Water Resources in Coe Park
Coe Park features a variety of water resources including lakes, ponds, creeks and springs. Recreational uses include swimming, fishing and nature observation. No diving is allowed.
On long hikes, be sure to take plenty of water and food. On warm days, take more water than you think you'll need. Coe Park is a huge wilderness. It's not that difficult to take a wrong turn and get lost. Maps are available in the Visitor Center, or can be ordered online here.
Before you set out, you might want to ask someone in the Visitor Center about the latest water conditions for the areas you will be traveling. After heavy rains many creeks are uncrossable. In contrast, by early summer many of the smaller ponds can already be dry. The flow from springs varies throughout the year.
Water observations are collected by park visitors and volunteers. If you have questions or an update on water resources, you can send an email to water-reports@coepark.net .
Map with Water Conditions
Available water could be a flowing spring oasis, a mud hole, or a stagnant pool. Don't rely on a single observation about water availability; consider alternate water sources as a backup. Take into consideration the timeliness of the observation. Consider recent weather conditions. Would water conditions be improving (due to rainfall) or getting worse (during hot weather) since the last reported observation? Water conditions can change quickly.
Visitor Centers
The Visitor Centers at Coe Ranch and Dowdy Ranch have potable water available at faucets, drinking fountains, and adjacent camping and picnicking areas.
Ponds and Lakes
Many of the smaller ponds can dry up quickly. Water level is the relative percentage of being full, measured to the spillway. A water level of 1% generally indicates mud only. A water level of 0% indicates the site is completely dry.
Springs
Not all springs shown on the park map are developed. Some springs have flow cutoff valves so water may not flow continuously. Many springs have troughs to make access easier for horses. On the report, water level indicates the trough's relative percentage of being full. A water level of 0 or a blank water level indicates that either no trough is available or that the source is dry. The flow rate is the rate of water produced by the spring (in liters per minute) measured at the time of observation. Some springs may flow only during the night. Thus, the combination of flow rate and water level can give you a better understanding of the conditions.
Creeks
Water levels above knee-high are considered non-crossable. Use extreme care when crossing creeks. Consider weather conditions.. You may not be able to return if the creek rises. By late spring most of the creeks are reduced to isolated pools. In such cases, the report designates that the creek is not flowing but that water is available.
GPS
UTM-East and UTM-North are the approximate GPS coordinates using the UTM UPS grid and the WGS 84 map datum to locate the water resource. Ponds and lakes are measured at the mid-point of the dam. Springs are generally measured at the water trough or output pipe. Creeks are generally measured at an intersection or crossing.
Purify all backcountry water that you intend to consume. Bury human waste and wash dishes at least 100 feet from streams, lakes, and springs. There is a lot of information regarding water purification on the internet. You may want to search on backpacking water purification, for example.
The Backpacking at Coe Park page has additional information, including backpacking rules and recommendations.