"SSJID is committed to reopening recreation at Woodward, but we are unable to provide a timeline for reopening at this time, pending ongoing negotiations." That line is on the South San Joaquin Irrigation District's recreation page. Since October 16, 2026, it has been the only official word on when Woodward Reservoir might take visitors again.
Woodward sits about 22 miles northeast of Manteca. The Manteca Bulletin reported 482,000 visits in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2024, up from 447,000 the year before. The closure is the end of a long split between a water district and the county that ran its park. The invasive golden mussel was one of the district's main complaints in that split, and it now decides which lake your boat can go to next.
The Lake Is Also the Tap
Woodward is a water supply first and a weekend lake second. The Bulletin calls the reservoir the cornerstone of SSJID's water system. SSJID irrigates 50,000 acres and supplies drinking water to 215,000 people in Manteca, Lathrop and Tracy.
Golden mussels multiply fast. They also gather on intake pipes, where they can choke off the flow of water. The Bulletin reported that SSJID suspended boat launches at Woodward in December 2024 until Stanislaus County, which ran recreation there under a contract dating to 1985, adopted a mussel prevention program the district would accept. The district said a 30-day boat quarantine and banding program, the kind other California reservoirs use, would work. According to the same report, the county's first answer was no, because of the added staff and cost.
Mussels weren't the district's only complaint. The Bulletin listed these concerns behind SSJID's decision to end the contract early:
- Sewer and drinking water facilities at the park that were reaching the end of their useful life
- Traffic on 26 Mile Road during busy recreation weekends
- No firm county plan for ongoing maintenance or capital improvements
- The county's response to golden mussels
What Shut, in What Order
The shutdown came in two steps. Camping ended October 11, 2026. From October 11 through 15, Stanislaus County Parks kept day use open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Egret Cove, Heron Point, Main Marina, Muniz Point and Office Point while it wound down operations.
Since October 16, the rules have been simple. There's no camping, boating, hunting, fishing or day use, and SSJID says all permit holders, including annual pass holders, no longer have access. SSJID's notice also explains why there was no handoff. The district and the county haven't reached an agreement on SSJID acquiring or using county-owned property needed to keep recreation going. Questions go to Katie Patterson, SSJID's Public and Government Relations Manager, at (209) 249-4600.
The Bulletin's October 10 article gave October 19 as the closure date. SSJID and the county both list October 16, and that's the date in effect.
The District's Math for Bringing It Back
SSJID's plan is for the district to take over recreation itself and run it through a franchise agreement. The Oakdale Leader and the Bulletin carried the same numbers:
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Early termination payment to the county | $2 million |
| Prorated share of upper intake improvements | About $820,000 |
| Projected 2027 camping, day use and concession revenue | $5.1 million |
| Projected 2027 direct expenses | $2.7 million |
| Proposed franchise fee | 10 to 15 percent of revenue |
| District revenue from Woodward, current vs. goal | About $1 a year vs. $500,000-plus |
The district would pay the $2.8 million cancellation cost over eight to 12 years. Under the old contract, Woodward's recreation brought the water district close to nothing. Under SSJID's model, it would bring in at least half a million dollars a year and pay for facility upgrades.
The shoreline won't sit empty in the meantime. SSJID staff proposed hiring two temporary employees for grounds and facilities maintenance until a new concessionaire is in place, plus a security plan based on Stanislaus County Sheriff recommendations: barriers, guards or a Sheriff service agreement, monitored cameras and closure signs. The proposed cost of that interim oversight is $239,750. SSJID says it can't give a reopening timeline yet.
The Next-Closest County Lake Was Already Dark
If Woodward is closed, the obvious next stop for a Stanislaus County park would be Turlock Lake State Recreation Area. It's closed too. California State Parks lists no upcoming camping reservations. A joint powers agreement approved March 3, 2026, has Stanislaus County Parks taking over the day use area and making improvements. The planned version includes a waterpark, swimming, kayaking, small-engine boating and seasonal waterfowl hunting, and it may open as soon as summer 2027.
