Who we are
The Belvedere Lagoon is a unique property, with a long history. Its care is managed by the Belvedere Property Owners Association (BLPOA), a private non-profit corporation made up of ~235 members.
Not a homeowners association (HOA), the BLPOA focuses on the quality of the lagoon water and maintaining the supporting infrastructure. The organization is licensed by the State of California, which is particularly interested in protecting the quality of the water as it flows to and from Richardson Bay.
The BLPOA also controls the lagoon water level to maintain a balance between recreational use (approximately April 1st to October 31st) and flood control requirements (approximately November 1st to March 31st).
Members pay annual dues to support operations which typically follow an annual calendar.
Members of the BLPOA are encouraged to also join the Belvedere Sailing Society (BSS), a volunteer-run organization – separate from the BLPOA, and open to all residents of Belvedere — which sponsors social events throughout the year and organizes sailboat races in the summer. Email with questions or submit the membership form on the BSS site.
Approved uses of the lagoon include swimming, manually-powered craft (e.g. canoes, standup paddleboards) and sailboats (mono-hulls up to 15 feet). See the complete list of approved and restricted watercraft.
BLPOA Membership is required of all lagoon shoreline homeowners and property owners in order to have access to the lagoon.
There is no public access to the lagoon, and use is restricted to members of the BLPOA, their tenants and guests, and to members of the Belvedere Sailing Society (BSS) who store watercraft at the Mann Boathouse.
BLPOA Board
Every year, BLPOA members nominate and elect a group of representatives to serve on the BLPOA Board. Board Members volunteer their time to oversee protection, maintenance, and quality control of the lagoon water and surrounding infrastructure, managing a budget paid for by annual dues.
The BLPOA adheres to the State of California's Clean Water Act, and the Board interacts with a number of Local, State, and Federal agencies including: the BCDC, US Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, California Wildlife, and the Regional and California Water Board, who are have jurisdiction over the lagoon. It requires constant diligence to keep the lagoon for recreational purposes and flood control – especially given the connection to Richardson Bay.
The Board also interacts with the developers of Mallard Pointe ensuring the proposed development plan doesn’t negatively impact the quality of the lagoon, that the bulkhead and existing docks are maintained and improved as necessary, and new property owners become BLPOA members.