Chapter 12.64 — SPECIFIC USE REGULATIONS

Without excluding other lawful uses or attempting to enumerate all the public waters in the County, the Board of Supervisors recognizes the principal uses of certain public waters in the County as follows:

A.

Bass Lake: domestic water supply;

B.

Finnon Reservoir: fishing, swimming;

C.

Walton Lake: domestic water supply, fishing;

D.

Stumpy Meadows Lake: production of hydroelectric power, irrigation, fishing, swimming, except that when appropriate signs are posted swimming is prohibited within 100 feet of the spillway and boatramp;

E.

Gerle Reservoir: irrigation, fishing, swimming;

F.

Junction Reservoir: power, fishing, swimming;

G.

South Fork American River; Chili Bar Dam to the confluence with the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area: power, fishing, swimming, irrigation, non-power boating.

(Prior Code, § 7740; Code 1997, § 12.64.010; Ord. No. 3463, § 1, 1984; Ord. No. 3496, § 1, 1984)

Because of the potential contamination of domestic water supplies, swimming, bathing and skindiving are unlawful in any portion of Walton Lake.

(Prior Code, § 7741; Code 1997, § 12.64.020; Ord. No. 3496, § 2, 1984)

Because of the danger to swimmers and fishermen and the lack of area to safely confine its limits, it is unlawful for any person to ride or tow any aquaplane on any portion of the following waters:

A.

Finnon Lake;

B.

Walton Lake;

C.

Stumpy Meadows Lake;

D.

Gerle Reservoir.

(Prior Code, § 7742; Code 1997, § 12.64.030; Ord. No. 3496, § 3, 1984)

Because of the danger to swimmers and fishermen and the narrow confines of the water's edge, it is unlawful for any person to operate a motorboat on any portion of the following waters:

A.

Finnon Lake;

B.

Walton Lake;

C.

Junction Reservoir;

D.

Gerle Reservoir;

E.

South Fork American River; Chili Bar Dam to the confluence with the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.

Provided, however, that the Board of Supervisors may waive the provisions of this section on a case by case basis where it finds that for reasons of health and safety, economic well-being of the County, or other good and sufficient reasons as determined in the sole judgment of the Board of Supervisors.

(Prior Code, § 7743; Code 1997, § 12.64.040; Ord. No. 3463, § 2, 1984; Ord. No. 3496, § 4, 1984; Ord. No. 4316, 1993)

Except as otherwise provided by law, it is unlawful for any person to operate a motorboat at a speed greater than 35 statute miles per hour on all public waters within the County. This section does not apply to Lake Tahoe or Folsom Lake. On Lake Edson it is unlawful for any person to operate a motorboat at a speed greater than five statute miles per hour.

(Prior Code, § 7744; Code 1997, § 12.64.050; Ord. No. 3496, § 5, 1984; Ord. No. 3822, § 1, 1988)

A.

When that portion of Jenkinson's Lake commonly known as the "Narrows" at the easterly end of the lake and extending to the most easterly shoreline is posted, it is unlawful to operate any boat at a speed greater than five statute miles per hour. When Jenkinson's Lake is posted, it is unlawful to operate any boat at a speed greater than 15 statute miles per hour.

B.

When that portion of Union Valley Reservoir, being a cove located in the northwest corner of the reservoir, adjoining the area known as Swifts Meadow, is posted, it is unlawful to operate any boat at a speed greater than five statute miles per hour.

C.

When that portion of Union Valley Reservoir, being a cove located at the southeast corner of the lake known as Jones Fork is posted, it is unlawful to operate any boat at a speed greater than five statute miles per hour.

D.

When the Sheriff determines that the public health and safety so require and when any lake or portion thereof patrolled by the Sheriff pursuant to contract between the County and the State Department of Boating and Waterways is so posted, it is unlawful to operate any boat at a speed greater than 15 statute miles per hour.

(Prior Code, § 7745; Code 1997, § 12.64.060; Ord. No. 3731, § 1, 1987; Ord. No. 3753, § 1, 1987; Ord. No. 4492, 1998)

It is unlawful for any person to jump from, throw objects from or fish from the bridge crossing the South Fork of the American River on Highway 49 at Lotus and the Salmon Falls Bridge crossing Folsom Lake within the County. This section shall not apply where any State law or administrative regulation controls such activities.

(Code 1997, § 12.64.065; Ord. No. 3274, § 1, 1982)

No person shall loiter on the Salmon Falls Bridge crossing Folsom Lake within the County or at or near the entrance thereto or exit therefrom, or at or near any abutment or retaining wall adjacent to any such entrance or exit, or any retaining wall or abutment adjacent to that portion thereof used for vehicular traffic, or any public property in the proximity of such bridge or retaining wall or abutment.

(Code 1997, § 12.64.066; Ord. No. 3466, § 1, 1984)

It is unlawful for any person to traverse, travel over or navigate on or in the South Fork of the American River between Chili Bar Dam and the Salmon Falls Bridge and the North Fork and Middle Fork of the American River where each borders the County on an inner tube, or air mattress without wearing correctly a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device; the provisions of this section shall not apply to any vessel as defined in the Harbors and Navigation Code.

(Code 1997, § 12.64.070; Ord. No. 3274, § 3, 1982; Ord. No. 4330, 1994)

When that portion of Lake Tahoe known as Emerald Bay from the entrance buoys west and encompassing the entire bay is posted, it is unlawful to operate any boat at a speed greater than 15 statute miles per hour.

(Prior Code, § 7747; Code 1997, § 12.64.080)