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Lake Berryessa Drama and Future
The situation at Lake Berryessa is complicated. What happens at Lake Berryessa will affect public use of public lands across America. This manmade lake was created when the Monticello Dam, built in 1957, captured the waters that had naturally flowed through the Monticello Valley. The concessions were contracted in 1958 and 1959 to develop resorts which could provide facilities for a demanding recreation public, which was demonstrated by 800 boats on the lake in August 1958, those users cutting barbed wire fences to get lake access, with no facilities - no bathrooms, no launch ramps, no gas, no stores. To accommodate the recreation use, the Public Use Plan [PUP] was developed by the National Parks Service under contract with the Bureau of Reclamation. PUP is the guiding document for the development and use of the lake. Eight resorts were to be developed, only seven have been constructed. At least twelve other public lands were to be developed for short term use by the managing agency, initially that was Napa County. At each resort - roads were graded, utilities put in, most resorts put in their own sewer systems and water plants, ramps, marinas, gas docks, stores, cafes, restaurants, bathrooms, showers, laundry, activity areas, day parks, campsites, RV sites, short term sites, long term sites, boat storage, docks, offices, maintenance buildings and other structures were all done by the concessionaires – with their own funding.
Through construction, droughts, gas crises, and negative media propaganda, the resorts have survived, and served millions of visitors year after year. There are seven business models at Lake Berryessa which have developed according to public demand, geographical uniqueness, location, and free enterprise initiative. A few individuals and special interest groups are attempting to takeover and limit use at Lake Berryessa. Accusations that the resorts are blocking public access are malicious and false. The contracted resorts required to provide facilities for the public use 12 miles of shoreline, with approximately 50% short term public use. Reclamation’s Plan to limit boats, impose water zoning restrictions, and take away facilities would be devastating to recreation users, destructive of millions and millions of dollars in resort improvements and the personal assets of individuals - at a horrendous cost to tax payers, both in the short run and long run. There are no government funds to maintain, repair or build facilities – the public would simply lose recreational opportunities that would be unrecoverable. Reclamation has failed to develop mandated public access on the 135 miles of shoreline under their direct management. Reclamation’s Plan will not open a single new area for public access, instead it actually eliminates any of those lands for future. Yet, the Plan allocates 58 miles of shoreline for overnight houseboats. This attempt to turn Lake Berryessa into a houseboat lake based at the south end, while allowing camping and minimal facilities on the west side, is irresponsible. Personal and/or elitist agendas to pick “their public” and allow for dictated uses is wrong. The resorts have developed, and continue to develop, land and water opportunities for all types of uses and users – motor boaters,skiers, wake boarders,jet skiers, swimmers, kayakers, sail boaters, canoe boaters, fisherman, and outdoor enthusiasts – emphasizing family use. Resorts Owners and the recreation users are fighting for the right to enjoy Lake Berryessa, for the freedom of recreational choices.
The Resort Owners Plan [ROP] was developed as a modern guideline for the future of the Lake Berryessa area. ROP creates a new master plan for each resort, with major improvements and increased public use for all types of users. ROP retains the water classifications to optimize recreation. ROP identifies public lands for short term use in the resorts, and on other public lands. ROP is a sound sustainable plan which builds on proven economics, encourages economic growth to related businesses, and supports local economies.
Under Reclamation’s Plan, the tax base will be one third of that under the Resort Owners Plan. Specifically with a 1% tax basis, the difference between $21 million [BOR] and $80 million [ROP] tax basis is dramatic for Napa County.
Then there is the cost of more government / free public access – “President George W. Bush's FY 2007 budget request, released today, includes a total of $971.6 million in new budget authority for the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation.” - newsrelease from usbr.gov
Most importantly, is if big business and government can diminish American freedoms and rights at Lake Berryessa, recreation areas across the nation will be in great jeopardy.
Lucy White Rancho Monticello Resort / Owner / Vice President
707 799 2120 lucy@wwwhite.com |