Rules at Pinecrest Reservoir tighten up Union Democrat

A new set of rules will soon change the way summer water revelers enjoy Pinecrest Lake.

Officials with the Stanislaus National Forest and PG&E this week announced a comprehensive plan to manage the recreational facilities at the popular Tuolumne County reservoir.

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The Pinecrest Shoreline Management Plan was designed to address conflicts between boating, swimming and fishing activities on the lake, according to Stanislaus National Forest spokesman Jerry Snyder.

?The purpose is to better manage the shoreline activities,? Snyder said.

The plan will significantly limit the number of boats allowed to moor along the lake?s banks. Last year, the Forest Service estimated about 150 boats were moored along the shoreline, but that will be restricted to just 20 boats which will be issued permits by lottery, Snyder said.

The existing commercial marina will not be affected. Boat owners who do not receive a permit will have the option to dock their boats there, Snyder said.

The reduction is intended to resolve some problems with boats being left unattended for long periods of time and blocking access for swimming and fishing on the lake, he said.?

In addition, the plan calls for the removal of several floating platforms and makeshift mooring buoys that would impede boat traffic.

?There?s been a problem with buoys being moored off shore,? Snyder said. ?People would have to navigate around them.?

Boaters without a permit will have to remove their craft from the water before the park closes at night, and could risk being fined if they leave their boats tied up for extended periods.

The lake is popular among boating groups like the El Toro Yacht Racing Association, which regularly holds competitions there.?

Some area cabin owners and recreational sailors were unhappy with the rules, which they said amount to reduced access to the lake.

?There?s no justification for these sorts of things,? said Sacramento resident Alan Green, who owns one of the 380 cabins that dot the perimeter of the lake. ?They?re fixing non-existing problems.?

He said the Forest Service plan places too much emphasis on day use aspects of the lake at the expense of the recreation interests of cabin owners, many of whom have been in the area for generations.

Alan said that boat owners should be allowed to self-regulate their activities and be able to keep their craft on the lake overnight.

?What if someone wants to spend a romantic evening out on the lake? Is that now illegal?? he asked.

He also complained that the Forest Service confiscated several small boats that were moored on the shoreline last summer, and removed a floating dock that belonged to him.

Snyder said the changes were necessary because the number of boats tied to rocks and logs along the shore made it difficult and hazardous for people to enjoy swimming and fishing areas, especially during the busy summer months.

?We realize this could be controversial, but there are safety and access issues that we have to deal with,? Snyder said.

The shoreline management plan was required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission when it renewed PG&E?s license to draw water from Pinecrest Lake in 2009.?

In exchange for the management plan and several improvements to recreational facilities, PG&E transports water to the Spring Gap Stanislaus hydroelectric power plant, where it is used to produce electricity which PG&E then sells.?

Revisions to the lake?s management plan are rare because PG&E only has to renew its license every 30 years, Snyder said.

?It?s an opportunity for improvements for the management of Pinecrest Lake,? he said. ?Over the years, the use at Pinecrest has increased significantly. It is used by more and more people, therefore there is a need for new management tools.?

The San Francisco-based utility company is planning to spend roughly $4 million to improve day use area trails, boat launches, swimming areas and parking, and upgrade bathrooms and fish cleaning stations for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, according to PG&E spokeswoman Nicole Liebelt.

?The planned improvements to the lake are designed to enhance the recreation experience and make it more enjoyable and accessible,? Liebelt said.

Snyder said the projects likely won?t begin until after Labor Day. A separate project will address traffic issues for cars entering the lake zone, he said.

PG&E is accepting public comment on the management plan until May 3, after which it will send the plan to the FERC for final approval.?

A detailed description of the Pinecrest Shoreline Management Plan is available online at www.pinecrestlakeupdate.com.?

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