SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Success Lake near Porterville will temporarily close its Rocky Hill Recreation Area for maintenance from March 9 until May 25.
The park will repave sections of the road leading to Rocky Hill and replace water lines to the recreation area. The recreation area will remain closed until the repaving work has been completed, expected before Memorial Day weekend.
Success Lake’s Tule Recreation Area, on the other side of the lake, will remain open during the closure. Boaters may continue to launch their boats from the Lower Tule Point Ramp.
Taking advantage of the closure, the park is working with a vendor to bring in 1,000 sheep to naturally mow dried grasses and brush on shoreline adjacent to the recreation area. Regular mowing is important for reducing fire and snake hazards at the park. Workers with Brush And Weed Control With Goats of Earlimart began installing an electric fence around the area’s perimeter March 5 to contain the sheep, which are expected to graze at Success for about the next two months. The park is using the program as a trial, and may expand it if it succeeds.
“It just makes sense,” said Success Lake park manager Cal Parret. “We’re reducing fire risk, improving public safety, maintaining the park and going green – at zero taxpayer expense.”
The company will provide and shepherd the sheep at no cost to the government. The sheep, of course, eat free for the duration of their stay.
For more information on the closure, visitors are encouraged to contact the park headquarters office at 559-784-0215.
Release no. 12-004