WHO Forgot to Put the PLUG IN????????

[tunaman]

Sheesh... went to DVL on Monday, and hadn't been there for a couple of weeks and find that there's a whole new lake!?!?! Starting to fish pretty small, I might add. Looks to be about 10-12' lower than the last time out/

SO - Art Hill/Jeff Leatherman/anyone else involved - can you give us an idea how much further she's going to be drawn down, and the time frame? The website currently states 1701.96... Where is this in relation to when it first opened?

Also, can someone please provide a factual statement regarding the influx source? I keep hearing that it is drawing water from the Colorado River, but remember Mike stating that the pipeline from the River was cut off when they first became aware of the Quagga issue. I had a lady at the ramp making statements about the water being piped in from the River, and just told her that the powers that be 'know what they're doing'. Clarification would be really helpful.

Roger

[hippie]

Its going to be closed within 2 months I bet at least to us people with boats

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Yeah.. All of the lakes in So California that are fed by the colorado, or the aquaduct will be pretty dry this year because of the mussel issue! I just got inspected to go to Lake Casitas, and they locked my boat to my trailer. I can't launch anywhere else unless I want to be inspected again, and endure the 10 day wait period again. Cachuma is still pretty easy to get into but the price of gas keeps me out of that one.. Do you guys fish Castaic?

[TEAMDEADMONEY]

WE heard from a VERY reliable source that the lake could very well be closed to outside boats in 2 months because we wont be able to launch. From what I hear, they will still allow shore fishing and rental boats but no private boats...
I HOPE THIS ISNT TRUE!!!!


We also hear that the lake will start (IF it hasnt already) dropping about a foot a day or so...If thats the case the lake will be unlaunchable within a month, two at the most.
AGAIN.....This is only what we've heard from a VERY reliable source...I hope it isnt true.... But it looks like it may be..


PLEASE Oh PLEASE DONT BE TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Pete

[one fish wonder]

The best thing that could happen is if the mussel was already in the lake. Then they would start bringing water back in and things would go back to normal. I sure hope this is not true.

Todd

[DL]

Don't worry, DV with be infected soon enough. I believe they are under contract to bring water from the Colorado River in September, and then you wont have to worry about it.

Close it...

[mark poulson]

As I was having my boat power washed by the ranger at Cachuma three weeks ago, he was telling me that the DFG guy up there told them all it's just a matter of time until all lakes are infected.
Not if, but when.
I don't know if this is a game of chicken to see who's going to pay for the remediation, the local water districts or the state, but it sure looks like politics at it's finest.
I think the state should take the lead, although they won't because they say they don't have the money to make the changes needed to deal with the mussels.
But how much will it cost eventually to deal with a full blown outbreak, instead of quick action now to reduce the impact by addressing the issue now.
Penny wise, pound foolish.

[Rick G]

1-Yes the lake is in a drought condition.
2-The prediction is it will go down about another 30' by summers end.
3-There is still plenty of ramp left. It was lots lower the first year it was open.
4-Jeff Leatherman got a new job with the Parks Dept. and MWD is hiring a replacement.
5-If any water from the river is pumped in you can assume the quagga's are getting in.
6-IF THE LAKE GETS QUAGGAED IT WILL NOT CLOSE!

I asked all these questions the other day to THE TOP PEOPLE.
These are the answers.
Go fishing, the sun will rise on DVL tomorrow. Rick G.

[tunaman]

THANKS Rick. The only question not answered is the one whether the lake is currently taking River water or not? I remember talking with Mike quite some time back about the sources of the inflows, but can't remember the details much (CRS as I get older ). I seem to remember that there were indirect flows from as far away as Oroville, but can't seem to recall the path of flow.

Roger

[ash]

I seem to remember that there were indirect flows from as far away as Oroville, but can't seem to recall the path of flow.

Roger

IF this is true then DVL isnt getting anything from Orroville this year as they are predicting NO ramps in the water by end of July-Aug. due to low water.

[Mike Giusti]

Roger the source of water for DVL is the Colorado River and the State Water Project out of Lake Silverwood. The reason DVL doesn't have quagga mussels is that they have not put any Coloradoa River water into the lake in about 2 years. Last year when there was some water they stored it in Mead and are now using it to supply Skinner and Mathew but not DVL. They are not expecting to put any Colorado River water into DVL until next fall at the earliest. They do put some Silverwood water in all the time. Like Rick said the lake is going to go down about 25 feet this year. This may mean we will be launching on the concrete matts by they rental boat for a while. I am guessing if it gets low enough MWD will look into extending the ramp with the concrete slabs they took out when the lake was low last time. We have not been told anything about the lake closing and we meet with MWD every other week.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[tunaman]

THANKS Mike! Yes, as always your information helps a lot. Funny how many people I've heard state as fact that DVL is currently taking water from the River, and are pretty argumentative when I try to refute that statement.

Hope things are going well for you sir!

Roger

P.S . Miss you on the electroshocking trips these days!

[Moose]

That's good to hear. I am hoping to take my father and son out there for my fathers first visit to the lake on Fathers Day. Glad to hear it will be launchable. Can anyone update me on the Quagga inspection process and what I need to be concerned about? I would HATE to get them up there and get turned away. Thanks.

[tunaman]

DVL is still being very reasonable in their inspection process. Be sure you're CLEAN and DRY, fill out the current form (they'll give it to you at the gate), ensure your plug is out for the inspection, and it should be painless.


