News Release Archive

Enjoying Labor Day Weekend at Lake Berryessa

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

For Release: August 26, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation's Central California Area Office offers the following information for individuals planning to visit Lake Berryessa in Napa County, Calif., over the Labor Day weekend.

  • Holiday hours at the Lake Berryessa Visitor Center are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday-Monday, Sept. 3-5, 2011. The Visitor Center's phone number is 707-966-2111 ext 113.
  • Boat ramps and day use parking should fill up quickly at the Capell Cove Boat Launch, Oak Shores Day Use Area and Smittle Creek Day Use Area. The areas are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Boaters should keep in mind the following:

  • All Coast Guard and state of California rules for navigation and boat operation apply, and boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal. Napa County Sheriffs' boat patrols will be patrolling the lake to help ensure boaters have both an enjoyable and safe time.
  • Full lake levels may mask underwater hazards. Boaters should exercise caution, operate at a safe speed for conditions and watch out for floating debris and hidden hazards.
  • Markley Cove Resort and Pleasure Cove Marina are the lake's only fueling locations. Please check a map for fueling locations: fill up and don't be caught short!
  • Children under the age of 12 must wear a Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (life jacket), and all individuals onboard must have a life jacket readily available.
  • Follow these safety tips from the Department of Boating and Waterways: (1) file a float plan, notify a reliable person of your plan, and cancel the plan upon your return; (2) ensure your vessel is in good condition with oars/paddles and an ample fuel supply; and (3) have onboard a first-aid kit, flashlight, Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher, life jackets for all passengers, visual distress signals and an extra starting battery.

Lake Berryessa's Park Rangers offer a variety of services and programs to visitors:

Topic:              Displays and Exhibits
Dates:             Saturday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 5, from noon to 5 p.m.
Location:        Lake Berryessa Visitor Center
Non-interactive Red Spacer GraphicThe Visitor Center offers displays and exhibits on the history of Lake Berryessa and the Monticello Valley and the construction of the Solano Project. It also houses an exhibit of local wildlife - stuffed and mounted - showing the common and not-so-common animals found around the lake. Park Rangers are available to answer questions about natural resources, recreational opportunities, wildlife and the area's history. Brochures, maps, trail guides and other educational information are free of charge.

Topic:              Life Jacket Loaner Program
Date/Time:     Saturday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to7 p.m.
Location:        Water Education Station, Oak Shores Day Use Area
Non-interactive Red Spacer GraphicEnjoy the lake safely: check with a Park Ranger to borrow life jackets that are just the right size for everyone in your group. The Life Jacket Loaner Program is free; the Ranger just needs to borrow your photo ID while you borrow the life jacket. Adults and children alike are encouraged to wear life jackets and enjoy the water safely.

Topic:              Roving Rangers
Date/Time:     Saturday, Sept. 3, through Monday, Sept. 5, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location:        Oak Shores Day Use Area
Non-interactive Red Spacer GraphicHave a question? Need directions? See a bird or a snake you want to know more about? Park Rangers will be roving around Oak Shores Day Use Area all Labor Day weekend looking for questions to answer. The Rangers are roving on foot and in Ranger vehicles, ready to help everyone have a safe and fun weekend at Lake Berryessa.

Outdoor activities at Lake Berryessa tie into President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative which seeks to empower Americans to share in the responsibility to conserve, restore and provide better access to our lands and waters and leave a healthy, vibrant outdoor legacy for generations to come. Many Lake Berryessa activities also follow First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative which is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Where better for the public to appreciate and enjoy the great outdoors than at a Reclamation facility like Lake Berryessa?

For questions, please contact Park Ranger Mike McGraw at 707-966-2111 ext. 112 or mmcgraw@usbr.gov or call the Lake Berryessa Ranger Department at 707-966-2111 ext. 113. For further information, please visit the Lake Berryessa website.

Interactive series of small pictures of activites at Lake Berryessa - Click to visit Lake Berryessa Website

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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.