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The Lake Berryessa News
www.LakeBerryessaNews.comPeter Kilkus
1515 Headlands DriveNapa, CA [email protected]
7June 1 Horoscopes
Aries (3/21-4/19): Once the laughter diesdown, the party favors are put away, andthe monkeys led back inside their cages,you'll finally be given a chance to explainyour side of the story.
Taurus (4/20 – 5/20): It doesn't take arocket scientist to figure out what's beenwrongwithyou lately.That, sadly enough,will take three rocket scientists.Gemini (5/21 – 6/21): Just when thingsseem to be going your way, you'll beforced to get out of bed this week.Cancer (6/22-7/22): The stars aren’t surewhat’s worse: that you keep insistingyou’re the inspiration for the lizard in theinsurance commercials, or that it’s trueand you seem to take such pride in it.Leo (7/23-8/22): The very heavensthemselves shall bestow their benevolenceupon you this week, allowing you to take15 percent off selected entrées at a popularchain of restaurants.Virgo (8/23-9/22): You were pretty sureyour long, hellish ordeal was finally over,but it turns out it was renewed for anotherseason and you still can’t stop watching it.Libra (9/23-10/22): Running away fromyour problems will fail this week, as willclimbing out of your problems’ reach andplaying dead in hopes that your problemsgo away.Scorpio (10/23-11/21): The stars indicatethat you’ve really done it this time. Imean,just look around, for God’s sake. How didthis even happen?Sagittarius (11/22-12/21):You’re about tomake one woman very happy, andhundreds of thousands of other womenextremely relieved.Capricorn (12/22-1/19): The existence ofrogue waves has been confirmed for wellover 15 years, but until your suddendrowningnextweek, theywon’t havebeenknown to make it all the way to KansasCity.Aquarius (1/20-2/18): After decades ofbeing repeatedly hit by buses, you’llfinally sit down and talk with one face-to-face and realize that was just their uniquewayof expressing their affection all along.Pisces (2/19-3/20): God will shine Hisdivine light on you this week, instantlyblinding you with His infinitecarelessness.
Very Unique Property at Lake Berryessa!www.5191statehwy128.com
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Letters to the EditorDear Congressman Thompson,
The Board of Directors of the LakeBerryessa Chamber of Commerce urgesyou to facilitate the transfer of ownershipand management of the land areasurrounding Lake Berryessa from theBureau of Reclamation to Napa County.We need a revolutionary strategy to stopthe death spiral at Lake Berryessa.
Lake Berryessa is not another “lake in thecountry”. It is a major economic, social,and recreation resource in an urban-proximate setting whose value to NapaCounty and the State of California is beingutterly wasted.
Napa County should take control of LakeBerryessa again. The State should doeverything it can to support economicdevelopment here. Even Governor Brownwishes to see more rapid progress at LakeBerryessa.
The rationale for revolutionary change issimple:
1. The federal government has shown itsinability to successfully implement itsown policies for decades, resulting in thedestruction of a once-thriving region.
2. Knowledgeable recreation andhospitality companies have pointed outthe flaws in the federal government’scontract policies, policies which wouldneed to be changed before seriouscompanies would be interested.
3. The federal government (BORorBLM)is unlikely to change its policy on thoseflawed contract terms - which is a recipefor future lack of action.
4. Napa County successfully ran the lakefrom 1958 to 1975. Many U.S. countiesrun major successful concessions - SanDiego County, for example.
5. Napa County managing the resortsagain is a home-rule issue which solvesmany problems the County hascomplained about for decades - cost ofpublic services with no financial return.
6. There are several precedents for theBOR turning overmanagement of the landportion of their water projects to localjurisdictions, Elephant Butte, NewMexico, for example.
Simply put, the federal government owesthe Lake Berryessa community and NapaCounty BIG TIME. Napa Countymanaging Lake Berryessa in partnershipwith Napa Valley tourism professionals isthe best opportunity for a RenaissanceLake Berryessa.
