News Release Archive

One-Day Prescribed Burn in the Lake Berryessa Wildlife Area Planned for Thursday, June 27

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, 06/21/2013 15:18

For Release: June 21, 2013

NAPA, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), will conduct a prescribed fire on Lake Berryessa’s northeast side, within the Lake Berryessa Wildlife Area, on Thursday, June 27. If weather patterns and burn conditions are not favorable that day, the fire will be cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

The purpose of the prescribed fire is to suppress the spread of invasive weeds, improve the quality of wildlife habitat, and continue to reduce the accumulation of thatch and plant fuels. The project will encompass approximately 80 acres of open grasslands and oak savanna located at the junction of Berryessa Knoxville Road and East Side Road. No road closures are planned, and CalFire crew members will assist with traffic control on the East Side Road.

During the burn period, smoke may be visible in Napa, Solano and Yolo counties. Reclamation and CalFire staff will monitor the smoke generated by the fire, which may exist during the burn and possibly continue for several days. The American Lung Association recommends those with respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis and also those with chronic heart disease monitor their breathing and exposure to airborne matter and avoid inhalation of smoke, ashes and particulate matter. Residents near the burn area are encouraged to keep doors and windows closed during the prescribed fire.

For questions regarding the prescribed fire, please contact Reclamation Natural Resource Specialist Mark Szydlo at 707-966-2111, ext. 103, or mszydlo@usbr.gov. Questions may also be directed to Amy Head, Public Information Officer, CalFire/Napa County Fire Department, at 707-299-7790 or amy.head@fire.ca.gov.

# # #

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.