That leaves Modesto Reservoir, at 18143 Reservoir Road near Waterford, as the county's open lake for camping and boating. It has 2,800 acres of water. Day use runs 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the boat ramp is open 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
The county posts two sets of prices. Day use is $20 per vehicle and $16 per vessel, or $15 and $11 at the resident rate. Campsites run $40, $50 or $60 a night by type, or $35, $45 and $55 for residents. The page doesn't define "resident." Manteca is in San Joaquin County, not Stanislaus, so plan on the standard rate unless the gate tells you otherwise.
A Band Only Works at the Lake That Issued It
Every lake within reach is guarding against the same mussel that was at the center of the Woodward dispute, and each has its own rules. A boat that's legal at one lake isn't automatically legal at the next.
At Modesto Reservoir, the mussel-sniffing dogs worked their last day on September 13. Starting September 14, every boat, jet skis included, has to go through 30-day quarantine and banding. Inspections are by appointment only, Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at (209) 874-9540. Boats have to arrive clean, drained and dry with a valid Quagga Mussel Stamp. Yellow 30-day bands and blue daily bands are handed out only during those weekday hours. For a Saturday on the water, that means a stop at the reservoir midweek first.
The county's page describes one banding program covering both Modesto and Woodward, with appointments at each lake. Call Modesto before counting on a Woodward appointment while recreation there is suspended.
At Tulloch Reservoir, Tri-Dam doesn't accept bands from any other lake. Motorized boats need a Tulloch-issued 30-day quarantine band or an approved decontamination, and they have to launch at approved facilities such as the South Shore campground or Drifters Grill and Marina. A New Melones decontamination may count for same-day entry if the boat goes straight to Tulloch without launching anywhere else. Kayaks and other listed non-motorized craft don't need bands, but they do need a completed self-certification permit. As of July 2026, the South Shore campground, marina, public launch and decontamination station were open. On August 4, 2026, Tri-Dam also posted a state "Caution" advisory for possible algae blooms.
At New Melones Lake, the Bureau of Reclamation's boating page describes a 30-day red seal followed by a green return seal for trailered boats. Hand-launched craft powered by paddle or an electric trolling motor don't need a seal as long as the trailer stays out of the water. The page lists Glory Hole Point as the open launch and the Angels Creek and Tuttletown ramps as closed. Call ahead to confirm current launch hours. Reclamation's March 2026 status update lists the Tuttletown campgrounds as closed and points campers to Glory Hole.
Before you hitch up for any of the three, check these:
- Which lake issued your current band, and whether the lake you're headed to accepts it
- Whether inspection there is by appointment and on which days
- Whether your Quagga Mussel Stamp is current
- Whether your boat will pass as clean, drained and dry at the ramp
River Days Without a Band
Not every Woodward weekend involved a towed boat, and the river options have fewer hoops.
Caswell Memorial State Park is open year-round for day use from 8 a.m. to sunset, with 64 campsites and river access for boating and fishing. State Parks lists bass, catfish and crappie among the fish there.
Along the Stanislaus River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers keeps the Knights Ferry and Stanislaus River Parks areas open all year. Day use is $10, individual campsites are $20 and group sites are $50 to $60. The environmental campsites at Horseshoe Road, Valley Oak and McHenry Avenue can be reached only by boat or on foot and need permits in advance.
Motor rules on the river change by stretch:
- Goodwin Dam to Horseshoe Road: no motors
- Horseshoe Road to Orange Blossom: electric motors only
- Orange Blossom to Highway 120: gas motors up to 10 horsepower and 5 mph
The Corps posts a fishing season of January 1 through October 31, so anyone planning a fall fishing trip there has just over a week left. Fire restrictions posted June 1 also run through October 31.
If you've built your weekends around a Woodward launch, Just 1 Real Estate keeps tabs on the changes that shape life in Manteca, from the lakes your water comes from to the ramps you can still use. When SSJID names a concessionaire or sets a reopening date, we'll update this guide. If you're weighing a move or a sale and want someone who follows these details, schedule a free consultation with Lulu and the team.
