Rules & Regulations

Please help make everyone’s visit enjoyable by becoming familiar with these park rules. Visitors are responsible for knowing and abiding by the park rules. A complete list is posted on the information boards at park offices, campgrounds, and throughout the park. Failure to follow park rules may result in warning, citation, arrest, and/or removal from the park.

All rules references herein are paraphrased from EBMUD Watershed rules and Regulations approved by EBMUD board of directors, unless otherwise noted. Violations are punishable pursuant to District Ordinance No. 284 and Section 12821(b) of the public utilities code, as well as other applicable codes.

Boating

1. All vessels must be inspected prior to launching. Vessels found to contain standing water, any aquatic nuisance species, or have recently operated in or are from high risk areas will not be allowed to launch unless they are first decontaminated by park staff.

2. The Lake level fluctuates. Submerged objects are present. Some submerged hazards may not be marked. Stay 200 feet from hazard markers when possible. Otherwise, approach at idle speed. Adjacent markers may indicate a submerged ridge. Do not attempt to go between them except with extreme caution. Wind and other weather conditions may change suddenly. Boat at your own risk.

3. California boating law is enforced in the park, by the sheriff.

4. Please obey all regulatory signs and markings. Launch only at designed ramps.

5. State law mandates that children under the age of thirteen wear life jackets on vessels while underway.

6. With the exception of personal watercraft, vessels utilized outside of 5mph zones must be at least 7 feet, 10 inches in length.

7. Skiing, aquaplaning, and other personal watercraft are prohibited east of “the narrows” which are marked by buoys and signs.

8. Vessels, including personal watercraft, must not exceed the 5mph/no wake limit within 200 feet of any shoreline.

9. Stay out of areas restricted to boating and marked with the “no boats” signal. Do not tie up regulatory buoys or buoy lines.

10. Night boat operation is prohibited. Boats may be operated from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. Otherwise, they must be moored, beached, or anchored immediately adjacent to the rented site.

11. Personal Watercraft shall not be operated between sunset and sunrise.

12. Non-Motorized cartop vessels between 6 feet and 12 feet are permitted in the Trout, Beaver, and Catfish ponds at south shore and are subject to California boating law requirements. Undersized rafts and swimming aids are not permitted in the ponds.

13. Personal float fishing devices may be used in the ponds only with chest waders to prevent bodily contact with the water. Personal float fishing devices are permitted in the “No Wake” zones of the reservoir (except the marina areas) without chest waders.

Fishing

1. California State Fish & Game laws and regulations are enforced. State Fishing licenses and EBMUD fishing access permits must be in your possession while fishing.

2. Live fish, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, any other bait in water, and dead mollusks (except frozen or freeze dried clams) are prohibited.

3. Up to four children under 16 years of age may fish on the EBMUD permit and limit of an accompanying licensed adult or they must have their own daily EBMUD fishing permit in possession.

4. All monies collected from EBMUD fishing access permits are used to purchase trout, bass, and other available gamefish to replenish Lake Camanches fish population.

5. Fishing from or within 30 feet of a marina or launch ramp is prohibited.

6. Fishing is prohibited within 150 feet of a fish plant for one half hour following a plant.

DAILY FISHING LIMITS

• 5 Bass (12 inches and over)

• 5 Trout

• 1 Sturgeon (46-72 inches)

• 25 Sunfish (Crappie, Bluegill, etc….or any combination of these type of fish species not to exceed 25 total.)

• No limit on Catfish or Carp.

• Starfish limit is 5 at kids fishing area.

These limits are set in January of 2019 and are subject to change by the CA department of fish and game.

Day Use & Camping

1. Fire Rings & BBQ’s can be hazardous, especially for toddlers and other small children. It is recommended to keep adjacent areas clean and free of tripping hazards and to discuss fire safety with your group.

2. Visitors registered as primary for any campsite are responsible for the actions and conduct of all other occupants, guests, and invitee’s.

3. Day use hours are from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset. Campsite checkout time is 1:00 PM.

4. All glass bottles or glass containers are prohibited at all day use areas where swimming is allowed and any area below the reservoir high water mark not defined as a campsite.

