Collins Lake

Collins Lake Recreation Area is designed for enjoyment by the public for outdoor recreation activities. To protect the rights of all visitors, please observe the following Rules and Regulations which have been established throughout the entire 1,600 acre Collins Lake Recreation Area:

HOURS OF OPERATION: Main season (Memorial Day-Labor Day): 5:30am-10:00pm (midnight Fridays). Off Season: dawn-dusk.

ENTRANCE GATE CLOSES for campers' protection after hours of operation. A night exit gate is available after the park closes. For late arrivals, a gate code may be given upon request to guests if they have pre-reserved sites.

DAY USE VISITORS must depart the entrance gate by dusk each day. All visitors in the park area after dusk must be registered to camp. The Beach and Picnic Area close at dusk each day.

GENERAL STORE is normally open the same hours as the entrance gate except during winter.

ENTRY to Collins Lake Recreation Area is permitted from the main entrance road on the west side of the lake only. The entire east side of the lake and northwest shoreline are closed to public access from shore directions. The north end of the lake (on both sides of the Marysville Road bridge) is closed to public access from shore directions except for visitors in possession of a currently dated Day Pass obtainable at the west side Entry Station. It is unlawful to enter the Recreation Area at any other point. Non-registered trespassers may be prosecuted. All vehicles and boats must display valid & current registrations.

ALL VISITORS to Collins Lake Recreation use the lake and adjoining recreation area facilities at their own risk and liability. In granting permission to enter and use the area and facilities, the management is not responsible for injury, theft, loss or damage, and by entering the park, all visitors agree to hold the management harmless from any claim, demand or liability.

DAY USE VISITORS are not permitted in the campground areas. No day picnics are permitted in the overnight campsites. Use the Picnic Area or dam area shoreline.

SPEED LIMIT throughout the Recreation Area is 5 mph except where posted at 15 mph along the main upper north-south road through the Recreation Area. Drivers must give right of way to pedestrians throughout the Recreation Area.

PARKING is permitted in designated parking areas only (Campsite parking pads, parking lots or Open Camping Area shoreline). No parking on road shoulders, off-road and/or blocking park roads, gates and/or facilities. All vehicles not parked in designated parking areas will be towed away at the owner's expense.

DURING RED FLAG WARNING EVENTS, NO WOOD or CHARCOAL FIRES ARE ALLOWED. Otherwise, FIRES are permitted only in the steel fire pits provided in the Campsites and Picnic Area or in your metal container with the following conditions: Small fires are permitted inside a metal container as long as the container has a bottom & sides tall enough to contain the fire. You must also have a 10 ft. clearance around the container of all vegetation. You must have water or a shovel near the fire and someone must be in attendance at all times. BE FIRE SAFE - NEVER LEAVE A CAMPFIRE UNATTENDED. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN FIRE.

Any person who allows a camp fire to escape from the container, is liable for any damages of property caused by the fire (H&SC 13007 &13008). They may also be liable for the fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical services costs incurred in fighting the fire. Any and all costs shall be charged against that person or persons the cause the fire and payment of camping fees to Collins Lake Recreation Area does not, in any way, transfer this responsibility.

CHILDREN are welcome under supervision and responsibility of an adult. All camping parties must have a responsible adult (18 or older) in attendance. All children under the age of 18 must be present at their camp with a responsible adult after 11 PM.

PETS are permitted, but must be kept on leash at all times and must be controlled to the immediate camp or picnic site. Positively no pets are allowed on the sand beach or playground. Please clean up after your dog, placing droppings in garbage cans. Vicious or unusually noisy dogs creating nuisance are subject to eviction. Pets abandoned or left without persons in attendance may be turned over to County Animal Control. No horses are permitted in the Recreation Area.

QUIET HOURS are from 10pm to 8am. Please respect your neighbors by turning off all generators, radios, TVs, projectors and avoid loud noises.

RADIOS AND OTHER SOUND-PRODUCING EQUIPMENT may be operated from 8 am to 10 pm providing they are kept at low volume so as not to be heard in nearby campsites. Car or boat radios may be operated in the park as long as the volume cannot be heard in the nearest campsite or within 50' in open spaces and as long as what can be heard by neighboring campsites don't include explicit lyrics. Persons violating this noise regulation are subject to eviction. Decision of the management concerning acceptable noise levels shall be final.

SWIMMING is permitted at your own risk. A marked swimming area is located at the beach in front of the picnic area. No lifeguards are provided. No dogs or glass containers are permitted on beach. No swimming is permitted around the boat launching docks and marina dock areas.

HUNTING is prohibited throughout the Recreation Area. Positively no discharge of firearms, pellet or BB guns, etc. It is prohibited to either verbally threaten that a WEAPON may be used or to display a weapon in a threatening manner within the Recreation Area.

