SAN VICENTE RESERVOIR TO REOPEN SEPT. 22

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East County News Service

September 1, 2016 (Lakeside) – The much-anticipated reopening of San Vicente Reservoir is slated for September 22nd, SDFISH.com reports.  The lake has been closed since September 1, 2008 for construction of the largest dam-raise in the U.S.  SDFISH.com has also set up a discussion forum on San Vicente’s opening here.

Fishing and boating reservations must be made in advance through Ticketron roughly four weeks in advance.  The following information is available on the city of San Diego’s website for San Vicente:

San Vicente Reservoir

San Vicente is a deep, steep-sided impounding reservoir on San Vicente Creek, approximately 25 miles northeast of San Diego. It currently has a depth of 306.00 feet when full. Water levels are monitored weekly.

Construction Work

The San Diego County Water Authority oversaw the construction of the San Vicente Dam Raise Project, which began in early 2009. The San Vicente Dam Raise Project is part of the Water Authority's more than $1 billion Emergency Storage Project, which is creating new emergency water storage and pipeline connections to deliver water throughout the region if our imported water supply is disrupted. Now complete, the reservoir will be able to store an additional 152,000 acre-feet of water supply.

For more information, see the County Water Authority's web pages for the Emergency Storage Project (link is external) and the San Vicente Dam Raise Project (link is external).

Concession

Further information coming in the future.  Rentals and concession services will be provided by Rocky Mountain Recreation.

Ticketmaster

All Tickets for San Vicente are currently being sold through Ticketmaster.  Reservations go on sale every Thursday at 7 p.m. through Ticketmaster for the five (5) day period that is four (4) weeks out. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit the Ticketmaster website (link is external) (link is external). One reservation per household on the first day of sale.  The first 24 hours each household will be allowed to purchase one option only.  No refunds on cancellations for over the limit purchases. Ticketmaster will issue physical tickets.

Ticketmaster will issue physical tickets.  See Permits and Fees for ticket types and prices.

Option 1:

  • General Boat launch = $7. 
  • Availability: 110 each day of Thursdays through Sundays; 150 on Mondays.
  • This option for: private boats not participating in water contact activities.

Option 2:

  • Water Contact Boat launch= $7.
  • Availability: 40 each day of Thursdays through Sundays; 0 on Mondays.
  • This option for: 3 person PWC only (personal water craft); boats towing skiers, inflatables, wakeboards, kneeboards, tubes, and all other towable devices.

Option 3:

  • Car only=$8 (includes one (1) adult general access permit)
  • Availability: 50 available each day of Thursdays through Mondays.
  • For non-water contact and non-boat launch recreational access only: shore fishing, float tubes, kayaks; NO TRAILERS!

Float tubes with oars or motors must have a general boat launch pass from Ticketmaster.  Maximum of five (5) people per ticket.

Seniors are 65+ at time of attendance, Adults are ages 16+ at time of attendance, youth are 8-15 at time of attendance, 7 and under are free and do not require a permit for entry.

Boats are either classified as fishing or water contact; there are no mixed boats. If a boat has the water contact launch, it is classified as a water contact boat and everyone on board must pay the water contact fees.  Maximum of five (5) people per ticket and two (2) vehicles with launch permits.  Vehicles entering with a tow vehicle must be in line together; vehicles arriving separately or at a later time than the tow vehicle will not be permitted to enter, even if the tow vehicle returns to the booth.

Physical tickets only accepted at gate.  No E-tickets, photocopies, screenshots, phone screens, proofs of purchase or printouts accepted.  Additional permits may only be purchased on day of entry at the gate, no advance permits will be sold.

There is no walking into the property permitted, even with a permit/ticket.  All persons (age 8 and older) entering reservoir property are required to pay daily use fees, including launch and per person fees, see Permits & Fees (daily).  All access to the property must be through the main gate located at 12375 Moreno Ave, Lakeside.

Maximum speed limit is 35 mph.

Kayaks: Kayaks are permitted Thursdays through Mondays with a vehicle pass or accompanying a towing vehicle. LAUNCH FEES ARE DIFFERENT AT SAN VICENTE FOR KAYAKS. Each person pays the $8 (adult) or $2.50 (youth) user fee, but there is no additional fee for launching the kayak. This would be option 3.

Fishing

Please see "What's New – San Vicente" for current days and hours of operation.   San Vicente is scheduled to reopen September 22, 2016 on a Thursday through Monday schedule.  All access permits will be purchased through Ticketmaster.

The reservoir was originally stocked with Florida-strain largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, green sunfish, and carp. Minimum size limit for bass is 12 inches and 10 inches for crappie. Fish limits are five bass, five catfish, 25 crappie and bluegill in aggregate, with no limit on other species.

Anglers 16 years of age or older must have a California state fishing license (link is external) (link is external). Fish catch information is updated weekly.

Water Craft

In addition to fishing from boats, patrons can use float tubes, waders or simply fish from shore in areas marked specifically for this recreation. Use of float tubes is restricted to within 150 feet or less from shore. Float tubers must wear chest waders and have a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device readily available at all times and have 144 square inches of international orange visible at least 12 inches above the water line. They must also possess a horn or whistle to warn approaching craft. Any float tube that uses oars or has a motor must purchase a private boat use permit.

Boats are either classified as fishing or water contact; there are no mixed boats. If a boat has the water contact launch, it is classified as a water contact boat and everyone on board must pay the water contact fees.  Maximum of five (5) people per ticket and two (2) vehicles with launch permits.  Vehicles entering with a tow vehicle must be in line together; vehicles arriving separately or at a later time than the tow vehicle will not be permitted to enter, even if the tow vehicle returns to the booth.

San Vicente allows waterskiing, wakeboarding and use of 3 person personal watercraft.  San Vicente allows three-person personal watercraft (jet skis) to tow skiers or inflatables in the waterski zone.

Directions

From Highway 67, go east on Vigilante Road, left on Moreno Avenue to the reservoir entrance.

More Information


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