Sacramento County has wide rivers, narrow sloughs, eroding levees, environmentally sensitive areas, and there is hazardous competition among skiers, fisherman, swimmers, houseboats, large cruisers, canoes, and speed boats to use these areas. This chapter will promote safety, preserve levees, and reduce conflicts by establishing speed, restricted wake, no ski zones, and boat anchorage areas. It also controls noise and provides for regulatory signs and emergency regulations.
(SCC 533 § 5, 1983)
It is the policy of the Board of Supervisors to promote safety to reduce conflicts on the County's waterways, to coordinate the use of the County's waterways, and to coordinate the County's program with appropriate state and federal agencies and adjoining counties.
(SCC 533 § 5, 1983)
a. 
Limited Speed Zones. Areas shown as speed zones described in Article III shall be restricted to five miles per hour. Speed zones for the benefit of marinas and other private developments shall be established by the operators of the development as follows:
1. 
Type, size and location of signs shall be subject to approval by the Sheriff's Department with review by the Planning Department.
2. 
Necessary approvals from the state Department of Boating and Waterways and other agencies, as required, be obtained by the operators.
3. 
Installation and maintenance of the signs shall be the responsibility of the operators. Other speed zones will be established and regulatory signs placed as recommended by the County Sheriff.
b. 
Restricted Wake Zones. These areas are defined as areas where a wake which strikes the shore, levee, or moored vessel which is made fast to a way or landing float shall not show a white water break. Establishment of restricted wake zones shall be as outlined above in subsection (a) for limited speed zones.
c. 
No Ski Zones. These zones are established where speed can exceed five miles per hour, but snags, narrow sloughs or congestion makes skiing hazardous. Establishment of these zones shall be in areas described in Article III. Such areas are to be posted by the Sheriff's Department.
d. 
Nature Study Preserves. Those areas indicated as such in Article III are to be posted by the Sheriff's Department with prohibition of boating exceeding "idle speed." Nature study preserves are designated as areas for fishing, scientific and educational study.
e. 
Boat Anchorage Areas. Areas described in Article III where boats anchor in large numbers and where there is considerable activity requiring caution. The meadows and the north channel of Lost Slough are to be signed: CAUTION-ANCHORAGE AREA.
(SCC 533 § 5, 1983)
a. 
Nature Study Preserves. Noise that exceeds a noise level of 55 dBA, measured at a distance of 50 feet from the source is prohibited. This prohibition includes motorboat noise.
b. 
Motorboat Noise. Motorboat noise on all the County's waterways shall be subject to the regulations as set forth in Chapter 5, Article I, 654, 654.05, State Harbors and Navigation Code.
(SCC 533 § 5, 1983)
a. 
The wording of waterway markers, speed and other regulatory signs and appropriate locations will be approved by the County Sheriff or as provided for herein subject to review by the Planning Department, and appropriate state and federal agencies.
b. 
Exemption. Aids to navigation under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard and emergency signs are exempted from the provisions of this section.
c. 
Notice to Boaters. Operators of all public boating facilities shall be required to display a boating regulation sign which is clearly visible to all persons embarking upon the river by boat. Size, shape, color and type of material to be as required by the sheriff. The sign shall contain the following:
"State law makes it a misdemeanor to operate your powerboat in excess of five miles per hour when you are:
Within 100 feet of any bathers or within 200 feet of any:
a.
Beach frequented by bathers,
b.
Swimming float, diving platform, or lifeline,
c.
Way or landing float to which boats are made fast or which is being used for the embarkation or discharge of passengers.
No persons shall operate any vessel in a reckless or negligent manner or cause a wake which results in danger to any person, vessel or landside property.
PLEASE OBSERVE THESE RULES AND ALL POSTED REGULATORY SIGNS. THESE RULES ARE ENFORCED BY THE COUNTY BOAT PATROL."
d. 
Maintenance. All signs and waterway markers shall be maintained in proper condition or be replaced or removed as determined by the County Sheriff.
(SCC 533 § 5, 1983)