NAPA, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office announces summer and fall 2015 park events and Park Ranger interpretive programs at Lake Berryessa in Napa County, Calif. All activities will be held rain or shine and are free of charge. Some programs have group size limitations, so please contact the Park Ranger office regarding availability. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather and bring water and sunscreen for daytime activities. Children are welcome, but those under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Meet a Park Ranger at Monticello Dam!
Sunday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 23, Any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Monticello Dam Overlook Parking, Highway 128, 9 miles west of Winters
Ever wonder why Lake Berryessa was created? How much water it holds? What was there before the reservoir? Where the water goes? Get the answers to these questions and more when you meet a Park Ranger at the Monticello Dam. Stop by any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn fun facts about this essential water resource. Please contact a Park Ranger at 707-966-2111 ext.113 for questions.
Paddle with a Park Ranger!
Friday, July 31: Moonlight Paddle! 7-10 p.m., Capell Cove Boat Launch, meet at the launch ramp
Saturday, Aug. 15: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Foxtail Flat, Oak Shores Day Use Area
Sunday, Sept. 13: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Foxtail Flat, Oak Shores Day Use Area
Experience the beauty of Lake Berryessa from a unique perspective during Ranger-led paddling tours. Join a Park Ranger for fun 2-3 hour paddling trips, exploring various locations around the lake. Watch for bald eagles, ospreys, otters and other wildlife as the Ranger introduces you to the natural and human history of the lake. These outings are open to experienced swimmers with a kayak or canoe. Coast Guard-approved life jackets will be available. Participants should bring their boat, life jackets, paddles, sunscreen, hat, water and a lunch/snack. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Kayaks may be available for participant use if requested. For more information or directions, please contact Victoria Payan at 707-966-2111 ext. 113 or vpayan@usbr.gov.
California Coastal Clean Up Day
Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Pope Creek Bridge and Markley Turnouts (other locations may be announced prior to the event)
Join Reclamation, Solano Resource Conservation District and partners for this annual lake and shoreline clean up event. Volunteers will clean up the shoreline of Lake Berryessa as part of the state-wide clean up event. To volunteer, please contact Phillip Collins at 707-966-2111 ext. 111 or pmcollins@usbr.gov.
Catch a Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.) for Kids Foundation, Kids’ Fishing Event
Saturday, Sept. 12, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pleasure Cove Marina
Reclamation, in partnership with Pleasure Cove Marina, is hosting the C.A.S.T. for Kids event that provides children with disabilities or disadvantages the opportunity to experience the sport of fishing. Kids will be partnered with fishermen for a morning out on beautiful Lake Berryessa. Reclamation is looking for boaters, volunteers and children interested in participating in this great event. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering or participating, please contact Phillip Collins at 707-966-2111 ext. 111 or pmcollins@usbr.gov.
National Public Lands Day / Every Kid in a Park! (E.K.I.P.)
Friday, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oak Shores Day Use Area
Come join us for National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest volunteer event for public lands. More than 170,000 Americans will volunteer their time this year helping to restore and conserve their favorite places.
This year’s event will also be a kick off to E.K.I.P., an initiative to get every 4th grader to visit our nation’s federal lands within the next year! Help restore Lake Berryessa’s native landscape at this restoration event at Oak Shores Day Use Area. Volunteers of all ages will plant native trees, distribute mulch and create a grove of trees for future generations to enjoy while visiting our park. From 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., 4th graders will attempt to catch one of the many species of fish that thrive at Lake Berryessa. Fishing poles will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering or attending, please contact Jennifer Onufer at 707-966-2111 ext.112 or jonufer@usbr.gov.
Displays and Exhibits
May 16 through Sept. 14: Weekends 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Weekdays 12-3 p.m.
Dufer Point Visitor Center
The Lake Berryessa Visitor Center offers displays and exhibits on the history of Lake Berryessa, the Monticello Valley and the construction of the Solano Project. It also houses an exhibit of local wildlife 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 available free of charge.
Interpretive programs and events at Lake Berryessa tie into President 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 and vibrant outdoor legacy for generations to come. Ranger-led hikes and activities also support the Department of the Interior’s Let’s Move Outside initiative which encourages children and their families to enjoy outdoor activities that abound in every city, town and community.
E.K.I.P. is a Presidential initiative to help engage and create our next generation of park visitors, supporters and advocates. The immediate goal is to provide an opportunity for each and every 4th grade student across the country to experience their public lands and waters in person throughout the 2015-2016 school year.
If you would like to participate in a program and need accommodation, please contact the Lake Berryessa Ranger Department at 707-966-2111 ext. 113 at least 14 days in advance. Please visit the Lake Berryessa website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/index.html for additional information.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
