Recreation
Reservoirs operated by the Tri-Dam Project offer many opportunties for recreation.
Two of our three reservoirs (Donnells and Beardsley)
are in the Summit Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest, in the
beautiful high country of the Central Sierras.
Donnells
Reservoir is situated in the Stanislaus National Forest on the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus
River between Clark’s Fork and Beardsley Reservoir. Vehicle access to Donnells
Reservoir is over a US Forest Service road when the road is open to the public.
The dirt road is 9 miles long from it’s junction with the Beardsley Road
to the dam site. The road has been closed since December 2007 at the order
of the US Forest Service owing to a large rockslide and the threat of additional
boulder falls which present a significant public hazard. There are no visitor
facilities at Donnells Reservoir. There are no developed camping areas, toilets,
or potable water. Forest Service geologists will evaluate the road this summer
to determine if stabilization measures will make the road safe to reopen.
The
8 mile stretch of river between the Donnells Dam and the upper end of Beardsley
lies in a deep canyon with a few unmarked access points and that is difficult
to traverse.
The best view of Donnells Reservoir is from the Donnells Overlook
about 15 miles east of Strawberry on Highway 108. The US Forest Service developed
site has ample parking, chemical toilets, interpretative signs, and an overlook
platform with an expansive view of the Reservoir. There is neither potable
water nor camping at this site.
For additional information about recreation near Donnells visit the US
Forest Service website.
There
are also developed campsites at Beardsley Reservoir,
located at the end of paved Beardsley Road off of Highway 108 about 5 miles
east of Strawberry and about 5 miles down the canyon. There are both day use
facilities and limited overnight facilities. More information about recreational
opportunities in the area surrounding Beardsley may be found at the US
Forest Service website.
Both Donnells Reservoir and Beardsley Reservoir are located within the Stanislaus
National Forest and specifically within the Summit Ranger District: #1
Pinecrest Lake Road, Pinecrest, CA 95364; (209) 965-3434.
Tulloch
Reservoir is situated on mostly private lands with substantial residential
development on the Calaveras County portion of its shoreline. Access to the
Reservoir is from privately owned docks and through privately owned facilities
accessible to the public on a fee basis. Access to the South Shore is via
Tulloch Dam Road off of Highway 108 and to the North Shore via O’Byrne’s
Ferry Road also off of Highway 108.
Roads
Access to Donnells Reservoir and to Beardsley Reservoir is via US Forest
Service roads which are subject to regular closure due to snow and ice conditions
and to rock falls (especially the road to Donnells Reservoir).
Road status conditions (open to public travel or closed to public travel)
are available on this website. Tri-Dam staff accesses these roads on a daily
basis using tracked vehicles and heavy equipment when necessary.
In the event of snow, ice, or rock fall conditions the gates to these roads
will be closed.