General Facts
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Lake Berryessa is located between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Cedar Roughs, with Putah Creek,
Smittle Creek, Pope Creek, Adams Creek, Eticuera Creek, Butts Creek, Maxwell Creek, Capell Creek,
and many small, intermittent streams feeding into it.  It is located east of Napa Valley, and stores 1.6
million acre feet of water, making it one of the largest bodies of fresh water in California. The lake is
26 miles long by 3 miles wide, with 165 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 275 feet.  At
capacity, the lake level is 440 feet above sea level, and summertime water temperature can reach up
to 75 degrees.
General Facts
History/
Background
Geology/
Soils
Vegetation
Major Geology & Soils –  
Wildlife
Great Valley sequence sedimentary rock, Franciscan mélange, Coast
Range ophiolite (Serpentine outcrops).
Recreation
Water Quality
Testing
Major Vegetation –
Oak Woodland & Savannah: Blue oak, Black oak, Interior live oak,
and Scrub oak

Chaparral: Chamise, Manzanita, Ceanothus, Toyon, and Mountain
Mahogany

Riparian: Valley oak, Fremont's cottonwood, Willows, California
sycamore, Poison oak, Alders, Dogwoods, sedges, bulrushes, and rushes

Perennial Grasslands: California brome, Purple needlegrass, Blue
wildrye, other needlegrasses, and several annual and perennial forbs

Annual Grasslands: Oats, bromes, annual fescues, and ryegrasses.
Other Water
Quality Projects
Environmental
Concerns
Events &
Opportunities
Partnerships
Major Wildlife Species –
Fish species: (cold & warm water species): bass, rainbow trout, brown
trout, catfish, crappie, silver salmon and bluegill

Bird species: eagles, hawks, songbirds, wild turkeys, geese, pelicans,
great blue herons, western grebes, wood ducks and common loons

Mammal species: deer, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, squirrels,
small rodents, black bears, and mountain lions
Major Recreational Opportunites -
Lake Berryessa offers various recreational opportunities, including: auto
touring, biking, boating, camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, picnicking,
recreational vehicle use, museum/visitor center, water sports, winter
sports and wildlife viewing.

The Bureau of Reclamation provides two large day use areas (Oak Shores
and Smittle Creek), Capell Cove launch ramp, and many smaller dispersed
day use areas. The seven resorts (below, click on links for more
information) around the lake are managed by concessionaires under
contract with Reclamation and provide camping, day use and boating
facilities.

        Lake Berryessa Marina Resort
        Markley Cove Resort
        Pleasure Cove Resort
        Putah Creek Resort
        Rancho Monticello Resort
        Spanish Flat Resort
        Steele Park Resort

Together, the seven resorts provide:

        688 short-term sites (RV and campsites, of which 398 are tent only)
        1300 long-term sites (most occupied by privately-owned trailers)
        Marinas – boat ramps
        Restaurants – snack bars – picnic areas
        Stores – bait and tackle shops
        Toilet, shower, and laundry facilities – dump stations

(Source: http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=17)


Lake Berryessa Watershed Partnership