Lake Berryessa e-News

The Lake Berryessa News

Your Information Gateway to Lake Berryessa and our Napa Back Roads!

Click for weather forecast

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Lake Berryessa - The Map

Downloadable Map PDF

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Reviews - Yelp!

Reviews - TripAdvisor

Cucina Italiana

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Glory Hole Photo Album

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Wood Burning at Lake Berryessa and in Rural Napa County

Spare Us the “Spare the Air Day”

by Peter Kilkus

I have an Australian friend. Since English is a second language for him, he often notices American-English language oddities that normal people don’t see. For example, since most of us in the rural Napa areas burn as much wood as we can during the winter to avoid high electric bills, but wood-burning is supposedly prohibited on “Spare the Air Days”, he decided to read the actual regulation, Bay Area Air Quality Management District: Regulation 6, Particulate Matter And Visible Emissions Rule 3: Wood-Burning Devices.

He found that the regulation has three exemptions, each of which applies to Napa County residents. It seems from the actual legal language that a “Spare the Air Day” ban on wood-burning stoves and fireplaces does not apply to most of us in the Lake Berryessa area or much of the rural areas of Napa County.

The primary exemption is Section 6-3-110, Natural Gas Service Unavailability, which applies even though propane may be available as a source of heat. The second applicable exemption is 6-3-111, Electrical Power Service Unavailability. Many residents of the Lake Berryessa area get their electricity from diesel generators and/or solar cell panels. This is not “as determined by electrical utility service”, i.e., PG&E.

So why has everyone been misinformed that you can only burn wood on a “curtailment” day if wood is your only source of heat? You can also burn wood if you have no natural gas service or no electric utility service!

Click here for the actual legal language...

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Dam Level Update as of Monday, 1/23/12:

The elevation of Glory Hole spillway at Monticello Dam is 440' above mean sea level (msl). The water level has dropped almost 4” last week to 424.94' msl. or 15.06' below the top of Glory Hole. With the latest 2.18” of rain during the last few days, Lake Berryessa has had 5.23” of rain since July 1, 2011. Water temperature is 52 degrees from top to bottom.

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Lake Berryessa News: January 2012

Pages 1 & 12	Pages 2 & 11
Pages 3 & 10	Pages 4 & 9
Pages 5 & 8	Pages 6 & 7

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Goodbye 2011: Another Year of Process Without Progress at Lake Berryessa!

Will 2012 Be Any Better? Maybe 2015?

Although I’d like to put on my happy face for 2012, unfortunately 2011 has not been kind to the Lake Berryessa community. It felt like an instant replay of the preceding several years. The most visible change was the appearance of tacky plywood signs in front of some of the Pensus resorts. More professional blue and white signs finally replaced those and are now at the entrances of all the Pensus resorts. But a new sign does not a recreation destination make.

Read full story here...

Bureau of Reclamation Process Stumbles

Pensus Planning Process Stymied

NBRID Water & Sewer System Improvement Process Moves Forward

Lake Berryessa Visitor Information Process Succeeds

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Can Lake Berryessa fill up this year? Yes, but...

The charts below give some insight into the possibilities. Since it takes about 3” of rain before there is any significant runoff, and the lake rises about 7” for every inch of rainfall at this level, it will take about 29” of rain between now and Spring (for a yearly total of 32”) to fill the lake the necessary 15’ up to Glory Hole. This is not impossible, but highly unlikely. It has only happened 4 times in the last 12 years. The total last year was 38” of rain for the season with 24” coming between January 30 and June 30.

Average Annual Decrease: 15’ - Agriculture & human use.

Average Annual Increase: Wildly unpredictable - rainfall dependent!

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2011 Napalachia Cartoon Album by Bill Scholer

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Musician Bill Scholer Brings a Taste of the Blues to Students

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE – Career blues guitarist Bill Scholer recently brought 30 years of performing experience to The Sullivans School, where excited students had a chance to learn about guitars, the blues and improvisational music. Read story here...

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Berryessa Peak Hike: Extreme Sports - 8 Hours of Heaven (or Hell?)

Berryessa Peak at 3,057 feet (931 meters) is the second highest summit in Yolo County. Berryessa Peak is also the highpoint of Blue Ridge; a small mountain ridge east of Lake Berryessa that runs in a north-south direction. Click here for full hike description...

