LAKE PIRU RECREATION AREA
Picturesque Lake Piru offers endless recreation opportunities just 50 miles north of Los Angeles. The lake and recreation area are owned and operated by United Water Conservation District and are a hub for fishing, camping, watersports and picnicking.
Lake Piru Campground
COVID-19 SAFETY
The Lake Piru Recreation Area is open! Before visiting, please review the Visitor Guidelines for COVID-19 safety and print and complete the COVID-19 Screening Form and bring it with you.
- The day use and picnic area is open to family groups of 12 or less.
- Tent, trailer, and RV camping requires reservations made two weeks in advance. For reservations, click here to reach Parks Management Company (PMC).
- Shore fishing and boating activities are permitted, however, swimming in the lake is not allowed.
- Personal watercrafts are allowed on the lake Monday through Friday.
For more information, visit camplakepiru.com or call (805) 521-1500.
VISITOR SURVEY
United Water Conservation District (United) is interested in hearing about your recreation visit to Lake Piru. Your participation is important to us and will help us to provide quality recreation for everyone.
Lake Piru Reasoner Boat Ramp
PIRU CREEK WHITEWATER BOATING
Opportunities for whitewater rafting and kayaking on Piru Creek below the Santa Felicia Dam are available, depending on water conditions and releases from Lake Piru.
WATER SURFACE ELEVATION LEVEL
Lake or reservoir water surface elevation above NGVD 1929, feet
GRAPH COURTESY OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
DOCUMENTS & INFORMATION
UPDATE: Register for the Lake Piru Splash Dash 5K Run – POSTPONED TO FALL 2020
LOCATION FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHY
EVENTS
POLICIES/GUIDELINES
LOCATION FILMING/PHOTOGRAPHY
EVENTS
POLICIES/GUIDELINES
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Lake Piru
PIRU CREEK WHITEWATER BOATING
UPDATE: WHITEWATER BOATING ACCESS FOR SANTA FELICIA DAM & LOWER PIRU CREEK IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE
Pursuant to Article 408 of United Water Conservation District’s (United) license, issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Santa Felicia Project (P-2153), requires that, by August 15 of each year, United shall provide notification of proposed conservation water releases to interested members of the whitewater boating community.
In accordance with Article 410 of United’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for the operation of the Santa Felicia Dam, whitewater boating access on Piru Creek below Santa Felicia Dam is available when 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) or greater is released from the dam. Primarily, flows of 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) or greater occur during United’s water conservation releases, or when United is conducting migration water releases (under Article 401 of the license). Conservation releases are conducted for water resource management purposes and typically have a duration of several weeks.
Article 410 of the District’s FERC license also requires that the District provide portage over the Santa Felicia Dam for whitewater enthusiasts boating down middle Piru Creek between January 1 and May 31 and when releases from Lake Piru exceed 200 cubic feet per second (cfs). The District must also maintain a takeout location above Lake Piru for such purposes. Although the proposed Santa Felicia Dam Conservation Release schedule posted below may reach the 200 cfs trigger, due to public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the District’s social distancing policy precludes staff from providing transport of whitewater boaters to the input location on middle Piru Creek, thereby making the potential for whitewater boating unavailable at this time.
For current flow conditions in lower Piru Creek, please check the US Geological Survey’s website for the USGS gauging station below Santa Felicia Dam.
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For additional information on whitewater boating on lower Piru Creek, please also refer to the American Whitewater webpage. To make a reservation, please contact UWCD’s Chief Park Ranger at (805) 695-3477. Please check this website for updates on releases from Santa Felicia Dam. |
Proposed Water Conservation Release Schedule Below Santa Felicia Dam
Updated: August 2020
FREEMAN DIVERSION TOURS
Freeman Diversion Tour Group
Join us for a tour of the Freeman Diversion Facility, an important part of the District’s water supply portfolio.
The facility was built by UWCD in 1991 to enhance recharge of local groundwater basins by diverting Santa Clara River flow. The facility is comprised of a concrete dam, a fish ladder, a screened fishbay, a downstream migrant trap, various canals and spreading grounds.
For information about tours, call (805) 525-4431.
QUAGGA MUSSEL CONTROL
Quagga Mussels
Quagga mussels are a problem at lakes across California, including Lake Piru Reservoir. The invasive species are extremely destructive, clogging pipes used for drinking water, irrigation and hydropower, and necessitating extensive containment efforts. They also block boat motors and harm native fish by altering the habitat and the food web. After quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Piru in 2013, UWCD developed a Monitoring and Control Plan to contain the infestation. As part of that plan, the District instituted a strict inspection policy for all watercraft entering and leaving Lake Piru.
QUAGGA MUSSEL BOATING INSPECTIONS
UWCD inspects all boats entering and exiting Lake Piru to limit the spread of quagga mussels. Failure to undergo an inspection prior to launch may result in a citation. Boaters should download and print the Lake Piru Vessel Inspection Permit Application.
Until further notice Lake Piru has suspended its joint AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species) tagging program with Castaic and Pyramid Lakes and will not be tagging any vessels leaving Lake Piru. We do not anticipate that it will impact our ability to provide recreation services to the visiting public. For more information, contact the Lake Piru Park Services Officer station at (805) 317-8990 or United Water’s main office at (805) 525-4431.
Boats that spend just a few hours in the water are still at risk for picking up and transporting mussels that may be attached to aquatic weeds. Follow this Basic Inspection and Cleaning Check List for All Boats to minimize the spread.
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For more information on Quagga Mussels, visit California Department of Boating and Waterways or California Department of Fish and Wildlife. |
QUAGGA MUSSEL WORKSHOP
The public workshop was designed to educate stakeholders about quagga mussel prevention and UWCD’s Monitoring and Control Plan.
“Don’t Move a Mussel” is an informative video from Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.
BIRD WATCHING
Birds in and around UCWD Property
United Water Conservation District’s Saticoy Spreading Grounds is a prime spot for seeing birds and migratory waterfowl such as mallards, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks and more.
The District, which uses the ponds to replenish groundwater, allows public access for bird watching between dawn and 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to dusk.
Those wishing to visit the property must review the rules and complete and return a waiver form. Visitors are also required to notify the District by email at birding@unitedwater.org or by calling (805) 525-4431 before EACH visit.
For more information, contact us as birding@unitedwater.org or (805) 525-4431.
