Swimming OK at Woodward Reservoir starting Saturday

The water level at Woodward Reservoir north of Oakdale is high enough that the “no bodily contact” restriction will be lifted beginning Saturday.

As it does each year, the South San Joaquin Irrigation District sent “no bodily contact” notices to Stanislaus County in the fall. For water quality reasons, bodily contact was banned at Woodward starting Oct. 1.

The Facebook page for the reservoir carries a post that “The body to water restriction will be lifted as of Saturday, April 9. Water level is at 207. … Construction is going well and we look forward to opening up camping by late May if not before!”

Currently, fishing boats and other watercraft from which people don’t get into the water are allowed at the reservoir, said Jami Aggers, county environmental resources and parks and recreation director, but swimming and personal watercraft like Jet Skis are not.

Another post on Woodward’s Facebook page says: “Woodward Reservoir is opening up camping at Charlie’s and Fisher’s Points – no reservations for these areas. … Camping is available in these two areas only beginning this Friday, April 8. The full hookup sites are not yet available due to construction. The estimated reopening of Hackberry and T-Island is mid-May and the sites will be available for reservations on ReserveAmerica.com.”

For more information on Woodward and Modesto reservoirs, see www.stancounty.com/parks/reservoir.shtm.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 6:09 PM with the headline "Swimming OK at Woodward Reservoir starting Saturday."