STREET LICENSED MOTORCYCLES are allowed to operate with the following restrictions: (1) Operation must remain ON ROAD at all times, (2) unmuffled or excessively loud exhausts are not allowed, and (3) operators must possess a valid motorcycle driver's license and obey all speed limits. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) such as mini bikes, dirt bikes, ATVs, sand rails or gocarts are not permitted to operate, unless they are street licensed.

SELLING, advertising and other commercial activities are prohibited except as authorized by the management.

NO CUTTING or removal of trees, plants, rocks, etc. It is illegal to DESTROY, DAMAGE or DEFACE any of the buildings or equipment in the Recreation Area.

DISPOSE OF ALL TRASH, garbage, etc. in the containers provided. Dispose of sewage and drain wastes in the trailer sanitary disposal stations near the main entrance. Littering is an offense.

BEHAVIOR OFFENSIVE TO THE PUBLIC, including but not limited to drunkenness, use of illegal narcotics, indulging in boisterous, loud, abusive, threatening or indecent conduct or speech, or playing music with offensive explicit lyrics is prohibited. Consumption of any alcoholic beverage by persons under 21 years of age is illegal and constitutes grounds for eviction.

RECREATIONAL and/or MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE as described in both Proposition 64 and SB420 is not allowed within the entire Collins Lake Recreation Area. Collins Lake Recreation Area is public recreation center and the campground is not a residence park. Per SB420, as a public recreation center for families and children to enjoy, guests are not allowed to consume marijuana within 1,000' of the entire Collins Lake Recreation Area. People taking medical marijuana in accordance with California SB420, must do so 1,000' outside the boundaries of Collins Lake Recreation Area. Per Prop 64, the entire Collins Lake Recreation Area is considered a public space which bans consumption of marijuana. There are no private residences within the boundaries of Collins Lake Recreation Area.

GANG ACTIVITY AND/OR GANG PARAPHERNALIA is not permitted within the Recreation Area. Decision of the management regarding the possible presence of gang activity shall be final. Examples of such activity include, but are not limited to the following: Wearing, possessing, using, distributing, displaying, or selling any clothing, jewelry, emblems, badges, symbols, signs, visible tattoos and body markings, or other items, or being in possession of literature that shows affiliation with a gang, or is evidence of membership or affiliation in any gang or that promotes gang affiliation; or communicating either verbally or non-verbally (gestures, handshakes, slogans, drawings, etc.), to convey membership affiliation in any gang or that promotes gang affiliation.

BOATING REGULATIONS:

All boats must be EQUIPPED AND OPERATED in compliance with the CALIFORNIA BOATING LAW and in compliance with these regulations, whichever is more stringent.

BOATING IS PERMITTED at your own risk and liability. Each boat owner or operator is responsible for damages or injury to his own boat or occupants or to other boats, structures or persons. Use of the launching ramp, docks and boats on the lake is at your own risk. Collins Lake is open exclusively for FISHERMEN fall, winter and spring. WATERSKIING is permitted only during May 1st-October 15th except in designated fishing and restricted speed areas.

BOATS MUST KEEP AT LEAST 100 FT. AWAY FROM ALL SWIMMERS (except their own waterskiiers) and from the SWIMMING AREA in front of the main beach.

WATERSKIIERS are requested as a courtesy to generally operate in a counter- clockwise direction on the lake.

FAST-MOVING BOATS (over 5 mph) and waterskiiers must keep 100 ft. away from persons or boats fishing. Waterskiing is not permitted in marked "NO SKI", "FISHING ONLY" or "5 MPH" areas.

5 MPH SPEED LIMIT within 200 ft. from entire west side of lake and in marked areas, including the entire north half of the lake.

WATERSKI SHORE TAKEOFFS are not permitted from docks, beaches, launching ramp, or in front of Campground, Open Camping Area, picnic and swimming areas. Observe speed control buoys in marked areas.

NO BOATS WITH UNMUFFLED or EXCESSIVELY NOISY EXHAUSTS are permitted to operate on the lake. A physical muffler is required in exhaust pipe; water injection alone does not meet the muffler standard. Decision of the management concerning unacceptable exhaust systems and noise levels shall be final.

NO "PERSONAL WATERCRAFT": Collins Lake is designated a Special Use Area for the purpose of providing safe, quiet fishing and boating recreation opportunities for the public. Smaller, higher-powered Personal Watercraft (PWC) are prohibited. At Collins Lake, a PWC includes, but not limited to any small motorized craft under 13 feet in length AND over 25 horsepower. This includes jet-propelled, propeller or fan driven, such as "Jet-Skis", "Waverunners" and similar small motorized craft (except small fishing boats, sailboats or inflatable boats). The decision of the management shall be final in determining what craft are "Personal Watercraft".

NO FIRES or CAMPING on lake shoreline except in designated areas. Persons desiring to stay overnight on boats must be registered as campers and must possess self-contained toilets.

RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT OPERATION of a boat is punishable by eviction, arrest, fine or imprisonment. (Harbors & Navigation Code, Sec. 655, 658; Calif. Admin. Code Sec. 6697).

