METROPOLITAN’S DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE SCHEDULED TO OPEN FOR BOATING, FISHING OCT. 3

MWD board committee authorizes 30-month contract with concessionaire for services at lake’s east marina

In an eagerly anticipated announcement, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California today announced Oct. 3 as opening day for Diamond Valley Lake, Southern California's largest freshwater lake, to public boating and fishing.

In a tandem action, the executive committee of Metropolitan’s board of directors authorized a 30-month, revenue-sharing contract with Urban Park Concessionaires of Red Bluff, Calif., to oversee recreation operations at the 4,500-acre lake's east marina.

Also announced was that fishing will be provided along 1 1/2 miles of the lake’s shoreline beginning on opening day, and a dock to accommodate wheelchair-bound anglers will be provided as soon as possible. Development of shoreline fishing had been scheduled for the second phase of recreation development at the lake, but has been accelerated due to public requests.

“Our authorization of a concessionaire clears the way for Southern California’s newest and largest freshwater lake to open in early October,” said Metropolitan board Chairman Phillip J. Pace.

“A little more than two months from now,Diamond Valley Lake will present visitors with an incomparable boating and fishing experience, while it preserves the integrity of the high-quality water stored inside its dams,” Pace said.

A certified small business enterprise, Urban Park has extensive experience working with drinking water utilities that allow recreation on their reservoirs, providing the concessionaire services for Contra Costa Water District’s Los Vaqueros lake and East Bay Municipal Utilities District’s San Pablo and Camanche reservoirs. Diamond Valley Lake is the Southland’s largest water-storage reservoir, holding a six-month emergency supply for the region’s 18 million people.

Under the agreement, Urban Park will administer the reservation system for boating; collect entrance, boat launch and fishing fees; maintain and rent boats; sell fishing licenses, bait, tackle, and limited food and non-alcoholic beverages; service the floating restrooms; and maintain buoys and markers.

Fees will be $7 for entrance, $6 for boat launch, $3 for fishing (which will go to maintaining the lake’s fishery), and $3 for reservations, which will be required initially. Hours of operation will be from sunrise to sunset.

Metropolitan and Urban Park will share the net revenues after monies are set aside for a repair and replacement fund. The limited term will allow Metropolitan to gain experience with recreation at DVL, construct Phase II of the East Marina facilities, and send out a request for proposals for the long-term concessionaire agreement.

E-mailed updates on the lake’s opening, reservations, fees and related news can be obtained by registering online . For example, the district will be announcing the dates and locations of pre-opening boat inspections throughout the Southland. To ensure that the reservoir’s water quality is maintained, all boats must be inspected and certified before they will be allowed on the lake.