Whale Rock Reservoir May be Opened for Swimming

By Gabrielle Taylor 

As recent rain fills the beloved Whale Rock Reservoir to the brim, citizens of Morro Bay and Cayucos wonder if it will always be closed off to swimming for the foreseeable future. Whale Rock has been a protected part of the county for countless years, only recently being opened for fishing. Trails for hiking and mountain biking cover the land and provide many scenic routes for people looking to enjoy the coast. However, the water itself has never been open for swimming or boating of any kind. 

Many people of towns near the reservoir have expressed interest in opening the lake in Whale Rock to the public, but most believe it would take away from the beauty. “Whale Rock is closed because it needs to be protected. I think opening it so people can go in the water will be harmful to the area,” said sophomore Ashton Lakey. The reservoir is one of San Luis Obispo county's main water sources, as it provides clean drinking water for Morro Bay and Cayucos. There is a concern that bodily contact with the water would adulterate the water and endanger the living organisms in the water, such as fish, frogs, and ducks. Nevertheless, some people believe that opening the reservoir for swimming and boat use would increase the town's charm and create a new activity for people of all ages. 

“Honestly it would be really fun to have a lake around here that everyone can enjoy because sometimes people don’t want to go in the ocean and a lake would be a great alternative,” said freshman Nora Wilson. Permitting swimming and boating in Whale Rock would create a better financial situation for surrounding towns as people would pay to get entry but it would also increase the amount of waste and littering around the land and water. 

The opinions are split down the middle as many people think that opening the lake for swimming would damage the ecosystems and cleanliness of the water but others think that the lake should be enjoyed and appreciated in all ways. In addition, allowing the public access to the reservoir would drastically increase the tourist revenue in both Morro Bay and Cayucos. “I mean tourists do bring in money and stuff but it's already too busy and it would just take away from everything if we attracted even more,” said junior Violet Pace. An open lake would increase the amount of people that come to this part of the central coast. 

Whale Rock has never been open to the public for swimming, boating or kayaking and that has protected the welfare and health of the animals, plants and other living organisms that dwell there. On the other hand, sanctioning the use of water vehicles and swimming would add a new activity to the summer days and create opportunities to raise money for neighboring towns.