Napa County Municipal Code Ch. 12.16 Lake Hennessey and Conn Dam Picnic Area

The board of supervisors finds:

A. That Lake Hennessey and Conn Dam picnic area is the source of the water supply for the city of Napa;

B. That such area is being visited and used by great numbers of the public and that the area is equipped with a very limited health facilities;

C. That no regulations for the use of such area by the public for recreational purposes have been adopted by any public body;

D. That the unregulated use of such area by the public has created a situation dangerous to health, life and property.

(Prior code § 9000)

Lake Hennessey and Conn Dam picnic area, referred to in this chapter, is defined to be all of Lake Hennessey in the county of Napa, state of California, and its watershed, owned by the city of Napa, and the picnic area below Conn Dam and spillway, including all lands owned by the city of Napa below the aforementioned Lake Hennessey.

(Prior code § 9001)

It is unlawful for any person:

A. To pick flowers, berries or fruit, or in any way to mutilate or injure any tree, shrub, plant, fern, grass, turf, fence, buildings, tables, camp stoves or improvements of any kind in Conn Dam picnic grounds of Lake Hennessey area;

B. To leave or abandon in Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area, except in receptacles designated for such purpose by the Lake Hennessey caretaker, human waste, cans, bottles, waste, paper, broken glass or other rubbish;

C. To light, build or maintain in Lake Hennessey area and Conn Dam picnic area any open fire, provided that fires may be maintained in fireplaces provided and designated for that purpose by the Lake Hennessey caretaker;

D. To bring any dog or cat or other domestic animal into the Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area, except on leash, or to allow any dog or domestic animal in Lake Hennessey;

E. To use threatening, abusive, boisterous, insulting or indecent language or gesture in Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area;

F. To operate any vehicle at a speed in excess of fifteen miles per hour on any road in the city-owned lake and picnic area, other than upon state or county highways;

G. To park any motor vehicle, motorcycle or trailer on the Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area, except in parking areas and lanes designated by the Lake Hennessey caretaker, with signs marking such parking area;

H. To camp or picnic or occupy any portion of the Lake Hennessey and Conn Dam picnic area as a trailer site, except in areas that may be designated by the board of supervisors by resolution;

I. To contaminate or pollute the waters of Lake Hennessey or the shores thereof or the tributaries of such lake, or to discharge any human waste, litter, garbage, oil or other debris therein;

J. To carry, possess or discharge any firearms, airgun, slingshot or bow and arrow within the Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area;

K. To drive any vehicle within the Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area, without due caution;

L. To be drunk and disorderly or disturb the peace in the Lake Hennessey or Conn Dam picnic area;

M. To picnic or build fires on the lake shore between the lake and the state highway in the Lake Hennessey area;

N. To wade, swim or be in any type of boat and surfboard, allowing part of the body to be submersed in the water, on Lake Hennessey.

(Ord. 1157 § 1, 1999: prior code § 9002)

The following regulations shall apply to the operation of boats upon Lake Hennessey, and any violation thereof shall be unlawful.

A. The following types of boats shall be permitted on the lake:

1. Rowboats and boats powered by outboard motors not exceeding ten horsepower;

2. Sailboats, catamarans, rubber rafts and canoes, a minimum of eight feet in length and a maximum of sixteen feet in length.

B. Windsurfers, sailboats without cockpits, water skis, kayaks and other similar crafts are not permitted on the lake at any time.

C. All boat operators shall obtain an annual or daily fishing and boating permit from the Lake Hennessey caretaker or the City of Napa Water Division at 1600 First Street, Napa, California. The charge for the annual or daily permit shall be established by the city of Napa city council by resolution.

D. Separate permits shall be obtained from the Lake Hennessey caretaker each time a boat is launched. The charge for the launching permit shall be established by the Napa city council by resolution.

E. Boats shall be launched from a location designated by the Lake Hennessey caretaker.

F. Boats shall be allowed on the lake one hour before sunrise and shall be removed from the lake by one hour after sunset of each day.

G. No person shall be in or upon any boat while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor.

H. The sheriff and any of his deputies are exempt from the boat operation regulations set forth in subsection (A) through (F) of Section 12.16.040 when operating a sheriff's patrol vessel.

(Ord. 1157 §§ 2, 3, 1999; Ord. 719 § 1, 1982: prior code § 9003)

A. All fishermen shall obtain an annual or daily fishing and boating permit from the Lake Hennessey caretaker or the city of Napa water division at 1600 First Street, Napa, California. The charge for the annual or daily permit shall be established by the city of Napa city council by resolution.

B. All fishing regulations prescribed by the California Fish and Game Code shall apply at Lake Hennessey.

C. No person shall fish within two thousand feet of the lake intake tower.

D. No fish shall be cleaned or scaled in or near the lake.

E. Fishing permits must be shown to the caretaker or his assistant on demand.

(Ord. 1157 § 4, 1999; Ord. 719 § 2, 1982: prior code § 9004)

A. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute an infraction and shall be enforceable as such. In the event of continuing violations, each day shall constitute a separate violation and infraction.

B. In addition to other penalties prescribed for violations of this code, violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be grounds for revocation of any boat permit and for the withdrawal of the privilege of using any of the facilities at Lake Hennessey of any person who violates the provisions of this chapter.

C. Notwithstanding subsection (A), any violation of subsection (G) of Section 12.16.030 shall not be a criminal violation or subject to subsection (B) of this section but shall instead be subject only to the civil penalties prescribed by Vehicle Code Section 40200 et seq. and Chapter 10.32 of this code.

(Ord. 1069 § 1, 1994: Ord. 719 § 3, 1982: prior code § 9005)