Turlock Lake

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=555 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turlock_Lake_State_Recreation_Area Turlock Lake State Recreation Area is regional park and recreation area at Turlock Reservoir in Stanislaus County, central California. The park is in the San Joaquin Valley foothills at 250 feet (76 m) in elevation, on the south side of the Tuolumne River and along the north shore of Turlock Lake. It is located near La Grange, 25 miles (40 km) east of the city of Modesto, and east of U.S. Route 99 and Turlock. The recreation area features Turlock Lake with its 26 miles (42 km) of shoreline and the surrounding foothill country leased from the Turlock Irrigation District in 1950.

Our Mission Turlock Lake State Recreation Area The mission of the California Department of Parks and Recreation is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. California State Parks does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at the phone number below. To receive this publication in an alternate format, write to the Communications Office at the following address. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P. O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Turlock Lake State Recreation Area 22600 Lake Road La Grange, CA 95329 (209) 874-2056 © 2005 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper With the river and lake environments so close to each other, this recreation area provides an ideal setting for water-oriented outdoor activities. N estled in a narrow, woodsy pocket between the Tuolumne River and Turlock Lake in the rolling foothills of eastern Stanislaus County, Turlock Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) lures those seeking relaxation and clean country air. Open all year with camping, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating and water skiing, this area offers visitors an opportunity to see the variety of native plant life that once flourished along the rivers of the San Joaquin Valley. A warm, dry climate prevails in the Central Valley, with nighttime temperatures usually dropping to the high 60s. Precipitation falls mainly from October through April. Summer temperatures above 100 degrees are normal. Winter temperatures are well below freezing, but snow is very rare. PARK HISTORY Turlock Lake Miwoks For thousands of years, the Central Sierra Miwok hunter-gatherers who supplemented their main dietary staple of acorns with other seeds, edible plants, fish, and large and small game, built seasonal villages of bark or tule reeds along the banks of rivers and streams. With the coming of Europeans, the essence of their existence—the vitality of the land, family life, the seasonal cycle, ritual and social interaction—was soon destroyed, along with large numbers of Miwok who had no immunity to the diseases introduced by the Europeans. Despite these drastic changes, descendents of the Central Sierra Miwok still live in the area, practicing ancient cultural traditions and passing them on to the next generation. the Turlock Irrigation District built a 3,500-acre reservoir between La Grange and Waterford that became known as Turlock Lake. Gold Mining Gold was found along the Tuolumne River in Stanislaus County by French sailors in 1849. Their camp quickly grew into a settlement known as French Bar or French Camp, and eventually became La Grange. The easily obtained placer gold played out by 1856. Gold mining returned to the Tuolumne River when the La Grange Dredging Company formed in 1905 to extract gold from an eight-mile section of the river, now part of the park. Several million dollars in gold were extracted before dredging operations ceased in 1952. TURLOCK LAKE TODAY In 1950 the Turlock Irrigation District leased Turlock Lake, with its 26 miles of shoreline and 228 acres of foothill country, to the State of California to form Turlock Lake SRA. From several lookout points, visitors can view the surrounding savannas and some of the cattle ranches and orchards nearby. Lake Road, which separates the campground from the day-use area, offers an excellent perspective of the campground, the river and sloughs, and miles of dredger tailing piles, the by-product of a half century of gold mining. TURLOCK IRRIGATION DISTRICT Just as the Tuolumne River furnished water for mining, it also provided rich soil for agriculture, and by 1857 farms lined its banks. The farmers irrigated their crops with the spring floodwaters of the Tuolumne River, leaving them vulnerable to periods of drought. With the backing of farmers, in 1887 Assemblyman C. C. Wright proposed a new kind of local government agency—an irrigation district—to help deal with the problem of crop irrigation. The first district to be established under the Wright Act was the Turlock Irrigation District. To control water for irrigation, this district and the Modesto Irrigation District together constructed La Grange Dam in 1893. Despite this the water needs of the farmers were barely being met. To solve the problem, WILDLIFE The rich riparian habitat along the Tuolumne River and adjacent sloughs with their forested banks and tangled underbrush provides a haven for many birds and animals. Over 115 species of birds have been identified along the river. Woodpeckers, hummingbirds, orioles, western bluebirds and greenbacked goldfinches provide fla

