Lake San Antonio has been below five percent full for the last couple of years. This season’s rainfall has restored it to 50 percent.
The Monterey County Herald reports – Taking aim at a “soft” opening at Lake San Antonio over Easter weekend, Monterey County Parks officials are awaiting a proposal from lakes resort manager CalParks later this month.
According to county Resource Management Agency director Carl Holm, speaking at Monday’s parks committee meeting, county parks’ “target” date for a limited opening at the lake’s south shore area is Friday through Sunday, April 14-16, allowing overnight camping using the same campgrounds and restrooms as last summer, as well as some boating. The lake’s south shore would continue opening on weekends through May 19, when county parks could consider a more complete opening of the south shore area.
The limited opening at the lake, which has been largely closed down the past two summers due to low water levels, would allow staff to test the infrastructure systems in disrepair as a result of a lack of use and the storms while operating at lower visitor use levels, and figure out what can be addressed and start repairs, Holm said. He acknowledged much of the work won’t be done before the lake opens, including removal of heavy wood debris in the lake from last summer’s Chimney Fire and the winter storms. Work will need to be prioritized over time. Holm noted the lake’s re-opening wasn’t included in the county parks budget and the Resource Management Agency is absorbing the cost within its spending limits.
