Lake Berryessa Not At Spillway Depth As Locals Plan Summer Activities

NAPA VALLEY, CA — Lake Berryessa in Napa Valley has stopped rising and will likely not reach the Morning Glory Spillway’s edge in 2023. The water currently is 9 feet short of the top of the manufactured concrete drain —known to locals as “the Glory Hole” — halting at just over 430 feet, according to recent measurements.

Lake Berryessa, a federal reservoir managed by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region (Central California Area Office), sits behind the Monticello Dam in Napa Valley. Both the dam and the spillway are feats of engineering, constructed in the 1950s to supply irrigation and potable water for the surrounding area.

Peter Kilkus, a local author and lake news website owner, refers to it as an “Unnatural Resource.” For months during the rainy season, fans of Lake Berryessa have watched water levels rise due to the enormous amount of rain the area has accumulated. Still, Kilkus explains that with little more rains predicted this spring, it is unlikely the water level will reach the height necessary to spill over the top. That circular cement funnel has not drained water from the lake since 2019.

“When the lake hits capacity, water starts flowing over this circular spillway into Putah Creek on its way to the city of Winters,” according to Peter Kilkus’s book “Lake Berryessa Technical Manual: The Science, Engineering, History and Humor of a Major Unnatural Resource, available on Amazon.com.”

Kilkus tracks water levels and temperatures, among other lake news on his website, but it is in his paperback treatise where one can learn about the man-made lake and spillway fans have been rooting for all rainy season. In its pages, you can learn about the history of the lake, a failed recreational expansion and even a cat that was sent over the spillway in a barrel.

When the drain is not operating, the dry spillway becomes a mecca for local skateboarders, no matter if they have permission to shred there, according to Kilkus. He predicts the surface temperatures of the lake should reach 80 degrees this summer, making it an ideal playground for lovers of watersports and fishing.

Local fisherman and guide Don Paganelli shared how the bass are biting en masse around the lake now that the water temperatures are in the 60s.

“The fishing this year should be fantastic with all of the flooded vegetation after the lake came up 30 feet,” he told Patch. “It may be one of the best years only time will tell.”

Paganelli would know. Since 1997, he has offered private tours, taking fishermen to the best spots on the lake.

“The Berryessa Bass are starting to come out and play and Smallmouth have been a nice change as they are moving up to spawn and the spotted bass are right there with them,” Paganelli said. “Largemouth bass are feeding on big shad and moving into the shallows to spawn.”

According to Visit Napa Valley, Lake Berryessa is both a local and visitor favorite. In the event the glory hole does not show up this year, here are the top 8 things to do while you’re there:

• Boating and paddle sports. The lake has two marinas and three recreation areas with concessions and paddle sports such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding are increasingly popular. Launch anywhere with legal access to the water, then explore the whole lake to find quiet coves and beautiful views.
• Fishing. If angling’s your thing, you can fish for both cold- and warm-water species, including rainbow trout, bass, catfish, crappie, and bluegill.
• Hiking. Around the lake’s perimeter, there are at least six easy trails – from .1 mile to 2.6 miles.
• Picnicking. Stock up on provisions at Soda Canyon Grocery store on your way out of Napa, and pick a spot for a perfect picnic. There are picnic tables near the camping areas, and also shady spots along the lake trails.
• Camping. For information on specific sites and regulations, you should contact individual concession areas. Markley Cove Resort also offers cabin rentals.
• Swimming. Berryessa’s water reaches temperatures of up to 75 degrees in the summer, and there are beaches at the various concession areas. Note that there are no life-guarded areas at Lake Berryessa, so swim at your own risk.
• Cycling. Bicycling is allowed in all of the day-use areas, and the roads surrounding the lake offer a variety of terrain and challenges. Note that the Smittle Creek Trail has bridges and stairs and was not designed with bicycles in mind.
• Bird-watching. Eagles, hawks, songbirds, and wild turkeys are just a few of the species you can spot here.