DOCKS: Boats may dock at the courtesy dock at the launching ramp for 15 minutes maximum while launching. Moorage is available at the main campground marina dock. Moorage slips may be reserved and rented by campers or day visitors. No docking, tying up to, or fishing from swimming floats, buoys, signs, etc.

ALL BOAT OPERATORS ARE WARNED that boating is a hazardous sport. Watch for rocks, obstructions, submerged islands and objects on the entire lake surface. Although buoys are on the lake to mark some hazards, not all hazards are marked. During winter and spring when the lake is full, boat operators are warned to keep at least 300 ft. away from the dam spillway located in the southwest corner of the lake. The lake surface is subject to elevation fluctuations and there may be floating logs or debris.

Being an outdoor recreation area with access to water shoreline, all visitors are warned to watch for trip hazards (rocks, uneven ground, tree roots, etc.), slippery surfaces that may be wet or icy, and for wild animals.

RENTAL BOATS must be returned by the time designated on the Rental Agreement Contract. Overtime charges apply after designated return time. No rental boats are to operate at Collins Lake at night.

CAMPING REGULATIONS Camping in ASSIGNED CAMPSITES in the campground-RV park is permitted only by parties registered in the particular campsite. The OPEN CAMPING AREA is camping area with no designated individual campsites and no tables, barbecues or hookups. All campers must display a current REGISTRATION RECEIPT.

CAMPSITES MAY BE RESERVED in advance upon payment of deposit. Management reserves the right to change assigned campsites and to cancel reservations upon refund of deposit. Specific sites may be requested but are not guaranteed. Site number assigned on reservations are subject to change without notice.

RESERVATION CANCELLATION POLICY:

Reservation deposits are not refundable. Credit towards future camping shall be given with advance notice as follows: For CAMPING from $75 deposit paid per site: Notice of 14 days or more ahead: $60 Credit.... Notice of 7 days or more ahead: $40 Credit.... Notice of less than 7 days ahead: No Credit

For GROUP CAMPING AREAS or RENTAL CABINS, TRAILERS or PATIO BOATS, a notice of 2 weeks or more ahead is required to receive any credit of deposits paid. For early departures, 2 days notice (by noon) must be given for refunds. For less notice, credit will be given for future camping.

There is a 2-night minimum on advanced reservations (3 nights on holidays).

CAMPING CHECK-OUT TIME IS NOON FOR CAMPSITES and 11am FOR LODGING UNITS (Cabins or Rental RVs). Campers may stay in the park after Check-out time at no charge as long as they move to the Day Use area or Open Camping Area by noon. Campers may occupy their campsite past Check-Out only when arrangements have been made with the park office for a Late Checkout and fees have been paid.

CAMPING RATES INCLUDE 1 vehicle and 6 people. Campsite maximum is 6 people per site, including children. Larger groups will need to reserve additional sites or use the open camping area. All vehicles must register to camp and there is a cost for extra vehicles. If there is room, extra vehicles may park at the campsite parking pad; otherwise extra vehicles must park in an overflow parking lot. Not all sites have room for extra vehicles on the campsite pad provided. Collins Lake is not a residential park, and visitors, therefore, cannot establish residence (voting or school registration, mailing address, etc.). Camping limit is 14 nights per 90 days unless special agreement is made by management. WASTE AND SEWAGE DISCHARGE is permitted only in the TRAILER SANITARY DISPOSAL STATIONS located near the main park entrance or in campsite sewer connections where provided. Trailers and recreation vehicles in campsites without sewer hookup connections should keep their drainpipe capped. Sewage waste containing chemicals with formaldehyde may not be disposed anywhere in Collins Lake facilities. Only biodegradable chemicals free of formaldehyde may be used.

FISHING REGULATIONS:

FISHING IS PERMITTED THROUGHOUT THE LAKE. Posted Access Fees to the Recreation Area must be paid by all persons fishing, but no separate Fishing Fees are charged. A California Sport Fishing License is required of any person 16 years old or older. California Sport Fishing Regulations are applicable to Collins Lake.

FISHING LIMITS: All fishing limits are set by the State of California. Our interpretation is as follows:

Trout: 5 per person. Bass: 5 per person (all bass taken must be over 12" in length).

Catfish: No limit. Crappie, Bluegill & Sunfish Combined: 25 per person. Limits are per day AND in possession. If fishing multiple days, fishermen may not have more than the limit number total in their possession (including cleaned and frozen fish) at any time.

All provisions of the California Admin. Code, Harbors & Navigation Code, Vehicle Code, Penal Code, Health & Safety Code, Fish and Game Code, and Water Code are applicable to Collins Lake Recreation Area. Violators of any of the above Rules and Regulations for Collins Lake Recreation Area are subject to eviction, arrest, fine or imprisonment. The management reserves the right to refuse entry.