Sincerely, Lake Berryessa Chamber ofCommerce Board of Directors: PeterKilkus, President; Bob Lee, Vice-President; Jerry Rehmke, Secretary/Treasurer; Craig Morton; Paul Quarneri;Marcia Ritz
Vote for Diane SheppIn my 36 years as a county resident,
political activist, policy analyst, andelected and appointed office holder, I’vemet numerous elected officials andcandidates at every level. Some reallystand out. Diane Shepp is running forDistrict 4 Supervisor. It’s a position that Ionce held, so I know that Diane haswhat ittakes to do the job.What distinguishes Diane from her
competitors is wisdom, years of public
service to Napa County, and her ability towork well with many differentconstituencies ranging from students tononprofits to residents concerned withexcess development. Diane listens. Sheunderstands from the inside out thecomplexities of county government. Aformer two-term Grand Jury member,Diane learned first-hand what works ingovernment and what needs fixing. Shehas developed understanding as a result ofobserving years of Napa County land useplanning decisions.Diane has demonstrated leadership in
her role as co-founder of NapaVision2050. She has the courage to confrontestablished beliefs and challenge thecounty to go beyond its limited andunsustainable actions regarding too muchdevelopment of our agricultural economy.From her experience as a rural county
resident Diane understands that too muchof a good thing can undermine the value ofNapa County wine and property. Dianehas the knowledge to understand thatexcessive tourist-oriented developmenton rural land can destroy the delicatebalance of nature, ruin our air quality anddeplete our natural resources.Diane is running against powerful
forces. Big money in and outside ourcommunity is working overtime to ensurethat development is protected fromrestrictions on marketing, new wineries,vineyards and ever more tasting facilities.It’s time someone stood up for the rest ofus, not just tourists, in a balanced andcourageous manner.Kathryn Winter, Former Napa County
Supervisor******
Diane Shepp for SupervisorDiane has been supporting our art
community for decades and has served a ateacher and two terms on our Grand Jury,but what is important is that she isthoughtful about the future, and she is onetough lady.She doesn’t get big donations from a
wealthy helicopter owner, nor is sheafraid of a big time landowner trying toremove24.000oakwoodlandsand replacethem with small vineyards, a watersystem, and new roads. These 35 parcelsare at the top of the watershed that feeds aCity drinking water reservoir, and alsofeeds a large swath of the Coombsville.We are spending millions of dollars to
bring recycled water to some of the MST.Howmany dollarswill we pay to clean upNapa’s water when heavy rains overtakethe runoff ponds and send mud andpesticides down the hills?Diane courageously fought the Syar
expansion, because there is NOmeasurement of the life-threateningsilicatesblowing in thewind.There arenoteven plans to measure these deadlyparticles during or after the expansion!Diane supports local industries, but thinksthat health is more important.Local heavy traffic threatens our health
when small local roads are used for largepublic events at wineries. She sees thatwhen almost 500 wineries have hundredsof events for visitors, we Napa residentswill pay for that road congestion.Diane encourages a local attempt to
measure the cumulative effects on ourhealth and our community beforeapprovals.Ginny Simms, Former Napa County
Supervisor
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Live the Lake Life! Within minutes of boat launch, swimming, andrecreation. Fantastic deck views of Lake Berryessa and surroundingmountains. Close to all the FUN that Lake Berryessa has to offer.
A Lake Berryessa News Economics LessonThe Government Does Not Print Money!Debt is the Real Source of Most Money
by Peter KilkusThe way in which the banking system creates money is bypyramiding debt. That's simply elementary economics. SayPersonA, awheat farmer, sells $1,000worthofwheat anddepositsthe money in Bank M. Retaining 10 percent of the deposit as areserve, BankM is able to loan $900 to Person B, which Person Bdeposits in her account in Bank N. Now Person A has a cash assetof $1,000 inBankMandPersonBhas a cash asset of $900 inBankN. Keeping a 10 percent reserve, Bank N is able to make a loan of$810 toPersonC,whodeposits it inBank0,which then loans $729to Person D, and so on.
