Pyramid Lake now open for recreation

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

After being closed to non-tribal members since April because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribal Council reopened Pyramid Lake to recreation Monday.

Included in the reopening is a new set of COVID guidelines that users must follow.

The lake was closed to non-tribal members because the Tribal Council had stated a declaration of emergency for the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation.

The closures of State Routes 445 and 446 were also lifted Monday.

Along with the new COVID guidelines, the Tribal Council also approved a new fee schedule for the reopening of the lake. Among the guidelines are:

• Observe CDC guidelines to mitigate COVID-19 (social distancing, wear face coverings, frequently wash hands, use hand sanitizer)
• Online permit sales and Ranger Station online sales only
• Day use available 7 days a week
• Camping permitting – maximum 3 day camping only
• 10 people max per campsite, 2 vehicles, 1 recreational vehicle per site
• 10 permits per beach at 12 beaches with exception of Pelican beach – 20 permits for camping
• 13 permitted beaches for camping
  • Warrior Point, Windless Bay, Pelican Point, Marina, North Net/Long Beach, Washout, Tamaracks, Indian Head Rock, Blockhouse, Wino Beach, Sandhole, Rawhide and Popcorn Beach
• No seasonal permitting at this time.