Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is Bethany to provide for the health, inspiration and Pelicans and herons education of the people of California by helping Reservoir to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological migrating along the Pacific diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities Flyway find a quiet resting State Recreation Area for high-quality outdoor recreation. place at Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (925) 447-0426. This publication can be made available in alternate formats. Contact [email protected] or call (916) 654-2249. 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 Discover the many states of California.™ Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area N 37.7708˚ W 121.5997˚ 13638 Christensen Road Byron, CA 94514 (925) 447-0426 © 2013 California State Parks (Rev. 2020) THE PARK AND THE AQUEDUCT ucked between rolling hills of annual T Bethany Reservoir is jointly managed by Snowmelt grasslands and below one of many local runs into three State of California agencies: the Lake Oroville windmill farms lies a secluded park known Departments of Water Resources, Fish and Lake Oroville R as Bethany Reservoir State Recreation Area. i Wildlife, and Parks and Recreation. v e This 608-acre park’s reservoir in northeastern r 0 200 Miles This reservoir is the first stop on the F Alameda County provides water recreation Bethany l 444-mile, north-to-south California Aqueduct Reservoir o w and a variety of bass and other fish for anglers of the State Water Project. Supplying water and to hook. San Luis power for California’s agriculture, cities and industry, Reservoir C a Strong westerly winds sweep the gently l i the aqueduct also provides flood control, recreational f o Water travels rolling hillsides year round, making the r 444 miles down opportunities, fishing and wildlife viewing. n i a the California reservoir an ideal venue for sailing. Foggy or The California Legislature authorized the State Water Aqueduct A q rainy winter temperatures dip into the 40s. u Project in 1951. Construction on the aqueduct began in e d u Early spring brings a profusion of hillside c t 1963; by 1973, water could flow deep into Southern California. Pyramid poppies. Dry summers hovering in the high Rain and snowmelt from California’s upper Feather River Lake 90s segue into cooler autumns. Lake Basin runs into the water storage facility at Lake Oroville. This Perris PARK HISTORY water is released from the dam in regulated amounts, streaming down Native Americans the Feather and Sacramento Rivers, through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Archaeologists believe that more than 7,000 Delta, and into Bethany Reservoir. years ago, this area was an oak woodland Through a lengthy, complex system of pumping plants and power stations, that water interspersed with pinyon and juniper trees. eventually arrives at the aqueduct’s southern terminus, above Lake Perris in Riverside Many members of native groups known as the County. Cost of the operation is borne by 29 Southern California water agencies supplied Ssaoam Costanoans and Cholvon Yokuts lived under contract with the Department of Water Resources. in these hills, using and conserving their rich Bethany Reservoir was named and classified a state recreation area in 1973; California State natural resources. Parks took responsibility for the park’s recreational management in 1974. European Arrival Although California had been claimed by represented several races — all looking for a exposure to fatal diseases such as typhus Spain in 1542, the first Spanish explorers different life in the New World. and smallpox. Surviving descendants of both in Livermore Valley camped here in 1776. By 1820, Spanish soldiers who followed the Yokuts and the Costanoan (today called Juan Bautista de Anza’s 20-member party of Anza had nearly exterminated the native Ohlone) tribes labor to preserve their long- soldiers, mule tenders, servants and a priest people, either by violent means or by standing traditions. Centuries of cattle grazing in the area have ACCESSIBLE FEATURES resulted in hills awash in non-native grasses. The upper and lower reservoir’s fishing Invasive weeds and thistles grow among platforms are accessible, as are the boat these grasses. In spring, such prolific native ramps, shaded picnic tables and no-flush wildflowers as California poppies, brodaiea, restrooms. Accessibility is continually and lupine cover the hills. Introduced trees — improving. For updates, visit the site at an ancient cork oak and some eucalyptus and http://access.parks.ca.gov. Aleppo pines — provide shade around the reservoir’s picnic areas. PLEASE REMEMBER • Pay day-use and boat launch fees in the RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES NATURAL HISTORY main parking lot. Boating — Explore the six miles of shoreline • Speed limit is 5 mph on the reservoir. Geology surrounding 160 surface acres of water from A chalky marine formation (from 66 to 100 • Please do not litter on the ground or on your small boat, canoe or kayak. Speed limit the water. billion years old) interspersed with river- is 5 mph. The launch ramp is near the park borne sediment deposits combined to • Dogs must be on a six-foot-maximum leash entrance. Boat access is forbidden near the under human control at all times. form this hilly region. Two seismic faults, dams at the northwestern and southeastern • All natural and cultural features are the Greenville and the Hayward, run nearly ends of the reservoir. protected by law and may not be parallel to the Aqueduct. A great deal of earth Bicycling — Hilly back roads outside park removed or disturbed. was introduced, moved and compacted to boundaries offer challenging bike climbs. form five earthen dams that were graded to Fishing — A two-lane boat ramp provides create the reservoir, so very little native soil NEARBY STATE PARKS easy launch for small fishing or self-propelled • Caswell Memorial State Park or vegetation remains. boats. A road from the boat ramp to a second 28000 South Austin Road Flora and Fauna picnic area allows some shore fishing access. Ripon 95366 (209) 599-3810 Visitors may spot a gopher snake, rattlesnake, Anglers may catch five types of bass • Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area Beechey ground squirrel, or fox (including the (spotted, white, smallmouth, largemouth, and 18600 W. Corral Hollow Road, Tracy 95376 threatened San Joaquin kit fox). Coyotes prey striped), crappie, catfish and trout. Persons (925) 447-9027 on small rodents while Swainson’s and red- age 16 and over must carry a valid fishing tailed hawks, northern harriers, loggerhead license. For specific fishing regulations, visit shrikes or American kestrels seek them from the site at www.dfg.ca.gov. above. Western burrowing owls emerge from Picnicking — Shaded picnic ramadas are holes made by ground squirrels or badgers. located close to the boat ramp near the Migratory waterfowl using the Pacific flyway park’s entrance. stop here to rest and refuel. During their Sailing — Sailboarders or catamarans will find seasonal migrations, freshwater pelicans feed plenty of propulsion on most days, with a on the water’s surface. Herons, cranes, and mean wind speed above 7 and gusting to two freshwater duck species — mallards and 12 mph. goldeneye — visit semi-annually. Legend 200 Paved Road 205 580 to and 100 Bethany Reservoir Unpaved/Service Road State Recreation Area Restricted Boating Area t c u Accessible Features 300 Christensen Road Bruns Rd d e u Boating q A Boat Launch a i n r Fishing 200 o 200 f i l 200 a Locked Gate C Parking No BETHANY RESERVOIR 200 300 Access Picnic Area STATE RECREATION AREA Restroom Windsurfing 300 300 300 Bethany No Access Area 300 300 Reservoir 300 to Franks Sacramento Stockton 200 Tract SRA 200 400 Mount Bethany Reservoir SRA 300 Diablo SP 500 to Oakland 205 Manteca 580 400 Caswell 580 Tracy Memorial SP Livermore Carnegie SVRA No Access Area 300 0 3.75 7.5 15 Mi C a Patterson l 0 5 10 20 Km to i f 0 0.125 0.25 0.5 Miles o Los Angeles r n 0.3 i 0 0.15 0.6 Kilometers a ©2013 California State Parks A q u e 500 d u 300 c t 400.