The first day of summer brought a blow to boaters on Folsom Lake in California, who were forced to pull their boats from the marina because of low water levels.
California’s fourth year of drought prompted the dock closing on Sunday, which was also Father’s Day.
The marina’s website said the lake is dropping two-thirds of a foot of water a day, which brought its elevation on Sunday to 414 feet.
Julie Christensen, assistant manager of the Folsom Lake Marina, said that’s just two feet over the elevation where boats can no longer stay docked in the slips.
“The boats are still able to launch and the lake is still open for all boating,” in addition to use for other water activities, such as jet skiing and parasailing, Christensen told Breitbart News.
California boaters also are dealing with potential damage from such things as rocks and branches that are closer to the surface than before because the water levels have declined.
Repair shops including Buck’s Outboard are seeing those kinds of problems and worse these days.
“We’re seeing a lot more prop damage this year,” Lenny Lapinta, owner of Buck’s Outboard, told CBS 13 in Sacramento. “There’s hidden dangers and people have got to be more careful.”
The TV station’s report also said the state Department of Parks and Recreation found that in 2014 there was a 59 percent increase in collisions with fixed objects from a year before and a 23 percent increase in boats running aground.
At Garcia Bend Park, Francisco Gonzales said he is well aware of the higher risks the drought brings.
“There’s rocks and debris all over the place,” he said. “Just got to watch out.”
