Three miles of a multi-use trail near the east end of Lake Perris in Riverside County is now open. Photo credit: Dale Hameister, Environmental Science Associates
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) today completed a major riparian restoration project and opened three miles of a multi-use trail near the east end of Lake Perris in Riverside County. The biking and hiking trail had been closed since September while work on a 49.3-acre restoration project was underway.
The restoration project is part of the recently completed Perris Dam Remediation Project and is aimed at preserving native vegetation, wildlife, and trees for birds to perch on. An irrigation system and dead, large trees were removed.
DWR officials lowered the water level at Lake Perris by 25 feet in 2005 to ensure public safety during the planning, environmental permitting, design, and construction phases of the dam’s seismic remediation project.
DWR began a controlled refilling of the reservoir on March 5, 2018, following completion of the remediation project and approval by the Division of Safety of Dams and a board of independent dam safety experts. Lake Perris is currently at 80 percent of capacity and is expected to reach full capacity by early January.
Wood chips that were a part of the riparian restoration remain along the eastern shoreline to protect against shoreline erosion. As the lake refills, some of the wood chips may temporarily float on the lake surface until they sink during the next month. The public is urged to stay away from floating woody debris when near the eastern shoreline.
Lake Perris, the State Water Project’s southernmost facility and the terminal storage facility on the East Branch, offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including windsurfing, water skiing, swimming, horseback riding, picnicking, RV camping, and rock climbing.
For more information about recreation at Lake Perris visit California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website or contact the California Department of Parks and Recreation at 951-940-5600.
Contact:
Maggie Macias, Information Officer, Public Affairs, Department of Water Resources
(916) 653-8743 | maggie.macias@water.ca.gov