windsurfing access alert

From: Don B (windguy@jps.net-DeleteThis)
Date: Mon Jan 19 1998 - 14:24:25 PST

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Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19980119142425.00913860@jps.net-DeleteThis>
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 14:24:25 -0800
To: wind_talk@opus.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis
From: Don B <windguy@jps.net-DeleteThis>
Subject: windsurfing access alert
Cc: andreab@jps.net-DeleteThis
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Attached is an article that ran in my local paper yesterday. I'm compelled
to write a quick letter to the Contra Costa Water District explaining the
virtues of windsurfing (and mountain biking). Perhaps you might want to do
the same. If you're not familiar with this area, it sits very near the
windmill fields in the Altamont Pass. This article can also be seen at :
http://www.hotcoco.com/news/index.htm

Don

Published on January 18, 1998 Conta Costa Newspaper Group

Reservoir activities will be limited

WORKSHOP

The Contra Costa Water District will hold a public workshop on the
recreation alternatives at the Los Vaqueros Reservoir at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5
at district headquarters, 1331 Concord Ave., Concord.

By Denis Cuff
TIMES STAFF WRITER

   Recreation planners for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir have unveiled three
options to allow hikers and fishermen, but not swimmers, kayakers,
gas-powered boats, campers, mountain bikers, or horse riders. The report is
stirring new debate about protecting drinking water and allowing recreation
on the 20,000 acres of land and water that will become the East Bay's
second largest public recreation area. Only Mt. Diablo State Park is bigger.
   Staying within means, mission The Contra Costa Water District says
recreation must not strain its budget or degrade drinking water for 400,000
people who will take water from the $450 million reservoir south of
Brentwood. "Our overall approach is to be true to the purpose of Los
Vaqueros, which is to provide a healthy, reliable supply of drinking
water," said Al Donner, a district spokesman. Some recreation advocates
contend the district is too stingy in satisfying the county's thirst for
water recreation.
The reservoir should be open for recreation by July 2000, according to the
alternatives report released by the water district.
Matters of cost
   The report splashes cold water on swimmers' hopes for a new place to
chill out during hot summers. The water board already has told swimmers
they will be barred from reservoir water because of the need to protect
drinking water from bacterial contamination. CCWD planners now say the
district cannot afford a separate $3 million swim lagoon within the $7
million budget of reservoir bond money allocated to recreation. "The
swimming (lagoon) is clearly a matter of cost," said Walter Bishop,
district general manager. "If the board wants to have swimming, you could
have to cut back on fishing piers and picnic areas or other things."
   Planners omitted the lagoon from the three primary recreation
alternatives and placed it in the Phase 2 category of recreation projects.
These would cost an additional $8.6 million.
   "When Phase 2 funding would become available is presently unknown," says
the report. "If funding such as donations or grants from sources other than
Los Vaqueros moneys becomes available, additional facilities could be
developed."
   Planners also placed mountain bike and horseback riding in the same less
certain Phase 2 category. The district could experiment with mountain bike
and equestrians for a modest price, Bishop said. Building or upgrading nine
miles of trail north of the dam for bikes and horses would cost about
$138,000, planners estimate. The pilot project would allow an evaluation
of collision and soil erosion risks and the potential for riders to hold
down district expenses by volunteering to do trail maintenance, Bishop said.
   District administrators say they will wait to hear from the public and
the board before making final recommendations. "The critical recreation
areas are still on the table," Bishop said.
   Checking the options
   Some swimming and trail advocates say the report reinforces their fears
of limited recreation. Barbara Guise, a Brentwood city councilwoman, said
she remains disappointed swimming won't be allowed in the 1,800-acre lake.
"I don't understand why you can have swimming in places like Del Valle
Reservoir (near Livermore) and not in Los Vaqueros," Guise said. "I don't
think the district is living up to the promises it (made) to voters who
approved the reservoir bonds."
   The district promised voters recreation, but not specific kinds,
officials said. Ron Brown of the East Bay Area Trails Council said the
report offers little for horse and bicycle riders.
   "Our organization will be working to convince the district they can
allow more trail uses and still meet their budgetary constraints," Brown said.
   All three recreation options called for hiking, picnicking and shoreline
fishing facilities in keeping with district goals to protect drinking water
quality and the rare and endangered species on reservoir lands. All three
options call for entrance roads on both the Brentwood and Livermore sides
of the reservoir.

The report is less definitive about boats.

One option emphasizing land recreation bans all boating.

The other two call for a small marina for electric, row or sailboats on
the flatter, south side of the lake. Guise said it would be inconvenient
for Contra Costa residents to have to drive several miles to the south side
to launch a boat. Water officials said it's too expensive to build a marina
on the north side of the lake because of the $2.5 million cost to build a
road over the steep hills there. The report recommends banning gas-powered
boats to prevent contamination from the gasoline additive MTBE. Boats
should be no smaller than 10 feet because of the risk of capsizing in high
winds, and no larger than 25 feet because vessels that size would be too
hard to power without a gasoline engine, planners say.

Reservoir filling could begin with two months, officials say.

Next message: Ken Poulton: "Re: windsurfing access at Los Vaqueros"
Previous message: Luigi Semenzato: "seeking obsessed female windsurfer"
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