Plumas County Municipal Code Ch. 1 Lakes, Streams, and Reservoirs

For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this chapter are defined as follows:

(a) "Aquaplane" shall mean any aquaplane, water ski, or other device used, or which may be used, for carrying persons or property while being towed behind a boat.

(b) "Boat" shall mean any device in or upon which persons or property may be carried over or beneath the surface of water.

(c) "Carrying passengers for hire" shall mean the carrying of persons by boat for money or other valuable consideration, whether directly or indirectly flowing to the owner, charter, operator, agent, or other person interested in the boat.

(d) "Commercial boat" shall mean any boat kept for use for rental, or for carrying passengers for hire, or used in transporting movable property for compensation, or in connection with any business.

(e) "International Divers' Flag" shall mean a flag at least twelve (12") inches square which shall contain a red square at least twelve (12") inches by twelve (12") inches upon which there appears a white diagonal strip at least two and one-fourth (2¼") inches wide.

(f) "Lake" shall mean any body of fresh water with an area of five (5) acres or more.

(g) "Motorboat" shall mean and include any boat as defined in subsection (b) of this section which boat is propelled, operated, powered, or moved by means of a motor, including an internal combustion engine, and including boats temporarily or permanently equipped with detachable motors.

(h) "Scuba diver" shall mean a diver equipped with a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

(§ 53100, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

For the purposes of this chapter, it is necessary to define the area of the lakes within the County. The letters in parentheses following the names of the lakes set forth in Section 10-1.03 of this chapter indicate the location of the lake named, as follows:

(a) (B) Near Belden;

(b) (BL) Near Bucks Lake;

(c) (C) Near Chilcoot;

(d) (G) Near Greenville;

(e) (LP) Near LaPorte;

(f) (L) Near Lassen;

(g) (MV) Near Meadow Valley;

(h) (M) Near Mohawk;

(i) (P) Near Prattville;

(j) (SP) Near Spanish Peak; and

(k) (T) Near Taylorsville.

(§ 53102, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

(a) More than ten (10) but less than thirty-five (35) acres. Lakes within the County deemed to have an area of more than ten (10) acres but less than thirty-five (35) acres are as follows:

(b) Thirty-five (35) acres or more. Lakes within the County deemed to have an area of thirty-five (35) acres or more are as follows:

(§ 53102, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

All persons operating boats shall do so in such a manner that is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the rights and safety of others and in no case endangering the life, limb, or property of any person.

No person shall operate a boat while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or narcotics.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

No person shall moor, dock, or berth a boat or any other object overnight, except in mooring zones declared by the Sheriff and posted on the shore by a sign, unless a permit to do so is first obtained from the Sheriff.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

No person shall:

(a) Operate a boat at speeds in excess of five (5) nautical miles per hour within 200 feet of the actual water edge, except in open zones declared by the Sheriff and posted on the shore by a sign;

(b) Use, operate, drive, propel, or navigate any boat at a speed in excess of five (5) nautical miles per hour in any of the following areas:

(1) Within 200 feet of any boat landing area;

(2) Within 100 feet of any person who is bathing or swimming;

(3) Within 300 feet of the boundaries or limits of any fish spawning area marked and designated as such by the Fish and Game Commission of the State or by the United States Forest Service;

(4) Within 200 feet of any swimming float, diving platform or lifeline or of any way or landing wharf to which boats are held securely and which is used for the embarkation or discharge of passengers;

(5) Within 300 feet of any buoy or boom; or

(c) Operate a boat at speeds in excess of five (5) nautical miles per hour between the hours of one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise of the following day.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

Ord. 03-985, § 2, adopted January 21, 2003, reserved § 10-1.07. Former § 10-1.07 pertained to running lights on boats and derived from § 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

No person shall operate a boat unless the motor for the boat is equipped with a muffling device which is in constant operation and adequately muffles the sound of the motor exhaust.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

Ord. 03-985, § 2, adopted January 21, 2003, reserved § 10-1.09. Former § 10-1.09 pertained to floats on boats and derived from § 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

No person shall:

(a) Reserved.

(b) Operate any motorboat or sailboat or ride, pull or tow any aquaplane or any person water skiing within any designated swimming area, or within fifty (50') feet of the existing boundary of any designated swimming area or boundaries which are marked by buoys placed fifty (50') feet apart and the area is posted on the shore by a sign, or within 300 feet of the boundaries or limits of any fish spawning area marked and designated as such by the Fish and Game Commission of the State or by the United States Forest Service;

(c) Operate a boat towing an aquaplane between the hours of one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise of the following day.

(d) On Lake Davis, operate a boat towing a person on water skis or on an aquaplane, operate a personal watercraft, or engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, or other similar activities at any time; or,

(e) On Butt Lake, operate a boat towing a person on water skis or on an aquaplane, operate a personal watercraft, or engage in water skiing, aquaplaning or other similar activities at any time.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484, and § 53104, P.C.O.C., as added by Ord. 674, as amended by § 2, Ord. 78-265, eff. June 15, 1978, § 1, Ord. 78-276, eff. September 7, 1978, § 1, Ord. 87-661, eff. May 14, 1987, § 2, Ord. 99-917, eff. May 18, 1999, and § 4, Ord. 03-985, eff., operative February 20, 2003)

(a) No commercial motorboat, while carrying passengers for hire, shall be operated or navigated by a person who is not licensed for such service.

