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Board approves $8.2 million state-funded plan to reopen Turlock Lake State Recreation Area
Summary
The Stanislaus County Board unanimously approved a JPA, lease and public‑entity agreement with California State Parks and Turlock Irrigation District to reopen Turlock Lake, accepting nearly $8.2 million in state Waterways Connections Initiative funding for facility improvements and startup costs.
Stanislaus County supervisors voted unanimously March 3 to enter a joint powers agreement with California State Parks and the Turlock Irrigation District and to accept nearly $8.2 million in state funding to reopen Turlock Lake State Recreation Area.
Parks and Recreation Director Tara Chumley told the board the site has been a state recreation area since 1950 but closed in 2020, and a county facility assessment completed in 2024 identified about $7.5 million in needed improvements. “Opening Turlock Lake to the public will be dependent on the completion of facility improvements and providing a safe and secure facility for the community to enjoy,” Chumley said.
Under the agreement TID will remain the property owner, the state will provide the capital for the identified facility work and the county will manage operations under a proposed 10‑year lease with renewable 10‑year extensions. The county expects year‑one operations to be funded by charges for services, one‑time state revenue and a $90,000 contribution from District 2 community development funds; staff projected operations becoming self‑sustaining by year three and said four full‑time positions plus seasonal staff would be needed for peak seasons.
State Parks representatives described the award as part of the Waterways Connections Initiative (WCI), linking the grant to the state’s 2021 enabling legislation for expanding inland waterway access. A state official said the WCI prioritizes expanding or improving day‑use areas, campgrounds and trails and that the Turlock Lake partnership fits WCI objectives.
Members of the public, including Tom Myers of the Stanislaus Audubon Society, urged the board to approve the agreement, citing birding, field trips and family recreation. Some speakers pressed staff for details on the $8.2 million: Chumley pointed to the county’s facility assessment and listed specific projects including restroom replacement, paving, retaining walls, pump houses and security fencing. Staff also confirmed the lake is stocked annually with trout.
After a brief board exchange thanking partners and recounting the multi‑year effort, the motion to approve the JPA, lease and public entity agreement passed 5‑0.
What happens next: staff will finalize the JPA and related agreements, establish a dedicated fund for Turlock Lake, and begin work on the improvements described in the facility assessment with a target for limited offseason recreation later this year and broader summer season recreation by 2027.
