News Release Archive

Lake Berryessa's Pope Creek Bridge Waterway Closed for Major Holidays

Media Contact: Jeffrey McCracken, 916-978-5100, 04/24/2007 14:29

For Release: April 24, 2007

The Bureau of Reclamation announces that beginning Memorial Day weekend the Pope Creek Bridge waterway, located at Lake Berryessa, will be closed to all motorized and non-motorized watercraft. This closure will occur again for the July 4th holiday weekend and Labor Day holiday weekend. Re-opening of the area to watercraft will be reinstated after each holiday weekend.

Reclamation and the Napa County Sheriffs Office are working together to prevent unsafe conditions which result from thousands of visitors congregating on holiday weekends at the Pope Creek Bridge water area. Overcrowding on boats, near-drownings, disorderly conduct, offensive behavior, underage drinking, and assaults have occurred. Major injuries and several deaths have resulted from people jumping off the high rocks and Pope Creek Bridge. It is illegal to jump off the bridge and violators will be cited. There are signs posted warning visitors not to jump off the bridge or rocks. The closed area will be designated by buoys. The gates at Pope Creek parking lot will be closed and locked at 10 p.m. The closure will assist Reclamation and the Napa County Sheriffs Office in ensuring a safe and secure area on holiday weekends.

This closure is effective:
Memorial Day Weekend from 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, 2007, to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Independence Day Week from 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2007, to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Labor Day Weekend from 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 30, 2007, to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2007

For a map of the affected closure area of Pope Creek Bridge Waterway, please link to:
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/field_offices/lake_berryessa/resort_act.html. For additional information, please contact Park Manager Ms. Janet Rogers, Lake Berryessa Field Office, at 707-966-2111 or e-mail jlrogers@mp.usbr.gov.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Map of the Affected Closure Area of Pope Creek Bridge Waterway