5. Parking in South Shore’s Monument RV Camps is limited to those who have paid for RV hookup sites. RV’s parked in RV hookup sites must have the capability to properly connect to water and electricity.

6. Additionally, they must have one of the following: the capability to properly connect to the sewer drain, a portable toilet, or the equivalent.

7. Camp only in designated camping areas and only at numbered sites with a table and fire ring (except in primitive overflow at Camanche North Shore.)

8. You are required to camp in your assigned site, maintaining a reasonable and obvious physical presence. Appropriate camping permits must be displayed in your vehicle and on your campsite number marker. Contact Camanche Recreation staff if you desire to change sites.

9. Camping is limited to two vehicles per site, except in designated group campsites. There is a maximum of eight persons and four tents per campsite, except at developed group campsites where the limit is posted.

10. Campsites designated as Double, Triple, Quad, or Group sites require special fee’s.

11. Campfires in developed camping areas are permitted only in provided rings. Campfires in undeveloped camp areas and Miners Camp RV Area are permitted only in designated areas with a 10 foot bare-ground clearance or green-lawn.

12. Rock fire-rings are prohibited. Campfires must be attended at all times.

13. Barbecues belonging to visitors may be used in areas having a minimum of 10 foot bare-ground clearance or green-lawn.

14. Gathering wood or other or other fuel without a permit is prohibited.

15. Camping at Camanche is limited to no more than 14 days within a 30 day period.

16. Only one recreation Vehicle (RV) or camp trailer is allowed per campsite.

17. Please return brochures, maps, and other park literature in good condition to the front gate upon exit from the park or when you are through with them.

18. You are liable for the cost of suppression damages caused by any wildfire that starts from your negligence. (Health and Safety Code Section 13009).

19. Filling portable swimming pools greater than 100 gallons is prohibited.

20. Quiet Time hours in November-March are 8:00pm-8:00 am. In April-October, Quiet Time hours are 10:00pm to 8:00am.

21. Do not operate generators or audio equipment during Quiet Time. Operating any type of sound producing machine in a manner such as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of recreation users is prohibited at all times. If noisy neighbors disturb you, report it to the entrance gate, park employee’s, or patrol staff.

22. All vehicles in the park must have a permit displayed at the front, so as to be visible from outside the vehicle. Campers and night visitors must be accompanied by a responsible person, 18 years of age or older.

23. Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanies by a parent or guardian after the Quiet Time hours.

24. Vaping/Smoking of any kind is strictly prohibited in the park except in permitted campsites and paved day-use and marina parking lots.

25. Alcoholic beverages and vaping/smoking of any kind are prohibited in the following campgrounds: Oaks And Riverview at Camanche South Shore, and, Blue oaks Sites 4 - 31 at Camanche North Shore.

Swimming & Wading

1. WARNING! No Lifeguard on duty. Swim at your own risk. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

2. Children should always be supervised by an adult who can swim. Never swim alone or far away from shore. Wearing of life jackets is recommended for swimmers and waders. Life Jackets are available for sale or rent at park stores. Swimming or wading is not permitted at any of the ponds except for float tubers with chest waders at the South Shore recreational ponds.

3. Do not swim, dive, or jump from launching docks, marinas, or cliffs.

Vehicle Use

1. Riding in truck beds without seat belts, or in trailers, or trailered boats (except while launching or retrieving a vessel) is prohibited (CA Vehicle Code Section 2311a, 21712d).

2. Please keep your valuable out of view in locked vehicles.

3. The California Vehicle Code is enforced in the park. The speed limit in the campground is 10mph. Please obey all traffic signs and markings. Motorcycles and other vehicles operating on the park roads must be registered, licensed, and equipped to operate on the highway in accordance with state law. Including Golf Carts, all golf carts must be registered with the department of motor vehicles.

4. Motorized scooters, gas or electric powered, are prohibited.

5. Off road vehicle operation is prohibited. Please stay on improved and designated roads and parking areas.

6. Posted areas are closed due to construction, flooding, fire, or other hazard. For your own safety, stay out.

7. Avoid lake shorelines. Receding lake waters and rain leave behind soft mud. Employees cannot tow stuck trucks.

Bicycling, ETC.

