Pinecrest Shoreline Plan
Sonora, CA — A Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) draft has been released for Pinecrest. It is a supplemental to a license agreement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).
The draft is open for public input and comment. It is available at www.pinecrestlakeupdate.com or copies can be obtained at the Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Sonora or the Summit Ranger District Office at Pinecrest.
A Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) is one of the FERC conditions on PG&E’s license issued in 2009 for the Spring Gap-Stanislaus Hydroelectric Project. Public input is not required by FERC, but PG&E recognizes public’s interest and is accepting comments on the draft plan until May 3, 2012. The final Shoreline Management Plan will be submitted to FERC in July 2012.
The plan aims to set up where each of three activities are permitted along the shore; swimming, fishing, boating and boat mooring. According to the SMP much tighter restrictions and permits for boat mooring near the shore will encourage boat users to; use commercial marina located at Pinecrest Lake, use the public boat ramp, hand-launch their boats at numerous places at the south end of Pinecrest Lake, including the hand-launch area of the Shoreline Use Area, and/or taking advantage of other lakes and reservoirs in the vicinity to recreate in their watercraft.
The Mooring Buoy Program will be implemented the season following the completion of the traffic, circulation, and parking (TCP) improvements. The first annual drawing for mooring buoys will occur the first January following completion of TCP improvements. It is anticipated that the TCP improvements will be completed three to four years after the SMP is approved by FERC.
According to Stanislaus National Forest Officer, Jerry Snyder, improvement projects are not scheduled to begin until after Labor Day. Projects include improvement of Pinecrest Lake’s trails, bathrooms, parking lots and roads, fish cleaning station, beach and swimming facilities.
