The Bureau of Reclamation will open the Delta Cross Channel Gates (DCC) during the Memorial Day weekend beginning 9 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2007. Boat traffic will be allowed through the gates from 10 a.m. on Friday through the Memorial Day weekend until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29.
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Cross Channel Gates at Walnut Grove
- Thread starter MikeOC
- Start date
When the gate is closed, water is directed down the Sacramento River towards Rio Vista. When it is open, more water flows into the Mokelumne River. I'm not sure why, but I suspect that it has to do with getting more fresh water down towards Tracy to those dastardly pumps.
quote:
Originally posted by blacter
What's the deal with that canal? I'd planned to use it during my recent Delta trip to get from Walnut Grove to Giusti's. I didn't expect a gate there. What's the purpose?
If you plan on using the cross channel canal, I hope you have a fairly small boat. The gates swing up, and when they are open the vertical clearance is something like 9 feet and that is all you are going to get.
About 30 years ago there was a very large houseboat rental company (International Houseboats) operating out of Walnut Grove, just a short distance from that canal. They rented pontoon houseboats in the 35 foot range with pokey little 55 Hp four stroke outboards on them. Top speed on these houseboats was something around 5 MPH.
The problem was that the current in that canal can get up to 7 or 8 MPH.
Despite large warngings posted at the helm station of the houseboats people would still start down that canal and get caught in the current before they realized that they were not going to fit.
The rental company kept the remains of one such incident on display as a somber reminder to new customers......
Rod
And their liability insurance rose to new heights which drove them and a lot of other houseboat rental firms out of business! I remember a small houseboat which got caught pushed against a bridge, then rolled and sank. All six on board drowned. They couldn't help themselves because the engine couldn't fight the current. It was way underpowered. A very sad lesson.
Now that Herman and Helen's new owners are not going to have a boat rental business, where can someone rent a nice big houseboat in the Delta? Not everyone wants to go to Lake Shasta to rent a houseboat.
Now that Herman and Helen's new owners are not going to have a boat rental business, where can someone rent a nice big houseboat in the Delta? Not everyone wants to go to Lake Shasta to rent a houseboat.
UpperDecker
Member
- Joined
- Sep 19, 2005
- RO Number
- 19078
- Messages
- 443
The only one I know of that rents house boats is Paradise Pt. Unless they got out too. Wouldn't be suprised if they did.
The problem is that many of the house boat renters are novices to boating or don't have experience handling large boats. On a big, deep, open lake like Shasta, this isn't much of an issue. But in the Delta you have the wind, current, tides, shoals, and idiot boaters in close quarters just to name a few of the problems. Definitely more chances to screw up.
The problem is that many of the house boat renters are novices to boating or don't have experience handling large boats. On a big, deep, open lake like Shasta, this isn't much of an issue. But in the Delta you have the wind, current, tides, shoals, and idiot boaters in close quarters just to name a few of the problems. Definitely more chances to screw up.
quote:
Originally posted by UpperDecker
The problem is that many of the house boat renters are novices to boating or don't have experience handling large boats. On a big, deep, open lake like Shasta, this isn't much of an issue. But in the Delta you have the wind, current, tides, shoals, and idiot boaters in close quarters just to name a few of the problems. Definitely more chances to screw up.
That's why we call them Delta Destroyers! I always give them a W-I-D-E berth!
chiselchst
Member
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2005
- RO Number
- 19418
- Messages
- 199
I use to get stressed out when I'd tie up at Whimpy's and have lunch, with a view of the dock.
One time I took my (new to me) go-fast boat there. I almost jumped out the rest window when a Delta destroyer tried to dock up-current of my very perty boat. He was coming in WITH the current, and just barely avoided me at the last second. He would have really done damage to my boat...
One time I took my (new to me) go-fast boat there. I almost jumped out the rest window when a Delta destroyer tried to dock up-current of my very perty boat. He was coming in WITH the current, and just barely avoided me at the last second. He would have really done damage to my boat...
The dock at Wimpy's can be very tricky to leave. With only on engine, no bowthrust we had once a very hard time to get off the dock against the strong current pressing us on the dock. And just behind us the bridge waiting for somebody coming broadsided...
Next time we will take the most possible place upstream.
DagO
Next time we will take the most possible place upstream.
DagO