Wel Turlock Lake State Recreation Area ! come 22600 Lake Road • La Grange, CA 95329 • (209) 874-2056 The staff at Turlock Lake State Recreation Area welcomes you! To ensure your visit is a pleasant one, please help us by observing the following: Each campsite is limited to eight persons. All vehicles must be confined to designated roadways and parking areas. All vehicles and drivers must be licensed. Campground SPEED LIMIT IS 15 mph. Official Sunrise and Sunset Times Date Rise/Set Date Rise/Set Date Rise/Set A.M. P.M. A.M. A.M. P.M. P.M. Jan Dogs must be leashed at all times. They must be in a tent or vehicle during nighttime hours. PLEASE CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR PET. 7 14 21 28 7:12 7:11 7:08 7:04 4:58 May 7 4:59 5:05 14 4:52 5:12 21 4:47 5:20 28 4:43 6:52 Sep 7 5:34 6:58 14 5:40 7:04 21 5:46 7:09 28 5:51 6:19 6;08 5:58 5:47 Feb Loud, disturbing noises and music are prohibited at all times. Night quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. 7 14 21 28 6:65 6:49 6:40 6:31 5:31 Jun 7 4:40 5:38 14 4:39 5:45 21 4:40 5:52 28 4:42 7:16 Oct 7 5:59 7:19 14 6:05 7:21 21 6:12 7:22 28 6:18 5:34 5:24 5:15 5:06 Mar 7 14 21 28 6:22 6:12 6:01 5:51 5:59 Jul 6:05 6:08 6:17 4:46 4:51 4:56 5:01 7:21 Nov 7 6:28 7:18 14 6:36 7:14 21 6:43 7:09 28 6:50 4:56 4:51 4:46 4:44 Apr 7 14 21 28 5:36 5:27 5:17 5:09 6:26 Aug 7 5:09 6:32 14 5:15 6:38 21 5:21 6:44 28 5:26 6:59 Dec 7 6:58 6:51 14 7:03 6:43 21 7:08 6:33 28 7:11 4:42 4:44 4:46 4:50 Generators may be operated only between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Firearms, bows and arrows, etc. are not permitted. Please do not gather dead wood, twigs or other plant materials for fires. Decayed vegetation helps the growth of trees and other plants. Firewood may be purchased at the campground office. The sale of firewood provides funds for the Four Rivers Natural History Association. This revenue is used to support interpretive programs in the park. Bicyclists under 18 must wear approved helmets. Bicycles are not permitted on footpaths. After dark, bicycles must be equipped with headlamps and reflectors in compliance with vehicle code regulations. Campsites are vulnerable to theft at any time. Secure your valuables and equipment and report any suspicious activity. Check-out time is noon. Check-in time is 2 p.m. Boating hours 8 a.m. to sunset. No boats on water overnight! Thank you for your cooperation. 7 14 21 28 Add an hour for Daylight Savings Time when in use. FEES Campsite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20 per night Additional Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . $6 per night Day-Use Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6 per day Watercraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6 per day 58 57 66 65 64 53 52 56 55 54 5150 49 48 47 46 63 62 61 45 44 60 59 LEGEND Accessible Feature Boat Launch Turlock Lake Campground Tu o lumne 26 27 28 Campfire Center r 24 15 14 22 16 23 21 19 18 12 13 10 41 29 38 37 30 42 31 40 39 34 36 35 43 Rive 11 8 9 7 6 4 3 2 5 Slough 1 Lake R oa To W d ater ford and Tu r l o c Campground Parking 15 mp k h To La Grang e Ranger Station Restrooms Picnic Area (See inset map above.) Tu o l u m n e Showers River lou g S Swimming h Telephone Maps not to scale. Lake Boat and Trailer Parking © 2006 California State Parks Administration Office Day-Use Entrance Service Boaters, beware of submerged hazards. Road d Roa Water-Skiing Beach Turlock Lake Life Jacket, Wear it . . . Don’t Stow it! For emergencies call 911.