The Friends of Whiskeytown’s Brandy Creek Beach Luau is Cancelled Due to the Numerous Wildfires, Unpredictable Weather Conditions and Unhealthy Smoke at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
Due to smoky conditions at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area resulting from surrounding wildfires, the Brandy Creek Beach Luau scheduled for this Saturday, September 9th, has been cancelled. This is an outdoor event sponsored by the Friends of Whiskeytown, Inc. that involves an evening on the beach with tropical-themed decorations and a Hawaiian-style Luau. This would have been the 8th Annual Luau event, which is the primary fund-raising event for the Friends of Whiskeytown. Proceeds support park projects and programs, like the park’s free kayak and standup paddleboard programs.
Over the past few weeks, smoke from the Helena Fire and fires in northern California and Southern Oregon has resulted in the issuance of health advisories from the Shasta County Air Quality Management District. It is during these events, when the concentration of particles in the air increases, that residents are advised to limit outdoor activities and to remain indoors with air conditioning. Visibility at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has been variable due to the smoke from the surrounding area. In severe cases, visibility has been approximately 1/4 mile on Whiskeytown Lake, which creates unsafe conditions resulting in accidents on the water. All outdoor ranger-led programs were cancelled over the Labor Day weekend due to unhealthy air quality conditions. Visitors should take the appropriate steps to protect themselves and to limit outdoor activities.
The Friends of Whiskeytown, Inc. was created as an independent non-profit, 501 (c) 3 organization that cooperates with the National Park Service for providing visitor opportunities to recreate and enjoy the park. For more information on the Friends of Whiskeytown, please contact Ken Showalter at 530-524-5292.
For general park information, contact the visitor center at (530) 246-1225, or visit the park website at: https://www.nps.gov/whis/index.htm
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
