Update: Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Shadow Cliffs boat launch ramp, which has been closed for several months due to low water in the lake, will reopen December 31 at 7:00 am.

Low Water Level To Close Shadow Cliffs Boat Launch August 15

Wednesday, July 30

The East Bay Regional Park District is preparing for record low water levels at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton. This will restrict boat launching beginning August 15, 2008, and may possibly limit or restrict future swimming at this popular Tri-Valley recreation area.

The 80-acre lake, built on a former gravel quarry, is popular for swimming, boating, fishing, and picnics, especially during the summer. The lake, which is owned by the Park District, has received its water from several sources since opening in the 1970s, particularly from excess water donated by a local quarry firm until it ended operations in the late 1990s.

Since 2000, its primary water source has been Zone 7 Water Agency, which provides municipal water to Livermore, Pleasanton, and Dublin. Zone 7 has helped fill the lake from a Delta-conveyed water surplus in nearby Arroyo del Valle. This benefited the Park District by providing high water for recreation, and Zone 7 by increasing recharge of the groundwater basin near Pleasanton-area production wells.

In the spring of this year, due to the unfolding drought and court-ordered Delta water pumping restrictions aimed at protecting endangered fish, Zone 7 cut back its recharge program to minimum requirements on Arroyo del Valle. The Park District had in 2007 reached an agreement with a rock quarry company for a backup water supply in the event of Zone 7 recharge cutbacks or system outages. But in June of this year, that company informed the Park District that it couldn’t provide backup water due to lower groundwater levels. The Park District does not have another alternative for recreation-based water at Shadow Cliffs.

Presently, Shadow Cliffs is open to fishing, boating, and swimming; however, the water level is diminishing about two to three inches per week due to evaporation and percolation into the groundwater basin. At this rate of loss, the Park District supervisor has determined that August 14 will be the last day to launch trailered boats. All trailered boat launching will cease on August 15, likely for the remainder of the year or until drought conditions change. Fishing from shore, boat rentals, swimming, and launching of float tubes, canoes, and kayaks will continue providing enough water exists in the areas. The water slide area, which is separate from the lake, will operate through the Labor Day holiday.

The Park District will continue looking for alternative sources of water. Picnic areas and trails near the arroyo will remain open. The fact that Shadow Cliffs was excavated into a natural groundwater basin means that some water will continue to exist in the lake even as groundwater levels decline, so the fishing program and fish plants will continue.

The Park District will post notices at the lake and boat launch to prepare the public for this situation, and will post updates on this website as conditions change.

Back to top