LA GRANGE – Ater more than five years, Turlock Lake State Recreation Area will once again be open to the public.
Stanislaus County, Turlock Irrigation District and California State Parks announced this week the approval of an agreement to re-open and operate Turlock Lake thanks to nearly $8.2 million in funding from the state of California for facility improvements and one-time start-up costs.
“Reopening Turlock Lake is more than unlocking the gates; it’s reopening a space that belongs to our community,” said District 2 Supervisor Vito Chiesa, whose district is home to Turlock Lake. “I am excited for this wonderful opportunity for our Parks and Recreation Department to collaborate with State Parks and Turlock Irrigation District to provide family-friendly recreation for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Turlock Lake, with 26 miles of shoreline, is owned by Turlock Irrigation District and sits on the south side of the Tuolumne River, along the rolling foothills of eastern Stanislaus County, about 25 miles northeast of Turlock.
Seasonal (May 1 through Sept. 30) recreation options at Turlock Lake will include a proposed waterpark, picnicking, swimming, non-motorized boating such as kayaking and canoeing, and small-engine motorized boating. Non-seasonal (Oct. 1 through April 30) include fishing (the lake will be stocked with trout), waterfowl hunting, and special events.
“We anticipate some off-season recreation to be available this year, with summer-season recreation available in 2027,” said Tera Chumley, the county’s director of parks and recreation.
Necessary improvements include fencing, lighting, restrooms, walkways, and accessible parking.
“This partnership represents a best possible scenario for Turlock Lake; vital funding from the state, local management from the county offering recreational opportunities for the community, while still providing TID the operational flexibility of the lake for the benefit of our customers,” said Brad Koehn, general manager at TID
Turlock Lake, located at 2260 Lake Road in La Grange, has been a state recreation area since 1950, but closed in 2020 when the previous concessionaire – American Land and Leisure – terminated its contract with the state.
“For the county to take over operations, it was critical to evaluate necessary improvements needed to reopen the recreation area,” said Chumley.
In 2023, the state funded an assessment of the facilities, which included restrooms, parking, boat launch, pump houses and tank, and maintenance and operation facilities. The assessment was concluded in 20204 with an estimated $7.5 million in identifiable improvements.
Stanislaus County will manage the park, which was a popular summer recreation destination, with peak use between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
“I was worried when Dos Rios (State Park) opened and I thought maybe the state was going to trade one state park for another one,” said Chiesa. “And that was not the case at all. I had assurances from Day 1 of the state’s commitment to reopening Turlock Lake State Recreation Area.”
The state, county, and TID will enter into a joint-powers agreement. Under the agreement, TID will be the property owner, while the state will provide the funding for improvements. The county will receive funding from the state to make improvements and manage recreation operations.
The county and TID will enter into a lease agreement for the county to operate recreation for 10 years, with an option to extend the lease in 10-year increments.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department will provide law enforcement services through a service level agreement with parks and recreation. Since Turlock Lake is a state recreation area, alcohol is prohibited.