View westward from the top of Berryessa Peak

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Lake Berryessa Chamber of Commerce Membership Application

Please consider joining the Lake Berryessa Chamber of Commerce. We will see substantial future recreational improvements at Lake Berryessa with the Pensus Group adding more amenities to their resorts. Markley Cove Resort and Pleasure Cove Marina will continue to offer a full range of recreation services. The Chamber’s tourist information program includes our own Lake Berryessa page on the excellent Napa Valley Destination council (NVDC) website: www.LegendaryNapaValley.com. Download application here. (PDF)

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Calendar of Events

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Jnuary 16 & 30 - Monday: Gypsy Station (www.gypsystation.com) will be having two horse camps in January. Mon. 16th, 10:00-2:00 and Mon. 30th, 10:00-2:00 $125.00 each day, OR Take advantage of this special offer only advertised in the Lake Berryessa News. Get $20.00 off if you attend both camps. Reserve your spot today. Mandy Mondiel, Mandy@gypsystation.com, Stable 707.965.2007, Cell 707.312.0828

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January 28 - Saturday: Pope Valley School Crab Feed. Pope Valley Farm Center
Doors open 5:00 p.m. Dinner 6:00 p.m. Silent Auction—5:00-8:00 p.m. $50.00/person. Limited availability—call 965-2402 to order or buy at the Pope Valley Market.

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February 3 - Friday: Cucina Italiana Re-opens!

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February 14 - Tuesday: Cucina Italiana is open for a special romantic Valentine's Day event.

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February 18 - Saturday: The always-fun "Open That Bottle Night" at Cucina Italiana. Bring that special bottle of wine and the interesting story behind it and win big!

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Lake Berryessa - The Map

Downloadable Map PDF

This is the most detailed map of Lake Berryessa you'll find anywhere! Use it to plan your day or your weekend. Enjoy all of what Lake Berryessa has to offer.

Pensus announced that Chaparral Cove, formerly Putah Creek, and Lupine Shores, formerly Steele Park, will be staying open seven days a week all through the winter.

Chaparral Cove Resort (Putah Creek) is Open: Boat launching, tent & RV camping, boat & RV dry storage with launch & retrieval service available. New concrete picnic tables and BBQ/fire rings. Restroom trailers with running water (no showers). RV pump-out service. No fuel service. 707-966-9088 or http://lakeberryessashores.com

Free Public Facilities are Open: Oak Shores/Smittle Creek Day Use Parks are open on the west shore. Go to www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/Berryessa for details. Oak Shores and Smittle Creek offer nice hiking opportunities and more than 100 picnic sites equipped with BBQ grills. Two hand launches for non-motorized car-top boats are also available. 707-966-2111

Spanish Flat Village Center is Open: A mile south of Oak Shores you’ll find Cucina Italiana Restaurant, Spanish Flat Country Store & Deli, the Hand-Made Store & More, the Monticello Valley History Exhibit, and CeCe Short’s California Outdoor Properties. They are all ready to help you enjoy the lake.

Foothill Pines Resort (Spanish Flat): Closed for the winter on October 1.

Capell Valley Public Launch Ramp is Open: A few miles south of the Spanish Flat Village Center, this free public launch ramp serves both recreational boaters and anglers.

Turtle Rock is Open: At the corner of Hwy 128 and Knoxville Road just down from the Capell launch ramp, this Lake Berryessa landmark is a fun place to relax with a drink and a “world famous eggroll” while watching the boats and jet skis roll by.

Lupine Shores Resort (Steele Park) is Open: Boat launching, tent & RV camping, boat & RV dry storage with launch & retrieval service available. New concrete picnic tables and BBQ/fire rings. Restroom trailers with running water (no showers). RV pump-out service. No fuel service. 707-966-9088 or http://lakeberryessashores.com

The Crossroads at Lake Berryessa is Open: At the crossroads of of Hwy 121, Hwy 128, and Steele Canyon Road (Moskowite Corners). 5 Minutes from Lupine Shores and the Berryessa Highlands. General Store, Restaurant, and Bar.

Pleasure Cove Marina is Open! Pleasure Cove Marina operates from the south end of the lake and offers houseboat rentals, cabin rentals, tent & RV camping, boat slips, boat and jet ski rentals, boat gasoline. Has a day use picnic area, but not on the water. (707) 966-9600

Markley Cove Resort is Open! The closest resort to Monticello Dam, Markley Cove offers cabin rentals, a convenience store, food service, marina services, boat slips, boat and jet ski rentals, boat gasoline. No day use picnic area. (707) 966-2134

Hiking, Trails, and Paddling Guide