LAKE COUNTY >> As Father’s Day and Fourth of July celebrations come around, many will look to camp or hit the water. And now, more Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) campgrounds have opened as snow is melting and winter storm damage to facilities and roads get repaired.
“This year’s deep snows and late spring storms have delayed the usual seasonal opening dates for many of PG&E’s campgrounds, but we’ve worked hard to repair damage and coordinate with local and federal agencies to restore roads so we could open as many recreational sites as soon as it was safe to do so,” said Dena Parish, director of environmental management for energy supply at PG&E.
PG&E maintains public campgrounds and other recreational facilities associated with its vast hydroelectric system throughout Northern and Central California. Campers can go online and reserve sites at dozens of PG&E campgrounds located at reservoirs, rivers, and creeks from the Pit River in Shasta County to the Kings River region in the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Reservations are generally available Memorial Day through Labor Day. There is a minimum two-night stay at reserved campgrounds and a consecutive 14-night limit for camping. All campgrounds also have some first-come, first served sites except for group-only campgrounds.
PG&E is working with its campground hosts, the county, and the U.S. Forest Service to reopen roads and open more campsites.
In addition to camping opportunities, PG&E also offers dozens of lakes for boating, fishing, and swimming, as well as hiking trails and other day-use areas for the public’s enjoyment.
According to PG&E, five of the six campgrounds that they operate at Lake Pillsbury are now open. However, due to road closures and accessibility issues, Trout Creek will remain closed. PG&E added that detours will be available for those that choose to head to Fuller Grove, Navy Camp, Sunset Point, Oak Flat or Pogie Point.
“Please plan to go through Upper Lake off Highway 20 onto Elk Mountain Road,” PG&E said in a public statement. “This is the only way to get to Lake Pillsbury.”
To book a reservation and tips for planning a trip, visit www.pge.com/recreation. Details on road closures are also available on the website.
PG&E also advices to practice safety in the water:
1. Know the Water
Sudden immersion in cold water can stimulate the “gasp reflex,” causing an involuntary inhalation of air or water. It can even trigger cardiac arrest, temporary paralysis, hypothermia, and drowning. When faced with swift water, even the strongest swimmers may be easily overwhelmed.
Cold water entering the ear canal can cause vertigo and disorientation. This may confuse swimmers, causing them to venture deeper into the water.
Cold water also reduces body heat 25 to 30 times faster than air does at the same temperature and causes impairment that can lead to fatalities.
Recreating in PG&E canals and flumes is strictly prohibited. Stay out of these water conveyances, which are very dangerous due to slippery sides and fast moving water.
2. Know your Limits
Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool — people tire more quickly and can get into trouble.
Many unseen obstacles can be lurking below the water’s surface — this is especially the case with this year’s high runoff following years of drought. Drought-stricken forests and storm-driven landslides have filled rivers with submerged trees and rocks. Swift water can make these obstacles even more treacherous. Guided trips for inexperienced paddlers are recommended.
3. Wear a Life Jacket
Conditions change quickly in open water and even the best swimmers can misjudge the water and their skills when boating or swimming. Wearing a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket can increase survival time.
A life jacket can also provide some thermal protection against the onset of cold water shock and keep you afloat until someone else can rescue you.
Need a life jacket? Many locations across the state allow you to borrow a life jacket for the day or weekend. Learn more at www.BoatCalifornia.com.
4. Whitewater Rafting and Paddling
Most California rivers are fed by the mountain snowpack, so they are cold year around. Even on warm, sunny days, rafters and paddlers must be prepared to deal with the water temperatures. The dangers increase as water temperatures decrease below normal body temperature (98.6 degrees F).
DBW offers whitewater enthusiasts informative safety videos online. The dangers of high, fast and cold water safety.
5. Parental Supervision
Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. Do not assume that someone is watching them. Appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults.
Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool: they need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing the weather.
