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 RECREATION AREA IS OPEN FOR OVERNIGHT CAMPING
Reservations are available online via the exciting new ExploreLakePiru.com website
We’ve been making a number of improvements to the Lake Piru Recreation Area during the past few months and are excited to welcome guests back to enjoy overnight camping, as well as boating, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, waterskiing, hiking and more family fun activities outdoors and on shore including picnicking, basketball courts, volleyball nets, horseshoe pits and a 9-hole disc golf course!
While social distancing, masks and other COVID-19 public health protocols are still being practiced at the lake, our Rangers and staff will be taking every precaution to ensure a safe, fun family experience for all our guests.
Visit the new ExploreLakePiru.com website and try out our new and improved online reservation system where you can view all available campsites, select your camping dates and specific site, include additional guests, vehicles, pets and order amenities like firewood or ice from the Lake Piru store, and charge it all to your credit or debit card.
If you need help with your reservation or have a specific special request, please contact our Lake Piru Rangers at (805) 521-1500.
Lake Piru Campground
COVID-19 SAFETY
Lake Piru boating, fishing and Day Use area limited to individuals and family members (12 or less) residing in the same home. Overnight campsites are limited to individuals and family members (eight or less) residing in the same home. Masks are mandatory.
All Ventura County residents are further urged to help slow the spread by wearing a mask, social distancing and not gathering during this critical time.
On January 25, 2021, the State of California lifted the Regional Stay at Home Order for All Regions and Ventura County was moved to the State’s Purple Tier effective immediately.
This action allows Ventura County to return to the rules and framework for the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. Services and activities, such as outdoor dining and personal services, may resume immediately with required modifications. Tier updates will be provided weekly on Tuesdays by the California Department of Public Health.
In alignment with Purple Tier 1, recreational facilities are permitted for OUTDOOR operations only until further notice. These sectors must still maintain mitigation measures (social distancing, face covering, and sanitization).
To learn more about the State’s Tier system and specific allowable activities for Ventura County, visit the State of California’s COVID-19 Blueprint for a Safer Economy website.
More information about the Stay Home Order can be found at: https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/.
The Lake Piru Recreation Area is open! Before visiting, please review the Visitor Guidelines for COVID-19 safety.
- The day use and picnic area is open to family groups of 12 or less.
- Shore fishing and boating activities are permitted, however, swimming in the lake is not allowed.
- OVERNIGHT CAMPING IS ALLOWED AT LAKE PIRU and is limited to groups of eight (8) or less (family members from the same household).
- Personal watercrafts are allowed on the lake Monday through Friday.
For more information, visit ExploreLakePiru.com or call (805) 521-1500.
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
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.
As of July 22, 2021, there will be no fall conservation water release this year. As a result, whitewater recreational opportunities associated with the fall conservation release will not be provided. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Chief Ranger Clayton Strahan, via email at claytons@unitedwater.org
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.
