I have been fishing in the Imperial Valley most of my life. I was wondering why almost all the IID reservoirs are fenced and locked up from the public to fish in? About the only one I know that’s open is the Sperber. Even the new one they built out by Gordon’s Wells is closed. I pay for my fishing license every year and I, like all other people that live in the Imperial Valley, pay all my IID bills. So why does the IID lock up great fishing spots like these? — Angler, El Centro
There are 10 regulating reservoirs in place and operated by the Imperial Irrigation District, but only two are open as public fisheries — Robert F. Carter and Bernard Galleano reservoirs.
IID spokeswoman Marion Champion said Carter and Galleano have areas designed especially for fishing, but the other ones are off limits — including H. “Red” Sperber Reservoir — for reasons she explains:
“While we understand the appeal of fishing in the others, they were not designed for fishing and therefore are dangerous. Factors such as algae, concrete lining and other design features often make the sides slippery and not easy to navigate should someone slip in. Created for non-recreational purposes, these reservoirs are operational and rely on expensive electric pumps and motors. These facilities play a critical role in IID’s ability to deliver water to its customers. By safeguarding them, we not only are protecting the district, but the public as well.”
According to the IID’s Web site, the Carter reservoir was designed to conserve “operational discharge from the end of the Westside Main Canal.” It’s adjacent to Highway 86 six miles north of Westmorland and was named after Robert F. Carter, who was IID general manager from 1959 to 1977.
The Galleano reservoir is at the terminus of the East Highline Canal just north of Niland. The location of the reservoir, “and the fact that it is totally automated and self-controlled, allows the IID to balance water shortfalls and overages in the East Highline Canal, thus providing more uniform water deliveries to all downstream users,” according to the Web site. It was named after Bernard Galleano, a Calipatria-area farmer and IID director.
There are 10 regulating reservoirs in place and operated by the Imperial Irrigation District, but only two are open as public fisheries — Robert F. Carter and Bernard Galleano reservoirs.
IID spokeswoman Marion Champion said Carter and Galleano have areas designed especially for fishing, but the other ones are off limits — including H. “Red” Sperber Reservoir — for reasons she explains:
“While we understand the appeal of fishing in the others, they were not designed for fishing and therefore are dangerous. Factors such as algae, concrete lining and other design features often make the sides slippery and not easy to navigate should someone slip in. Created for non-recreational purposes, these reservoirs are operational and rely on expensive electric pumps and motors. These facilities play a critical role in IID’s ability to deliver water to its customers. By safeguarding them, we not only are protecting the district, but the public as well.”
According to the IID’s Web site, the Carter reservoir was designed to conserve “operational discharge from the end of the Westside Main Canal.” It’s adjacent to Highway 86 six miles north of Westmorland and was named after Robert F. Carter, who was IID general manager from 1959 to 1977.
The Galleano reservoir is at the terminus of the East Highline Canal just north of Niland. The location of the reservoir, “and the fact that it is totally automated and self-controlled, allows the IID to balance water shortfalls and overages in the East Highline Canal, thus providing more uniform water deliveries to all downstream users,” according to the Web site. It was named after Bernard Galleano, a Calipatria-area farmer and IID director.
