Stanislaus County dismissed as Woodward Reservoir park manager. What will change?
After a few years of fruitless negotiations, Stanislaus County Parks & Recreation is out as the manager of activities at Woodward Reservoir north of Oakdale.
The San Joaquin County irrigation district that owns Woodward said Tuesday it’s ending a license agreement with Stanislaus County for management of the park and recreation facilities.
On a 5-0 vote, the South San Joaquin Irrigation District board approved serving the one-year notice. Stanislaus County will operate the regional park for another 12 months ending Oct. 15, 2026. After that, the irrigation district, or perhaps a recreation contractor, will take over management of park services at Woodward.
Activities at Woodward have included camping, picnics, fishing, large events, water sports and waterfowl hunting. But county park leaders over the years also livened up things with concerts and gatherings like the Serenity Gathering and the All Day I Dream Festival, plus Fourth of July fireworks every year.
SSJID said some recreational activities will come under review, balanced with a priority of protecting water quality in the 2,900-acre lake. Swimming and other body-to-water contact activities at Woodward are forbidden certain times of year because the reservoir is a drinking water source for Manteca, Lathrop and Tracy.
The SSJID board approved the early termination notice after the district and county could not agree to terms in prolonged negotiations.
In a news release, the SSJID said the change will allow for better protection of water quality, improved oversight and enhanced recreation.
“SSJID has thoroughly reviewed the operations at Woodward Reservoir and determined that our district is best positioned to guide its future,” said SSJID General Manager Peter Rietkerk in the news release. “We are committed to ensuring the transition delivers clear benefits for our ratepayers and reservoir users.”
During the yearlong transition period, SSJID and Stanislaus County will coordinate planning to continue recreation access and address operational needs “while protecting water quality.” The Woodward regional park had about 482,000 visits in the fiscal year ending in 2024.
The irrigation district and county parks had held discussions since 2022 over operations and financial management of the regional park, with the district seeking more transparency, according to the news release. Amendments to the license agreement in 2005 included a timetable to negotiate new amendments in the second half of 2022. But it was clear near the end of 2022 that the two agencies didn’t see eye-to-eye, particularly when talks centered on park revenue and expenses.
SSJID said it identified some opportunities for efficiencies and long-term investments in facilities, as well as efforts to protect water quality in the reservoir.
A spokesperson for Stanislaus County said the formal notice was received from SSJID on Tuesday evening, regarding the license agreement termination. The county is carefully reviewing the official materials.
“Woodward Reservoir has been a valued part of Stanislaus County’s park system and a regional recreation destination for decades,” a county statement said. “The county appreciates the partnership with SSJID that has allowed generations of residents and visitors to enjoy this public asset safely and responsibly.”
The county’s statement added: “While today’s developments were unexpected and disappointing, Stanislaus County remains hopeful that future discussions with SSJID will focus on ensuring a smooth and coordinated transition that protects water quality, maintains public access and serves the best interests of our community.”
SSJID spokesperson Katie Patterson said the future of recreation at Woodward will be evaluated in the coming year. The irrigation district will consider models such as district management of recreation or an agreement with a parks contractor.
The district can’t say yet if events such as Fourth of July fireworks will continue, Patterson said. The park facilities are currently open and no disruptions are foreseen for a year, “then we will have an update for the public,” she said.
One important issue was making sure to keep the invasive species, golden mussels, out of Woodward Reservoir. Boating was shut down as a precaution at the end of December after a golden mussel discovery in the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta. Woodward’s owner feared that private watercraft could bring the mussels to the reservoir.
Patterson said the park needed a boating plan but communication with the county was lacking. The district learned from social media its county partner was going to allow boating again.
Invasive mussels are a serious threat
Patterson said an infestation of golden mussels could require draining the reservoir to get rid of it, which would cut off water to agricultural customers and the cities. Effective Oct. 1, boats launching at Woodward Reservoir (and Modesto Reservoir) must follow quarantine procedures to prevent the spread of invasive mussels, a county parks website says.
Patterson added that park facilities were deteriorating, including bathrooms, and the reputation of the reservoir was declining, judging from social media comments. “It was a myriad of reasons over the last few years that caused our board to believe a management change needs to happen,” she said.
Carissa Lucas, a county spokesperson, said by email she could not comment about the issue regarding invasive mussels until speaking with parks leadership.
She said the county has identified several omissions and mischaracterizations in the materials given to the SSJID board, which do not fully reflect the collaboration between the partner agencies. Some important correspondence from the county was not included in the attachments, she said.
“We look forward to addressing these matters directly with the district,” Lucas said.
Patterson said time is needed during the transitional year for property negotiations or acquisitions. Though the irrigation district is owner of the reservoir, some parcels are owned by Stanislaus County, such as the area around the entrance station.
Stanislaus County Parks & Recreation also is responsible for operating the regional park at Modesto Reservoir. The county department is working on plans for restoring park activities at Turlock Lake State Recreation Area.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 10:46 AM.
