It’s a classic Shasta problem: puddles of congealed mud that coat every surface of the boat. The clean boats that pull off the dock at the beginning of the weekend end up brown and slippery within hours — and this year it will be even worse. Due to low water levels, there is increased mud at Shasta.
The 90 foot drop in water level is significant. Last year, the lake was only 10 feet below capacity, and the year before that only two, according to City of Shasta Lake. Water levels are continuing to drop, due to the drought California is currently facing.
Mud is not the only problem that water levels can cause Shasta goers this year. Less water means more exposed hazards — like tree stumps and sharp rocks — that your boat can get stuck on. There will also be less surface area for the boats which means there is more of a chance of them bumping into each other, according to Lake Shasta patrol sergeant Troy Clegg.
All of this is cause for increased caution when passing boats and moving around the lake, Clegg said.
“People have to be a little more vigilant with passing boats because they will be closer together,” Clegg said. “There’s not much to do except keep your eyes on the road.”
However, though the low levels increase risk, Clegg said it is not a large safety concern.
“I don’t see it as being a huge problem, though it is a concern,” Clegg said.
All 12 patrol officers will be monitoring the lake this weekend, as is the usual for high traffic weekends. There have been 130 houseboats rented for this weekend, and 135 rented for Memorial Day weekend.
For many at the University of Oregon, going to Lake Shasta is a tradition that they do not intend to stop because of the drought.
Chi Psi President Wil Smith and a group of his fraternity brothers went to Shasta last weekend. Though they had no safety issues, he said they had to boat our much farther than years past because of the low water levels.
“We usually try to stay as close to the dock as possible … but we had to go out 45 minutes from the dock to find a good spot,” Smith said.
Smith said that the low water levels gave them pause in their decision to go but they ultimately went anyway. Smith says the trip is something members look forward to all year long.
Some members of Phi Kappa Psi will be at Shasta this coming weekend. Although they were aware of the drought, the low water levels weren’t enough to keep them from reserving multiple two-story boats.
“We have people who are going, they’re looking to have a good time — a safe time,” Phi Kappa Psi President Eric Cuevas said. “There was a drought, but it’s not substantial enough to keep people from going.”
In order to combat the stream of mud tracked into the boats members of Phi Kappa Psi will be putting tarps inside their boats — something they’ve done in the past. They also are prepared to deep clean the boat before they give it back. He’s hoping that will help prevent any property damage and ensure they get their deposit back.
“The final day before they return the boat they clean the entire boat, we bought a ton of cleaning of supplies,” Cuevas said.