A strategic planning session that attracted supporters and critics resulted in a “Big, long list of projects,” in the agency’s future, especially when the Freeman Diversion is paid off, freeing up funds for the next round of UWCD projects.Jim Word of the Casitas Municipal Water District noted that Lake Casitas also stores and supplies domestic and agricultural water for numerous customers.The lake, completed in 1959, holds 250,000 acre feet of water in its 2,700 acres, assuring a steady supply.“Early on we recognized the real potential of the lake for recreation,” including 32 miles of shoreline and 6,000 acres of surrounding acreage. During an off-peak week Lake Casitas attracts up to 1,500 visitors, up to 6,000 during a peak week. The long 4th of July weekend can bring a whopping 27,000 visitors, he added.There are 400 camping sites, tent areas and full hookups for RVs.“Fishing is one of the most popular pastimes,” and there are up too 40 bass tournaments held at the lake each year. Large mouth bass caught can weigh up to a hefty 16 pounds; 30,000 pounds of trout are planted in the lake each year. Stocking of a variety of fish is done nine months out of the year.“I love to fish but I don’t catch,” joked Word. “But I know people catch them,” and hooking a 20 pound catfish is “not unusual.”Boating is very popular and many festivals and events are held at the lake.The Blue Heron Water Playground for kids up to 12 is an interactive facility of specially designed water activities, which has “proven so popular,” a similar facility is being planned for adults, Word noted.
Water everywhere at GMSP! with Lake Casitas and Lake Piru information
February 23, 2001
Santa Paula News
There was pounding rain outside and water, water everywhere inside when two speakers featured at the February 13th Good Morning Santa Paula! spoke on watery subjects.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThere was pounding rain outside and water, water everywhere inside when two speakers featured at the February 13th Good Morning Santa Paula! spoke on watery subjects.The Santa Paula Times hosted the Chamber of Commerce sponsored event, held at Logsdon’s at the Airport; the monthly event drew a good crowd who braved the pounding rain to attend the breakfast meeting.“It’s a little damp out there,” noted Frank Brommenschenkel, coordinator of the GMSP! event.Jim Kentosh of United Water Conservation District, headquartered in Santa Paula, told of the public agency’s operations, from maintaining Lake Piru as a dual recreational and water replenishment sources to the Freeman Diversion storage facility in Saticoy.A supplier of both domestic and agricultural waters in selected areas of Ventura County, UWCD is a “variety of things,” including ground water recharging and seawater intrusion efforts, but perhaps best known for Lake Piru high in the mountains of the eastern Santa Clara River Valley.“We actually allow swimming and water skiing,” at Lake Piru, he noted.The 1990s was a “Really good decade,” for the agency, including hosting international visitors to the Freeman Diversion and the purchase of a major gravel pit to convert for water purposes.So high is the level of water overseen by UWCD that if another drought struck, “We’d be in really good shape,” supply-wise, Kentosh noted.
