Lake Berryessa is located in California; it is one of the state’s largest manmade fresh water lakes-its length is 26 miles, and its width is 3 miles. It was formed in the late 1950s when the Monticello Dam was completed on the Putah Creek. The lake stores more than 1.5 million acre feet of water, and its 165-mile long shores offer exciting recreation throughout the year.
Plant and animal life
Lake Berryessa is at close proximity to the Monticello Dam, where a great variety of birds can be observed. You will get the best opportunity to see the birds in spring and late fall when migration and nesting occurs.
The various wildlife is perfectly combined with plants, such as oak trees and Manzanita. They provide shelter and home for eagles, songbirds, hawks, wild turkeys. Deer can also be found in the vicinity. The wide and long shores house water birds such as Canada geese, great blue herons, wood ducks, snow geese, pelicans, western grebes, and common loons.
Since Berryessa's waters reach temperatures of up to 75 degrees, fishermen go fishing for both cold and warm water species of fish including bass, rainbow trout, catfish, bluegill, and crappie.
Recreation opportunities
Situated between Cedar Roughs and the Blue Ridge, not far away from Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa is an ideal place for boating activities. The summer season provide enjoyable warm temperatures of the air and water; thus lake Berryessa offers great opportunities for fishing, water sports activities, camping, wild life observation, or probably simply enjoying the serenity and peacefulness of the area, away from the hustle and bustle of daily routines.
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Water sports: the most popular types of water sports, experienced and practiced on the surface of the lake are jet skiing, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, or pleasure boating. The surface of the lake provides location of Lake Berryessa seaplane base, where seaplane landings and splash-ins are performed. Enthusiastic water skiers and swimmers can be found in the lake, and boaters are sailing in the “Narrows”- a part of the lake, close to the Monticello dam. The lake is also facilitated with resorts with marinas.
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Other sports include hiking on various trails, bicycle riding, motorcycle pleasure riding, and even camping and picnicking.
Lake Berryessa management
The Bureau of reclamation deals with the management of the lake’s shore lands, concessions and all types of facilities. Yet, this management has not proven very efficient since the 2009 expired concessions of five resorts have not returned to their full capacity and operation. However, the management follows regulations and rules that protect federal recreation areas from excessive construction and occupancy. As a result, more than 1000 long term resident trailers were forced away from the resorts as soon as their 50-year concession contracts were terminated because of expiry. What followed was a decrease in the number of people who prefer to spend their weekends and vacations in the vicinity. The delayed government future plans, designs and projects for the Lake Beryessa area lead to the lack of interest amongst tourists.
Climate
Since the time when the lake was constructed in 1957, there has been a weather station maintained by the National Weather Service. According to the weather records kept in the station, the vicinity’s climate is characterized by hot and dry summer seasons and cold, and wet winters. The average temperatures in January are a maximum of 57.7 °F (14.3 °C) and a minimum of 36.1 °F (2.3 °C). The July temperatures average at a maximum of 93.8 °F (34.3 °C) and a minimum of 57.3 °F (14.1 °C).
On July 24, 2006 the highest temperature ever was recorded in the area, reaching 115 °F (46 °C). The lowest temperature was measured on December 22, 1990, going down to13 °F (−11 °C).
1983 and 1976 were respectively the wettest and the driest years. 1995 was the rainiest when there were 21.33 inches (542 mm) of rain in one month(in January). On December 31, 2005 there were 5.29 inches (134 mm) of rainfalls within 24 hours. There is a rare occurrence of snowfall.
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