Finally! Boat Launches at San Pablo and Camanche Reservoirs Set to Reopen in 2026

Good news, fellow outdoor enthusiasts and boating aficionados! For years now, the waters of San Pablo and Camanche reservoirs, those beloved havens for recreation in the East Bay and beyond, have felt a little incomplete. Their boat launches, bustling with activity not so long ago, have sat silent since 2020. The culprit? Tiny but mighty invaders: the dreaded quagga and zebra mussels.

But hold onto your paddles, because East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) just announced some genuinely exciting news! They're aiming to reopen these boat launches in the spring of 2026. Yes, you read that right – 2026! It feels like a long time coming, doesn't it? This isn't just about bringing back fun, though; it’s a carefully calculated move to balance recreation with the critical need to protect our precious water supply and native ecosystems.

Let's rewind a moment and understand why they had to close in the first place. These invasive mussels, originally from Eastern Europe, are absolute nightmares. They attach to anything and everything – pipes, boats, even native shells – clogging infrastructure, outcompeting native species for food, and fundamentally altering aquatic environments. Imagine your drinking water pipes getting choked, or the entire food chain in a reservoir being thrown into chaos. That's the kind of threat we're talking about. EBMUD, quite rightly, took a proactive, albeit difficult, step to close the launches back in 2020 to prevent these destructive organisms from ever taking hold in their reservoirs.

Now, fast forward to 2026. The reopening won't be a simple return to business as usual, and honestly, that's a good thing. EBMUD has been diligently working on, and will implement, a robust new prevention program. Think of it as a comprehensive fortress against these aquatic invaders. Boaters can expect mandatory watercraft inspections every single time they want to launch. We're talking thorough checks, and if a boat shows any sign of having been in an infested waterway, or just isn't quite clean, it’ll be heading straight for a decontamination station, likely involving a hot water wash. It's a commitment to the "Clean, Drain, Dry" principle that's absolutely vital.

Furthermore, there will likely be a new sticker program, perhaps even an annual pass system, to streamline the process for frequent visitors who consistently meet the strict cleanliness standards. It's an investment, both for EBMUD in terms of infrastructure and staffing for these dedicated inspection stations, and potentially for boaters who might see a new fee structure to help cover these essential prevention efforts. But when you consider the alternative – an infested reservoir and compromised water quality – it’s a small price to pay, don't you think?

The hope is that by meticulously following these protocols, we can all enjoy the beauty of San Pablo and Camanche without jeopardizing the vital role they play as sources of drinking water for over 1.4 million East Bay residents and as thriving habitats for local wildlife. It's a fantastic example of balancing recreation with critical environmental stewardship. So, mark your calendars, clean up those boats, and get ready – the waters will soon be calling again, safer and more protected than ever before.