By JAMES DAMSCHRODER

The Union Democrat

Low water levels at area reservoirs are forcing some boat ramps to close and uncovering once-sunken obstacles for boaters.

Angels Creek boat ramp on New Melones Reservoir recently closed, along with the restroom facilities and fish cleaning station. Also, Buck Brush Trailhead closed.

This is the first time since 2004 that the Angels Creek ramp has closed.

New Melones is currently sitting at about 970 elevation— about 50 percent of capacity. The Tuttletown boat ramp closes when the reservoir reaches 900 feet, while the Glory Hole boat ramp stays open until the water drops to 860 feet.

Pete Lucero, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said that Tuttletown and Glory Hole boat ramps are expected to remain open through the summer.

He added that boaters should be careful as the low water levels uncover obstacles.

"It's very difficult to monitor and track every obstacle as the water drops," Lucero said.

Water levels have not yet forced any of Don Pedro Reservoir's boat ramps to close, but it is expected that the Blue Oaks boat ramp will close after Labor Day, said Carol Russell, director of the Don Pedro Recreation Agency.

Moccasin Point boat ramp also may have to close later in the year, but Fleming Meadow ramp will remain open, Russell said.

Don Pedro is currently sitting at about 62 percent of capacity.

"We're going down about half-a-foot a day," Russell said.

"We've been here before," she said.

Russell said that boaters should take precautions when close to the shore.

"We try to mark hazards as they come," Russell said.

Of the more popular boating reservoirs in the area, Tulloch Reservoir seems to be the only one that has not been adversely affected by the drought.

Tulloch currently sits at 101 percent of average for this time of the year.

This is in stark contrast to New Hogan Reservoir, which is at about 36 percent of capacity. Acorn Campground boat ramp was closed earlier in the summer, but two of the three boat ramps at the Fiddleneck Day Use Area are still in operation.

Jenni Solbakken, New Hogan natural resource specialist, said that the two boat ramps are expected to stay in use through the summer.

"More and more hazards are exposed weekly," Solbakken said, adding that buoys are set up to mark the hazards as they come.

Solbakken said that some reservoirs are enforcing a 5-mile-per-hour speed limit because of low water levels, but she doesn't expect that to happen on New Hogan.

"We just are hoping for some rain at some point," Solbakken said.

Contact James Dam-schroder at jdamschroder@ uniondemocrat.com or 588-4526.