Roger

[Mike Giusti]

Moose,

go to http://www.dvmarina.com/

Click on the box that says clean drained and dry. It will give all the last requirements. It should be pretty painless if you haven't been in a lake with mussels.

Hope you and fyour amily have a great time and good fishing.

[Guy Williams]

MWD has a meeting next week to discuss the closure of the lake to private boats, this is from someone that works at the lake. It still will be open to shore fishing and rental boats. I don't know how far the ramps goes but same guy said it was only about 25 more feet till you will not be able to launch a private boat. Also they are to discuss a possible rise in the speed limit of the lake. I talked with a person from MWD two weeks ago and was told that they will be putting water in the lake from the Colorado aqueduct by the fall. Oh well, Mammoth here I come!! Maybe a Havasu trip or two also.
Guy Williams

[Rick G]

Skinner=Quagga
Havasu=Quagga
Mead/Mojave=Quagga
San V.=Quagga
Otay=Quagga
the list goes on and on with 2 things in common. They all have Quagga's and THEY ARE ALL STILL OPEN. Why would they even consider discussing closing a lake that they have spent MILLIONS to build for the Tourist dollars, let alone the local economy needs and built all that infrastructure, rental boats ect...

Sorry, sounds like unhappy employee rumor BS to me. Not saying Guy that they did not tell you that, but from who I have talked to seems highly unlikely. But this is So.Cal. so who knows. Rick G.

[hippie]

who cares close it, just give me a refund on my yearly pass. So i can by a new thong

[tunaman]

Would that be "buy" or "bi" hippie?

Roger

[dvmarina]

Just a few comments but it seems to be covered by Mike and Rick.

Current lake level- 1701.96
Lowest so far (2004) 1685 so we have some space to go. We have about 30 feet on the west side of the ramp (5 lanes total) then we will switch over to the east side (3 lanes) on the concrete mats. As Mike said, to my knowledge we are not taking any Colorado Water and we don't have much coming in from Nor Cal that is not being used throughout the system.

Inspections have not changed over the past few months and the general rule is still Clean, Drained and Dry. Check the web site for questions.

Wednesday June 4 will be my last official day with DVL. My company will be working on hiring a replacement. In the mean time Steph and the rest of staff will be taking care of things. I leave it in good hands and will be around from time to time.

Jeff

[tunaman]

Sorry you're leaving Jeff, but hopefully it's to greener pastures! You've been an asset to DVL and leave a good legacy for your successor.

Thanks for all your support while you've been there, and best of luck in your future endeavors!

Roger

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Good point Rick! However that is what they said about Casitas, and they did close to outside boats all the way throug hthe major part of the spawn. Now they are letting them in again after inspection, purchase of a $50.00 lock & cable, and 10 day wait period. Casitas is sticking it to all of us up here to re-coop some of the money they lost from their stupid decision of closing it in the first place. Cachuma was the only no swimming lake up here that stayed open wit hlesser restrictions because they just spent around $2,000,000.00 on their new launches. I have a feeling that everyone is going to be raising their rates.

I guess if we want to put our boats into the lakes we will have to pay the price, and you know how it works in California. If there is a buck to be made they will find a way to make it.

A shame that all of us fishermen will be the ones to pay the major part of it..

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Hey .. Can anyone tell me if DVL is a natural lake with rocks & structure or is it like the reservoirs Like Casitas with basically a flat bottom?

[tunaman]

Well, I can tell you that it wasn't a natural lake, but was built on a natural basin. There's some pretty good videos and photos on the MWD web site documenting the build-out, so you should check them out.

What is special about DVL is that they built it from the ground up to support a trophy fishery, and Mike Guisti and company did a spectacular job with it. There are so many 'special' features that they put into the design, which make it a very unique fishery.

I'm in awe every time I go, especially during the draw-down as I keep finding more and more goodies to try to remember.

Roger

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Thanks Roger! I will check out hte page. If I wasn't chaned to my trailer waiting to get into Casitas I might even go there this weekend. ha ha ha But if I do that it will be another inspection & another 10 day wait period before I can fish my local lake.. I do however have a buddy that isn't going to get inspected at Casitas. Maybe he would like to try it..

Anyway.. Thanks for the info!

[tunaman]

If you go, be sure to stop in the Marina and get one of their lake maps... it has the detailed contours and a lot of the special features they built into the lake. It's definitely worth the cost.

Roger

[SoCalBassAssassin]

Will do!

[Guy Williams]

Hey, I can only say what I hear. I hear things all the time about the lake from different people. I don't think they will close it due to the Quagga but maybe for safety reasons. All I know is that I live out here and I work with a utility company out here and have a lot of contact with the MWD employees in the area. Tunaman, Jeff got way greener pastures; say 90 grand worth.
Guy Williams

[tunaman]

Tunaman, Jeff got way greener pastures; say 90 grand worth.
Guy Williams

I'm glad... he's a good guy and deserves it then. I only hope his replacement can live up to the legacy he's leaving.

Roger

[Scott E.]

Congrats to you, Jeff, on your new endeavor. You have done a great job and have a wonderful staff (a great reflection on you) and I (and my little girl) have really enjoyed the whole operation with you running things. Steph and crew will do a great job until your replacement arrives, without a doubt.

Scott E.

[Guy Williams]

As a parent with my daughter being in sports Jeff, you'll be hearing from me!! Just kidding! I too hope your endeavor with Valley Wide is a good one.
Guy Williams