News Release Archive

Summertime Water Safety at Lake Berryessa

Media Contact: Ellen Glover, 916-978-5104, 07/02/2010 21:58

For Release: July 02, 2010

Mid-Pacific Region Sacramento, CA

MP-10-100

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release On: July 2, 2010

Summertime Water Safety at Lake Berryessa

Summer is here, and at the Bureau of Reclamation's Lake Berryessa people will be swimming, boating, skiing, fishing, and playing in the water, but whatever the activity, safety should be the first priority. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some 4,000 people drown in the United States each year, but by following a few simple safety tips, visitors can have both a fun and safe summer at the lake.

The most important way to stay safe in the water is to wear a well-fitting personal floatation device (PFD) - a life jacket. Inflatable toys, such as water wings or inner tubes, should never be used in place of a life jacket. At Lake Berryessa's Oak Shores Day Use Area, Reclamation Park Rangers run a free PFD Loaner Program on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Visitors may borrow life jackets at the Water Education Station, the large white trailer located in the Foxtail area of Oak Shores, by leaving a form of identification, such as a driver's license. The bright orange life jackets are available in all sizes, from infants to adults, and a Park Ranger will ensure that each life jacket fits correctly. Anyone who will be in or around the water, whether wading, swimming, or boating, is strongly encouraged to borrow and wear a life jacket.

Other important safety tips include: - Never swim alone - Swimming is at one's own risk at Lake Berryessa - no lifeguards are present - Always supervise children while they are in or near the water - Swimmers and waders should be aware of the potentially uneven lake bottom and sudden drop-offs - If someone in the water is in trouble, try to reach them with a towel, shirt, branch, or paddle, or throw something to them that floats, such as a cooler or beach ball - Stay sober - the CDC reports that alcohol use is involved in up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation and about one in five reported boating fatalities.

For additional information about water safety, recreation, or Ranger Programs at Lake Berryessa, please call 707-966-2111, ext. 113, or visit the lake's website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/index.html.

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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.