Last month the decision was made to close Woodward Reservoir near Modesto to swimming and boating for the summer because of the drought, that ban has now been lifted.
Woodward Reservoir is to Stanislaus County as Folsom Lake is to Sacramento County.
So when the South San Joaquin Irrigation District announced last month it would close the popular lake to swimming and boating, the announcement was seen as a major blow to the area's recreational economy.
District General Manager Jeff Shields says recent storms have improved the outlook enough to allow the lake to open from May 1st through July 7th, a period which includes both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
"All of our growers are going to get a full supply of water, we no rate increases, everybody should get all the water they need," Shields says.
Shields says the district will lose about 2,500 acre feet of water, but keeping the lake open to recreation will save 16 jobs and two million dollars in recreation fees to Stanislaus County.
The district also supplies drinking water to Tracy, Manteca, and Lathrop.
Shields says those cities will see a 20 percent cut in their water, but their groundwater supplies should cover any shortfall.
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