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Help wanted for Lake Piru
Officials seek concessionaire to run rental operations and camping area
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Photos by Eric Parsons / Star staff Ventura resident Sarah Briones, right, helps her father, Duane Valerio, left, pull his boat into the shallow water of the boat ramp at Lake Piru. Rental boats are unavailable, but visitors can still launch their own boats.
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More from EnvironmentFor the next month or so, Lake Piru is BYOB — the second B standing for boat.
There haven't been rental boats available at the lake since the contract with the concessionaire expired in October, and they won't be available through at least the middle of January.
Lake officials are looking for someone to run the boat rental operations and camping area.
They hope to contract with a new concessionaire for only a few years. After that, they want someone to step in and develop the lake into a full-fledged recreation destination, complete with a swimming pool and improved camping.
"It's going to be a huge improvement," said Dana Wisehart, general manager of the United Water Conservation District, which manages the lake. "More RV sites, bigger RV sites, more pull-through sites, an activities center" — in short, a better Lake Piru.
Wisehart said the lake has the potential to improve its recreation opportunities and attract more visitors, but the district doesn't want to take the lead. Its main task is to provide water, not recreation.
"We could pour a lot of money into it, but we'd rather put our money into the water resource than recreation," she said.
Wisehart is hoping to lure a concessionaire who would sink millions of dollars into developing the property. The concessionaire would first be responsible for coming up with a master plan detailing the proposed changes.
She said attracting someone to manage the boat rentals isn't always easy at this lake, which vacillates in water levels.
During the summer, as many as 30 boats are rented a day, Wisehart said. Winter holiday weekends are also a popular time for boat rentals, she said. A few disappointed people have recently made their way to the lake only to find the rental shop closed, she said.
People, however, can still launch their own boats at Lake Piru.
Posted by FedUp on November 29, 2007 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
if you want to make some money at Piru for the water, how about opening up the ski cove again?
Posted by BigJake on November 29, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This white elephant has been up for the taking on and off for the last 40 years. It is a turkey because the concessionaire cannot make any money under the County's various contract schemes.
We looked at the "opportunity" in years past and it is pure b.s. the county just takes your money and goes and finds the next sucker.
Posted by george1234 on November 29, 2007 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The first thing they need to do is arm the rangers with guns, and let them be peace officers, like the state gives them the authority to be. That way they can eradicate the gangs that flock there in the summer and ruin it for all of the families that want to have fun. Is it the United Water Conservation District or the United Gang Haven District?
Posted by evergrafix on November 29, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is welcome news, if it happens, for those of us who like to camp at Lake Piru.
We camped there over the years as an RV group, usually in the Group Area which is not good for RVs anymore since the access road is no longer RV accessible.
The last time we camped there was terrible, we stayed in the general camping area which was over run with parties and all night drinking and music.
That was 2 years ago. It wasn't a safe environment and we decided never to return.
If the campground becomes a campground again and not a party place, we will try to get back there.
Thanks for the article.
Posted by lkn4fish on November 29, 2007 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't imagine how much of an insurance premium you would have to put up as a concessionaire, especially if you served alcohol. I used to fish Piru alot, but as others have stated it's become a gang infested party place especially on weekends in the summer time. I like to visit in the off season (winter months). I hope someone takes the risk, and it pays off for them. It's a great little lake!
Posted by FedUp on November 29, 2007 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
get rid of the gangs, and all the wankers who dont know how to operate boats! thank goodness they dont allow jet skiiers there. I wont camp there again. unless of course they do upgrade it a bit.
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