Truckee Municipal Code Ch. 12.01 Boating Regulations at Donner Lake

Boats, watercraft, and other vessels operated on the waters of Donner Lake, in addition to all applicable State and Federal laws, shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(a) Maximum Speeds: The maximum speed, unless otherwise restricted, of any vessel on the waters of Donner Lake is thirty-five (35) miles per hour from official sunrise until official sunset, and is ten (10) miles per hour from official sunset until official sunrise.

(b) Speed Zones: The maximum speed of any vessel in the speed zones areas set forth below is five (5) miles per hour, which are identified as "flat wake" zones: (1) Within two hundred (200) feet of the West End of Donner Creek Outlet launch area. (2) Within two hundred (200) feet of the "public" or north side launch ramp area. (3) Within two hundred (200) feet of the "Tahoe Donner" properties or east side launch area. (4) Within the mouth of the Donner Creek inlet on the east side. (5) The speed zone and area restrictions shall be in full force and effect when marked pursuant to the California Waterway Marking System, Article 6 of Division 4 of Title 14 of the California Administrative Code.

(c) Planing and Towing Persons: The operation of any boat, watercraft, or other vessel while planing, including while towing persons, shall be in a counter clockwise direction around the Lake.

(d) Anchorage: No boat, watercraft, or other vessel shall be anchored on the waters of Donner Lake for a period exceeding seventy-two (72) hours. Upon expiration of this time, such boats shall be removed from the waters of this lake for a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours.

(e) Chart: A chart adopted by resolution of the Town Council and on file in the Office of the Town Clerk and incorporated herein by reference, indicating speed zones and restricted areas, shall constitute an integral part of this Chapter, and shall be known as the "Donner Lake Use Restriction Chart". This chart shall be posted at all boat entries to Donner Lake and copies shall be made available at the Town of Truckee Police Department.

(f) Boating Near Donner Lake Outlet: It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motorized vessel, or vessel capable of being operated under motor power, beyond the buoy line at the Donner Lake outlet located at the southeast side of the lake surrounded by California State Park property.

Marked law enforcement and emergency response vessels are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.

No person shall fuel any motorized watercraft in or around Donner Lake except through the use of non-spill gasoline cans or similar device. Fueling of motorized watercraft by any other means shall only take place one hundred feet (100') or more from the shoreline of Donner Lake.

No person or business entity shall rent, lease, or otherwise provide for compensation motorized watercraft at Donner Lake without first obtaining a permit from the Chief of Police or his designee for that purpose. Such permit shall be issued under standards established by Council resolution. Such standards shall, at a minimum, provide for limitations upon the number and type of motorized watercraft which may be provided, the number of rental concessions to be allowed, the distribution of information concerning appropriate use of watercraft, and such other matters as may be reasonably required by the Chief of Police or his designee to carry out the purposes of this ordinance.

It shall be unlawful for any person to swim in any area designated as a no swimming area, or more than two hundred feet (200') from the shore, or outside the boundaries of a marked swimming area, or to swim in a location, or in such a manner as to create a hazardous or dangerous condition to the swimmer or any other person or object; provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to any organized swim event which is excepted herefrom by the Chief of Police.

Commencing July 1, 1999, a "trigger" mechanism shall be established allowing for the prohibition of certain watercraft on Donner Lake. If, at any time, the Town is advised in writing by either the State of California Health Services Department or by the Truckee Donner Public Utility District that Truckee Donner Public Utility District intake water fails to meet the minimum State drinking water quality standards due to constituents of motor vehicle fuel, the following prohibition shall take effect immediately:

The launching, mooring, or operation of all two-stroke engine powered watercraft on Donner Lake, provided that:

(1) Any two-stroke engine powered watercraft whose fuel is directly injected into the cylinder shall be exempt from the prohibition;

(2) Any watercraft powered by a two-stroke engine whose fuel is injected into the crankcase prior to entering the cylinder and the fuel injection engine was purchased before January 27, 1999, Title 12-4 shall be prohibited commencing October 1, 2001;

(3) Any watercraft powered by a two-stroke engine whose engine is certified as meeting the US EPA 2006 standard or the CARB 2001 standard shall be exempt from the prohibition; or

(4) Sailboats utilizing two-stroke engines as auxiliary power shall be prohibited commencing October 1, 2001;

(5) Any watercraft powered by a two-stroke engine rated at 10 horsepower or less shall be prohibited commencing October 1, 2001; or

(6) Any watercraft powered by an engine that has been certified as meeting EPA's 2001-2005 emission standard shall be prohibited commencing October 1, 2001;

(7) Any watercraft powered by a two-stroke engine owned and/or rented by a business operating under a permit issued for such use by the Town of Truckee, so long as the watercraft utilizes only MTBE free fuel and the water quality in Donner Lake is otherwise in compliance with minimum State drinking water standards. Should the prohibition be triggered, said prohibition shall remain in effect until October 15th of that year.

Should a subsequent water quality test show failure to meet minimum State drinking water standards, the prohibition shall remain in effect until December 31st of that year. In subsequent years, the trigger mechanism shall also remain in effect again allowing the prohibition to take effect if minimum State drinking water standards are not maintained." An on-going monitoring program shall be established and conducted after Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day. The results from the monitoring program will determine whether the trigger will be activated in any given year.

There shall be established a "No Boating Zone" located within a 100-foot radius of the water intake end of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District drinking water inlet pipe. This prohibition pertains to all motorized craft with the exception of those craft accessing docks, piers or the shoreline where such access is otherwise permitted by shoreline property owners located within said "No Boating Zone". This provision shall no longer be effective when the Truckee Donner Public Utility District extends/deepens its drinking water inlet pipe.

A violation of any regulation set forth in this Chapter shall be punishable by a fine as provided in Section 1.02.040(b) of this Code.

(ORD 1999-07; 08-05-99 and 2020-04; 6-9-2020)