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Home , Aqueduct (bridge), Aqueduct (water supply), California Aqueduct, Quail Lake, Silverwood Lake

California Department of Resources

FISHINGFISHING along the SWPSWP The State Water Project

Northern , the area, the San Joaquin , the Central Coast, and . Other SWP purposes include control, power generation, recreation, fish and wildlife enhancement, and water quality improvements in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Twenty-nine urban and agricultural water agencies have long-term contracts for delivery of SWP water. Approximately 70 percent goes to urban users and 30 percent to agricultural users. These SWP contracting agencies are repaying the full cost, plus interest, of financing, building, operating and maintaining the SWP water storage and delivery system.

Planned, designed, constructed, operated and maintained by the California Department of (DWR), the State Water Project (SWP) is the largest state-built, multipurpose water project in the United States. The SWP, reaching from Northern to Southern California, includes 34 storage facilities, 20 pumping plants, 4 pumping-generating plants, 5 hydroelectric power plants, and 700 miles of , , and pipelines, which includes the 444-mile long California . The main purpose of the SWP is water supplies —that is, to divert and store water during wet periods and distribute it to areas of need in Fishing Along the SWP

The SWP provides the angler with varied opportunities for year-round fishing. You are welcome to fish at 12 SWP reservoirs or at 16 designated fishing access sites along the ’s more than 400 miles of open canals. (See 16 individual maps on reverse side.) Each site provides parking, and some sites have restrooms. The Aqueduct’s fishing sites begin south of Stockton and end near Los Angeles.

Northern California Depending on the area, you can catch many different kinds of fish. In SWP reservoirs, you can fish for Coho salmon, three species of trout, four species of bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. Anglers in the Upper Southern California Feather Lakes of Antelope, Frenchman, and Davis catch fish such as rainbow trout, brook trout, and brown Rainbow trout fishing is a popular sport at Southern trout. In , anglers enjoy one of the best bass California SWP reservoirs. has largemouth fisheries in the western United States, with high catches bass, which holds the lake record at 50 pounds of spotted bass, along with largemouth, smallmouth, and and 2 ounces. At Castaic, Pyramid, and Silverwood lakes, redeye bass. Coho salmon abound in Lake Oroville as well, you can find striped bass, largemouth bass, crappie, along with brown trout, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. bluegill, and trout. Catfish are also found at Silverwood, Castaic, Perris, and Quail lakes. There is walk-in fishing, but no boats are allowed at . Quail Lake also offers striped bass and bluegill. , the southern- Anglers at SWP reservoirs in Central California, such as San most SWP reservoir, currently has green sunfish, bluegill, Luis and Bethany Reservoirs, fish for trophy-size striped trout, and a championship spotted bass population. bass, largemouth bass, catfish, bluegill, and crappie. The world’s largest landlocked striped bass was caught at O’Neill California Aqueduct Forebay. The Los Banos Creek Reservoir has trout plants in The California Aqueduct contains fish such as striped the winter, and also has a population of bass and crappie. bass and catfish. The California Aqueduct, which begins in the north at and ends in the south at Lake Perris, is a 444-mile long, concrete lined built to convey water to its many destinations. Operated by the Department of Water Resources, the California Aqueduct’s water looks calm on the surface, but there are fast currents that can carry you away quickly. The water is deep - up to 30 feet in some places - enough to cover a whole house. It is an effective way to move water, but it is not a safe place to swim or play. Remember that the Department of Fish and Game’s fishing regulations apply throughout the SWP. Please obey the regulations for the area you are in. You can obtain a copy of the regulations where you buy your fishing license. Fishing Safety Tips

When fishing, always remember the fishing safety tips, Fishing Safety on the California including the drownproofing method. Aqueduct Drownproofing Method When you fish along the Aqueduct, heed all reservoir fishing safety tips listed above, including these tips about • If you fall in the water, stay calm. If you are at the Aqueduct dangers: Aqueduct, look for the nearest downstream ladder or float line. Swim or float to the ladder to climb out, or • When you fish, stand back from the Aqueduct’s grab the line and pull yourself to the . sloping concrete sides. They are steep, slippery, and • If you are not at the Aqueduct and are unable to difficult to climb. You could easily slide right into the locate a ladder or line, use the “drownproofing” water. method to stay afloat. First, relax your body in the • Wear rubber-soled shoes for safe footing at the water. Let the back of your head and your shoulders Aqueduct. come to the surface. Next, pull your knees tightly a into your chest and “tread” water with your arms. • If you go to the Aqueduct B Every five to ten seconds, raise your face out of the to fish,look around for water and take a deep breath. Repeat the breathing as the safety ladders a andB you continue to tread water with your knees up. This linesa B . Safety ladders method, which will keep you afloat for a long time, along both sides of the will not tire you out as much as swimming. Aqueduct are spaced 500 feet apart and marked by bright yellow paint. The Fishing Safety on SWP Reservoirs safety lines are strung on a B When fishing at any of the 12 SWP reservoirs, plastic floats, close to you should remember to: and other structures that cross the Aqueduct. These ladders • Wear a life jacket or preserver. Children should and lines can save your life. wear life preservers at all times. • Observe all warning signs - They are there to • Do not go into the water warn you of dangers. to land a fish, recover fishing gear, or any other reason. It’s too dangerous­—the current • Don’t climb over or around fences, is swift below the surface. or trespass on posted areas • Take your own drinking water. The Aqueduct water • Watch out for has not been treated and is not safe to drink. poisonous snakes • Don’t play close to the Aqueduct • Never fish alone • Do not climb structures or fish from bridges crossing the Aqueduct. They are not safe fishing spots.

Help spread the word about these fishing safety tips— YOU COULD SAVE A LIFE! FISHING SITES On The 1

California Aqueduct grant line road site

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The following maps are the 16 designated fishing access Bethany Res. e s

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MORE stoCKton INFORMATION 1 Grant Line Road Site aqueDuCt aCCess 2 Niels Hansen Site For more fishing Orestimba Site 1-16 San Luis 3 sites (See detailed maps) information, contact the Cottonwood Road Site Reservoir 4 Department of Fish and 5 Road Site Game in: Mervel Ave. Site 6 fresno Fairfax Site 7 CA L 8 I • Northern California Three Rocks Site F O at (530) 225-2300 9 R Huron Site N 10 I • Central California at Avenal Cutoff Site A Kettleman City Site 11 A (707) 944-5500, and Q U BaKersfielD E D U • Southern California at C T (858) 467-4201. Munz Ranch Road Site For more information about the State 12 Avenue S Site 13 70th Street 14 15 16 Water Project and accessibility, call the West Site Department of Water Resources’ Public 77th Street Longview East Site Road Site Affairs Office at 1-800-272-8869. los Lake Perris angeles Visit DWR’s Web Site at www.water.ca.gov For TTY phone service, call (916) 653-6226. san Diego If you need this publication in an alternate form, contact the Public Affairs Office at 1-800-272-8869. 2 3 niels hansen site orestimba site

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4 5 & 6

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Belmont Ave. Clarkson Ave. fishing site C C a Ave. Derrick a l l if if o or rn n ia ia

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Panoche Creek Harlan Ave.

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269 269 Siskiyou

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Elizabeth Lake Milham Ave.

13 14 70th street West site avenue s site

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