Following the June 9, 2006 decision of the Bureau of Reclamation (BR) to redesign and improve public access to Lake Berryessa, Carol Kunze, Tuleyome Board member and Executive Director of Berryessa Trails and Conservation (BTC), indicates that progress is moving forward on two fronts.

First, the BTC is seeking funding from the Coastal Conservancy to design the 150-mile trail around the lake. “Most reservoirs are not as beautiful as Berryessa, with all its coves, creeks and huge shoreline. This trail girdling the 20,000 acre lake will be an incredible opportunity for the hikers and bikers to appreciate the beauty of this region” stated Kunze. A decision from the Coastal Conservancy is expected soon.

Second, the Bureau us working on a Request For Proposals to select one or more concessionaires to manage the camp sites, cabins, lodges, parking, food outlets, and marinas that will be available to the public for overnight or day-use activities. The BR is expected to complete the vendor selection process later this year.

The Bureau of Reclamation released their decision on the future recreation use of Lake Berryessa today. The decision ends the controversial era of exclusive use that resulted in the concession areas at this federal lake being dominated by more than 1300 private vacation trailers and mobile homes.

Created by the construction of Monticello Dam on Putah Creek in the 1950’s, Lake Berryessa lies to the east of Napa Valley, in a beautiful setting surrounding by hills and ridges with the Blue Ridge to the east and Cedar Roughs, an area proposed for wilderness status, to the west. The seven concessionaires at the lake established the private vacation sites in the 1960’s. Reclamation policies now prohibit this type of private, exclusive use.

The private vacation sites will be replaced by accommodations for the public that will include cabins, lodges, and possibly motels and hotels, with restaurants, retail outlets, and marinas. There will also be campgrounds for both tents and RV’s.

One of the most eagerly awaited proposals is the development of a 150 mile shoreline trail. Hikers, bikers, and equestrians are looking forward to the opportunities this trail will provide. There will also be some additional day use facilities at Steele Canyon Cove and Eticuera Creek, including parking, trailheads and kayak launch areas.

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A tug-of-war over Lake Berryessa's future has ended with a wholesale shift in management philosophy. The change will foster better day-use recreation by the general public. On the way out is a business model that allowed some 1,300 trailer owners to dominate use of much of the best of the federally owned, public land around this sprawling, 20,000-acre lake (actually, a man-made reservoir, created in 1957) in the Coast Range hills about 15 miles northwest of Napa.

On June 9, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that the 50-year policy that allowed seven park concessionaires in prime coves on the south and west shores of the lake to lease long-term sites to trailer owners to use for vacation homes is about to end. As existing concession contracts terminate during the next two years, trailer owners will be asked to remove their private property from the public land.

Simultaneously, new concession firms will bid on projects to redevelop the shoreline with a view toward serving day-use and multi-day visitors. The lake's present concession firms are welcome to compete for the new contracts.

"This is the beginning of a focus on many new types of recreation," said Janet Sierzputowski, of the Bureau's public affairs office in Sacramento. "Berryessa is a beautiful lake, in a wonderful location, with a potential that's practically unlimited. Our goal has been to offer recreation here to as many people as want to go. People who had the trailers here will be welcome, too. But we'll level the playing field and make sure, from now on, everyone has equal access to enjoying this lake."