San Luis Joint-Use Complex

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	San Luis Reservoir, located 12 miles west of the city of Los Banos near the historic Pacheco Pass, is part of the San Luis Joint-Use Complex, which serves the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.  Its recreational reservoirs include O’Neill Forebay, San Luis Reservoir, and Los Banos Reservoir.   Completed in 1967, San Luis Reservoir is one of the nation’s largest offstream reservoirs, meaning it has no watershed. Instead the reservoir stores water diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for later deliveries to the Silicon Valley, San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, and Southern California.
	Los Banos Reservoir is located on Los Banos Creek, about 7 miles southwest of Los Banos. It provides flood protection for San Luis Canal, Delta-Mendota Canal, City of Los Banos, and other downstream developments.   The two reservoirs and forebay are part of the San Luis State Recreation Area, operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  At O'Neill Forebay, you can boat, wind surf, fish, swim, jet ski, and water ski.
	However, it is fishing that makes these reservoirs most inviting. Trophy size striped bass have been caught in the forebay.  Much of the fish in San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay arrive through the California Aqueduct. Trout, crappie, bluegill, black bass, and catfish have been planted in Los Banos Reservoir. Fishing is regulated by the Department of Fish and Game.
	Campsites are available along the O’Neill Forebay shoreline and at the Basalt area, which also has a boat launching ramp and a picnic area near the south end of Sisk Dam. On the west end of the reservoir, you’ll find Dinosaur Point Boat Launching area.    Other recreational activities available include picnicking, sail and power boating, waterskiing, windsurfing, hunting, swimming, hiking, bicycling, and waterfowl hunting. Boaters should heed wind warning conditions mounted on the roof of the Romero Overlook Visitors Center, and at the Basalt entrance station and Quien Sabe Point.  On  O’Neill Forebay, wind warning lights are located at the Medeiros boat ramp and above the South Beach picnic area at San Luis Creek. A yellow light means you should exercise great care; a red light signals danger—you should stay off or get out of the water.
	In the Romero Visitors Center, located off Highway 152, photos, graphics wall displays, videos, and slide shows tell the story of why the San Luis Joint-Use Complex was developed and constructed to combine State-federal operations.  Other exhibits provide historical information on the region's water development; environmental impacts by State water operations; and explain the federal Central Valley Project, and the SWP and its facilities. Telescopes on its balcony offer spectacular views of the dam and reservoir. Staffed by DWR guides, the center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. There is no charge. For tour information, call (209) 827-5353.