1. A person under 18 years of age shall not operate bicycle, or ride as a passenger on park roads unless wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet (CA Vehicle Code Section 21212

2. Bicycling is permitted within the developed recreation area unless otherwise posted.

3. Skateboards, roller-skates, rollerblades, or similar conveyances are not permitted in the marina parking lots and boat ramps or other posted locations, nor may they be operated anywhere in the park in an unsafe manner.

4. Use of metal detectors and collection of artifacts is prohibited.

Sanitation

1. Camanche Reservoir is the source of domestic water for the South Shore Recreation area. Pollution of Lake waters or shorelines is strictly prohibited. No recreational activity is permitted inside the supply exclusionary buoyline.

2. Dumping any waste water, greywater, garbage, trash, litter, gasoline, oil, debris, excrement, or any other foreign material into the reservoir, shoreline, or anywhere in the park except in receptacles provided for that use is prohibited.

3. It is unlawful to permit any wastewater or material from any plumbing fixture in a recreational vehicle to be deposited upon the surface of the ground (Health and Safety Code Section 18554; Title 17, Section 7992).

4. It is unlawful to enter the reservoir with a vessel which has an unsealed sink or drain or flush toilet on board or which has been determined by the park to be in a mechanical condition that would allow a pollutant to enter the reservoir.

5. Persons occupying their anchored boat on the water overnight must have a sealed portable toilet which can be dumped at the campground RV dump station after exiting the reservoir. Rentals are available at the marina.

6. Pets must be adequately leashed (six foot max length) and controlled at all times. It is unlawful to allow any domestic animal to pollute the waters of the resevoir (Health and Safety Code Section 4454). Fecal matter deposited in the recreation area by dogs or any other animals must be properly removed by the person in charge of said animal.

7. It is unlawful to discharge petroleum products from any vessel or vehicle in the park.

8. Clean fish only at the fish cleaning stations provided, properly disposing of the waste substances in the receptacles provided.

9. Please do not wash dishes or clean fish at campground hose bibbs.

Accessible Facilities

1. Many accessible facilities are provided in the park. If you desire an accessible campsite please inform the gate attendant. Park Policy prohibits the occupation of accessible campsites by non-disabled parties until the park has determined that all other campsites are full.

2. Unauthorized vehicles parking in designated accessible spaces not displaying distinguished placards or license plates issued for persons with disabilities may be cited and/or towed away at the owners expense.

Dangerous Activities

1. It is illegal to posses or discharge any gun, firearm, bow & arrow, air or gas powered weapon or any other dangerous weapon within the park. Hunting is prohibited except at the Camanche Hills Hunting preserve.

2. Possession or use of fireworks is strictly forbidden. It is illegal to operate a hang glider, parachute, kite tube, traction kite, or parasail.

3. Feeding any kind of feral animals or wildlife is strictly prohibited.

Contact & Information

Camanche North Shore Park & Office

2000 Camanche Road, Ione, CA, 95640 - Amador County

Emergency #’s: Dial 911, or 209-223-6500 (Amador County Sherriff Dispatch)

Park Office: 209-763-5121

Entry Gate: 209-763-5922

Night Patrol: 209-781-6008

North Shore Marina: 209-763-5166

Camanche South Shore Park & Office

11700 Wade Lane, Valley Springs, CA, 95252 - Calaveras County

Emergency #’s: Dial 911, or 209-754-6500 (Calaveras County Sherriff Dispatch)

Park Office: 209-763-5121

Entry Gate: 209-763-5922

Night Patrol: 209-781-6008

South Shore Marina: 209-763-5915

Cell Phone Emergencies

When dialing “911” from a cell-phone, inform the dispatcher that you are calling from “Lake Camanche North Shore (If in Amador County) or Lake Camanche South Shore (If In Calaveras County).

**Fee’s required, daylight hours

Please report sewer or hazardous material spills to the park office or entry gate attendant.

We are here to help…

For questions, feel free to call us at 209-763-5121, or email us at: camping@golakecamanche.com