(b) No person shall use or navigate any motorboat which exceeds sixty-five (65') feet in length, unless such person is specifically authorized in connection with governmental or commercial operations.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

(a) Lakes less than ten (10) acres. No person shall use, operate, or navigate any motor-propelled boat on any lake within the County which has an area of less than ten (10) acres.

(b) Lakes less than thirty-five (35) acres. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section, no person shall use, operate, or navigate any motor-propelled boat greater than ten (10) horsepower on any lake within the County which has an area of less than thirty-five (35) acres.

(c) Round Valley Lake. No person shall use, operate, or navigate any motor-propelled boat in excess of seven and one-half (7½) horsepower upon the waters of Round Valley Lake.

(d) Snake Lake. No person shall use, operate, or navigate any motor-propelled boat upon the waters of Snake Lake, notwithstanding the fact that Snake Lake is of an area permitting the use or navigation of a motor-propelled boat in excess of ten (10) horsepower.

(e) Lower Bucks Lake. No person shall use, operate, or navigate any motor-propelled boat greater than fifteen (15) horsepower upon the waters of Lower Bucks Lake.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484; § 1, Ord. No. 06-1045, adopted March 21, 2006)

No person shall use or navigate any boat on Butt Lake which boat exceeds thirty (30') feet in height above the surface of the water.

(§ 1, Ord. 84-569, eff. July 12, 1984)

Without first obtaining a permit from the Plumas County Sheriff, no person shall operate any aircraft by making landings or takeoffs on any lake or other body of water within Plumas County. Permits shall be obtained in writing or telephonically. Landings shall be prohibited from one-half (½) hour after sunset until one-half (½)> hour before sunrise. No landings or takeoffs shall take place closer than 1,000 feet from any shoreline.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484, and § 2, Ord. 99-918, eff. July 1, 1999)

(a) Designated boat launching areas. No person shall swim or bathe in designated boat launching areas where such areas are posted or buoyed.

(b) Posted areas. No person shall swim, bathe, or be in any lake or stream where, in the interests of health and safety, the Sheriff has prohibited swimming and the area is so posted.

(c) Open and main channels of lakes. No person shall swim in the open or main channels of any lake within the County unless accompanied by a boat commanded by a competent operator. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a scuba diver when he is accompanied by a float, such as an inner tube, paddle, board, or surf mat, upon which is erected and displayed the International Divers' Flag.

(d) Drowning signals. No person shall give or transmit a false signal or false alarm of drowning in any manner or mode.

(e) Round Valley Lake. No person shall allow any domesticated animal to be in Round Valley Lake.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440, 484, and § 1, Ord. 81-451, eff. July 7, 1981)

(a) No person shall place waste or refuse of any kind in any body of water within the County.

(b) No person shall burn any tire or part thereof within 300 yards of any lake within the County.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440, 484, and § 1, Ord. 81-453, eff. August 13, 1981)

The provisions of Sections 10-1.04, 10-1.05, 10-1.06 (a), 10-1.06 (c), 10-1.07, 10-1.08, 10-1.09, 10-1.10 (a), and 10-1.10 (d) shall not apply to boat races and water ski meets specifically authorized by the Sheriff, which boat races and water ski meets shall be governed by the conditions and rules for each such race or meet in the authorization given by the Sheriff.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

No person shall use any boat resting in or upon the water of any lake or stream as a houseboat or stay aboard any boat after sundown, but before daybreak of the following day, for bedroom use purposes.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484)

It shall be unlawful for any person to traverse the waters farther than 300 feet from the shore of any lake within the County on an inner tube, air mattress, or any other device capable of transporting a person on the water without wearing correctly a Coast Guard approved wearable Type I, II, or III personal flotation device; provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply if State laws or administrative regulations otherwise require the carrying, or exempt the carrying on board, of the device in question or other personal flotation devices.

(§ 2, Ord. 76-154, eff. July 19, 1976)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit foreign objects in, to operate a boat on, to fish in, to use, or to have any body contact with the water or ice in Lake Davis for a distance of 1,500 feet from Grizzly Dam on the southeast end of Lake Davis; provided, however, the provisions of this section shall not apply to the installation or service of underwater public utility cables or pipes.

(b) Fishing is prohibited in Honkers Cove at Davis Lake within the waters east of the buoys set approximately 200 feet west of the boatramp.

(c) Fishing is prohibited within 100 feet of any dock or boat ramp at Lake Davis, and the Sheriff is authorized to post notice of the prohibition and to enforce it.

(§ 53115, P.C.O.C., as added by Ord. 741, as renumbered by § 1, Ord. 76-154, eff. July 19, 1976, as amended by Ord. 92-782, eff. May 21, 1992, and § 2, Ord. 99-919, eff. July 30, 1999)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to swim or operate a boat within one-fourth (¼) mile of either Rock Creek Dam or Cresta Dam on the North Fork of the Feather River.

(b) No swimming or boating shall be allowed between the hours of one-half (½) hour before sunset and one-half (½) hour after sunrise of the following day on either reservoir.

(c) No person shall operate any motor-propelled boat at speeds in excess of five (5) miles per hour on either reservoir.

(§ 1, Ord. 88-696, eff. July 21, 1988, as amended by Ord. 88-701, eff. September 15, 1988)

The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Sheriff. In addition, the provisions of the Harbors and Navigation Code of the State, the rules of the Small Craft Harbors Commission of the State, and the regulations of the United States Coast Guard, so far as they are lawfully applicable, shall be enforced by the Sheriff.

(§ 53101, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ords. 440 and 484, as renumbered by § 1, Ord. 76-154, eff. July 19, 1976)