OAKDALE — Late and heavy summer snow melt has kept the water levels high for one of the region’s best valley lakes - Woodward Reservoir some 26 miles northeast of Manteca.

That means with kids headed back to school lake use is expected to drop while water will continue to be at levels typically seen for Memorial Day Weekend.

The reservoir owned by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District with the recreation component operated by Stanislaus County is on 26-Mile Road outside of Oakdale and north of East Highway 120.

The 2,900 acres of water surface are popular with personal water craft users, sailboarders, and anglers. The park includes 3,767 acres of land.

Facilities include 115 developed campsites, 40 full hook-up campsites, undeveloped camping areas, marina, concessions, restrooms, picnic shelter, barbeques, picnic tables, and radio control airplane field. Campsites are available on a “first-come first-serve basis.”

Undeveloped camping is also available in designated areas.

Recreation opportunities include swimming, fishing, boating, and water/jet skiing, and watching water fowl.

In addition to the traditional rainbow trout, red-ear sunfish, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and blue gill have been planted.

You may see a number of different birds and mammals. You are very likely to come across ground squirrels, jackrabbits, cottontails, red-tail hawks, coyotes, raccoons, seagulls, burrowing owls, geese, ducks, blue herons, great white egrets, and much more.

The reservoir holds 33,000 acre feet of water as in-district storage for the SSJID that supplies water to the cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy as well as farming operations within the 72,000-acre district.

There is a $10 charge for day use per vehicle with a $5 surcharge on holidays such as Labor Day. Boats are $7, camping is $20 and camping with hookup is $25 per day.

For more information go to www.co.stanislaus.ca.us/er/parks/ and scroll down to reservoirs