thankfully the aquifers are full, but I still bet they start using the
'D' word the first time the temperature reads over 90 for a day or
two.

I'm with ya about lack of camping around here. We usually get down to San
Antonio a couple of times a year for that.

Yeah, it sucks close to home. But when you think about it, we can be
camping on the beach in 1/2 an hour, the Delta in 1 hour, or the
Sierras in 2 1/2. It could be a lot worse!

-mike

phishrace writes:

Not sure how it's plumbed, but it is an extension. The big
outlet at Calero was shut off right away and hasn't been
used since. Now they are bringing in water with the smaller
pipes below.

I had no idea that these reservoirs were connected to one
another. I'd always had the impression that each one was
filled only from its own local watershed, and that there
was one outlet pipe per reservoir for drawing out water.


Yeah, it sucks close to home. But when you think about
it, we can be camping on the beach in 1/2 an hour, the
Delta in 1 hour, or the Sierras in 2 1/2. It could be
a lot worse!

Where fo you recommend for camping in the Delta? The only
place I've camped there is Brannan Island State Park, and
that was back when I was Boy Scout. Places with showers
would be a plus...



Geoff

--
"Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Alpha Centauri" -- Jonah Goldberg

On May 10, 6:41 pm, (Geoff Miller) wrote:
phishrace writes:
Not sure how it's plumbed, but it is an extension. The big
outlet at Calero was shut off right away and hasn't been
used since. Now they are bringing in water with the smaller
pipes below.

I had no idea that these reservoirs were connected to one
another. I'd always had the impression that each one was
filled only from its own local watershed, and that there
was one outlet pipe per reservoir for drawing out water.

I don't know the exact details, but the pipeline from San Justo was
extended north later. The steelhead fishermen in the Santa Cruz
mountains are trying to get another extension and they want to lower
the outtake pipelines at San Luis so they draw even more water from
SL.

Much of this info was available online prior to 9/11. Maps and lots of
details. Not any more.

Yeah, it sucks close to home. But when you think about
it, we can be camping on the beach in 1/2 an hour, the
Delta in 1 hour, or the Sierras in 2 1/2. It could be
a lot worse!

Where fo you recommend for camping in the Delta? The only
place I've camped there is Brannan Island State Park, and
that was back when I was Boy Scout. Places with showers
would be a plus...

The state park at Brannan is where we always go. A local fishing board
I post on...

http://www.anglernet.net

has a get together there every fall in the group areas. Great striper
fishing area and used to be an excellent salmon fishing area. They
have showers and the park is very well maintained. I always get an
overnight berth. I've also camped at other resorts in the Delta, but
always come back to Brannan. Camping is best, by far, before Memorial
Day and after Labor Day. Can be windy in the area and with big tides
sometimes going against big winds. 3 mile slough, where the 6 lane
ramp is located, is protected.

Winds can be monitored here...

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?s=RVB&d=
(click LATEST link for updates)

If you want to leave the tent at home, Vierra's has cottages and
berths...

http://vieiras95641.tripod.com/

Vierra's is in a protected area of the old river and is also on
Brannan Island. I have never stayed there, but have launched there
lots of times (when it was too windy at the ends of 3 mile slough) and
have never heard any complaints. The spring striper run has been
outstanding this year with many large fish caught in the Brannan
Island area.

-mike