That's all we have left at Braunig and Calaveras under the SARA contract. Does anyone know anything specific about what will happen after Dec.1? A buddy of mine who works for SARA says he will be there on 1 Dec. to collect all of the computers and such. Get ready for the cost of fishing to go up!

I talked to the attendant yesterday and this might be known to most but they will be honoring all 1 year passes until the expiration date.

The attendants might not know the precise future since SARA will probably not be running the show, but..... here is what my source, and pretty believable one, wrote to me on November 6th:

CPS Energy is considering a proposal from a private company to operate the lake parks. If a contract is signed, then we anticipate a smooth transition from SARA to the private company over the next month or so. CPS Energy will continue to own the lakes and the park property. Thanks for asking, Scott.

I also be shocked if the passes would not be honored...., I even renewed mine because I believe this guy. It might be a good deal to get yours before Dec 1....the price might be going up.

I just hope the new group does a better job then the SARA folks did. At least at Braunig. The facilities there are always filthy.

i went by and picked up an application and the new company is Thousand Trails , their address is 8590 u.s. hwy. 34 Granby , Co. 80446 . phone # is 970-887-1339. that's what it says on the bottom of the app. take it for what it's worth. google it and you'll be amazed

Hmmmmm, don't seem like they catter to fisherman......

hopefully it's not becoming a menbership thing . i pulled up the membership to the one the have at medina and it was over $1000 to get a menbership for the first year.

I used to be an RV'er and Thousand Trails runs membership RV campgrounds across the country.

Not much forthcoming from CPS yet. Here is what Scott replied today:

Don, we hope to make an announcement very soon. In fact we may have a signed contract as early as today. As soon as we do we will offer a press release or something to that effect that will provide park/lake users with lot’s of good, helpful information. Our goal is still to keep the parks running after SARA departs on Nov 30 without interruption . Thank you for your patience, Scott.

TK: Describe the application please. Was it for an annual membership and did it have a $$$ amount on it?

Again from Scott:

We appear to have a contract and we are working on a press release. It should go to our normal media outlets. I will send you one so you can post it with your associates. Scott.

it was an application for employment but it had the name and address i posted earlier on it

I asked today about an annual membership and they said I couldn't renew it because it was more than 30days before it expired.

Nice try Richard.

We are now down to 7 days before the change and, well, ??????

As of now some of the current employees have been offered jobs but at minimum wage or just a little better. This new company is an RV park type which could mean the down fall of fishing at these two lakes. Skis, Jet Skis. Their standard is that only members can use the lakes which means stiff membership fees. I can only speculate at this time as to what might happen. We, all of us who fish these two lakes, need to let our voices be heard in great numbers that these lakes should be kept for fishing only and continued to be stocked regularly. Just my $0.02 worth.

Enjoy it while you can cause it's going to change real soon.

Mike

This will give you an idea of what the company is all about.
http://www.1000trails.com/

Came across this site of unhappy members
http://www.ripoffreport.com/tours-excursions/thousand-trails/thousand-trails-ripoff-frisco-c49am.htm
Maybe all will turn out well & we'll all live happily ever after..
Roger

I wonder if they could run a profitable business without catering to fisherman on these lakes. Lets face it.....the water on these lakes is not very visually appealing to bathers and such. People come to these lakes to fish, and I can't see the regulars forking up huge membership fees to continue to fish there. Mostly because they can't afford it. I know I can't afford it, and if I could...I wouldn't afford it.

Calaveras may turn into a snowbird distination. warm weather, SA attractions, reasonable distance to the coast. I don't believe they are very concerned about the fishing.The water quality may turnoff visitors, especially when they learn it is recycled water.
Roger

The press release from CPS is not ready. I have asked for some of the facts to be given out tomorrow. I will be posting it as soon as I know. It is important to remember that CPS will still own the property.

SARA has been trying to get out of this function for over a year. They will not manage it anymore because they say it is losing money for them. CPS has asked for bidders but only one responded and then backed out.

The real crunch here is that if someone does not run it, CPS might close it to recreational activities. Let's hope that the Thousand Trails contract is something the fishermen can live with.

Why can't CPS run the park? They already own the property right? Wouldn't it be all profit for them, minus what it would cost to hire a few people to run the show?

I don't know, Kyle. I have been trying for two years to talk the city into running Braunig. The City has a parks department. I approached the County to run Calaveras since they also manage parks. They are not interested either. These are two orphan lakes looking for a home.

I have the solution.

Don needs to by a full membership and build a home at the 181 cove. Then he needs to get about 3,000 guest membership cards for us. He's close if he has problems back there again and we all get to fish.

This thought came to mind..CPS is a publicly owned utility. In other words, owned by the public. Calaveras & Braunig are then in reality, owned by the public. I wonder if CPS can legally lease the recreation facilities to a privately owned company & deny the public access to the lakes to which they own. Something to think about..
Roger

i am sure that it takes in quite a bit of money. then when you have to pay for insurance and all, that is where they they are losing to much of the money. if it had better rv sites i think it would do a lot better. if everyone of those bank fishers pays i know they take in a lot from them.

FI, that's a plan.

Last communique on Tuesday from CPS is that they have the press release ready and have to let SAWS and TT comment on it. Now that it is holiday time, I have my doubts that they will have anything to release before Monday. I has asked for a few unofficial facts, but they are not willing to share them. CPS is in a world of hurt right now with the nuclear $4 Billion coverup. A couple of the top executives are suspended and the Board met yesterday until 1:00 A.M. w/o any decisions. This mess has probably made all the bureaucrats in CPS really tight-lipped.

For all my fishing buddies, I feel quite let down by CPS. They have drug their feet getting this done. I only hope that the TT contract will be one which 1) keeps the lakes open, and 2) is acceptable by you.

I will let you know if I buy the Cove membership.

the publicly owned deal won't fly. in the western states all the national forest are public, paid for by u.s. tax dollars and the state can limit the number of non residents allowed to go in and hunt on the public land. what yall need to work on is someone or company to lease the parks and run them as fishing camps. surely they would at least break even(may need to check the cost of the liability insurance required to submit a lease bid) after paying gate attendants and grounds crew.