The deposit of the original $1,000 earned from producing a realproduct for consumption by real people ultimately allows thebanking system to generate $9,000 in additional new deposits bygenerating a corresponding $9,000 in new debt - new moneycreated without a single thing of value having been produced.
The banks involved in this series of transactions now have $9,000in newoutstanding loans and $10,000 in newdeposits on the loanson thebasisof theoriginaldeposit of$1,000 fromthe saleofwheat.Theyexpect to receive thegoing rate of interest, let’s say6percent.This means that the banking system expects to obtain a minimumannual return of $540 on money that the system has basicallycreated out of nothing. This is part of what makes banking such apowerful and profitable business!
Remember thatmoney is createdwhenbanks lend it intoexistence.When a bank provides you with a $100,000 mortgage, say at 7%interest, it creates only the principal (which may have come fromsomeone else’s interest payments), which you spend and whichthen circulates in the economy. The bank expects you to pay back$240,000over thenext 30years, but it doesn’t create the additional$140,000 – the interest. Instead, the bank sends you out into thetough world to battle against everyone else to bring back the$140,000.
Without a reserve requirement, the banking system could, intheory, pyramid a single loan without limit, which is essentiallywhat happened during the Japanese real estate bubble and itssubsequent collapse. It is also the reason for the last U.S. financialcrisis due to junk real estate loans.
Despite the greater public visibility of stockmarkets, the financialheart of capitalism is in the credit markets, a term covering loansarranged through a variety of instruments and institutions, fromsimple bank loans to complex bond products.
Debts, mere promises to pay, are nonetheless transformed intocommodities in the eyes of creditors. This capitalization ofpromised incomes allows nearly everything, from an industrialplant to an unspoiled wilderness to a human life, to be modeled asa quasi-credit, whose value today is the value of its future earningsstream. But the financial industry really doesn't want you tounderstand this, since youmight ask for some reasonable controls.
3
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Special Single Story at Lake Berryessa!www.RimrockDR.com
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$325,000
1145 Rimrock DriveNestled in the eastern hills of the NapaValley! Enjoy outdoor living onthe expansive rear deck with breathtaking views. Fully fenced. Just
minutes from all the FUN that Lake Berryessa has to offer.
6 The Lake Berryessa Chamber of Commercewants you to know that
Beautiful Lake Berryessa is OPEN!
Spring brings some of the best hiking weather to the area andthere aremiles of trails to hike. Summer bringswarmweatherand warm water. Launch ramps are available at severalrecreation areas for boaters and anglers. Oak ShoresDayUseArea is great for picnics and viewing the lake and wildlife.After touring around the lake and stopping at local winerieslikeRustridge andNichelini, awide variety of food and drinkis available at Cucina Italiana, Spanish Flat Country Store &Deli, and Turtle Rock. Delve into the fascinating past of theTownofMonticello, nowat thebottomof the lake, byvisitingthe Berryessa Valley History Exhibit at the Spanish FlatVillage Center. Please use this web site to contact ourmembers to make use of their services:
www.lakeberryessanews.com/chamber-of-commerce/
Live the Lake Life at Lake Berryessa!www.headlandsdrive.com
AMBER PAYNEREALTOR
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amberp@terrafirmaglobalpar
Custom Lake Home3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths,
1,713 sq. ft.
Open floor plan
Kitchen with island
Living room with pelletstove
On-demand water heater
Two car garage
RV/boat parking
Minutes to Steele ParkRecreation Area
$380,0001014 Headlands Drive
Live the lake life in this custom home on a corner lot with outdoor living space,spacious deck, and terraced yards. Fully fenced with plum and cherry trees.Huge bonus: seller has paid the watere/sewer assessment IN FULL!
Lake Berryessa Custom Lake View Home!www.BerryessaRealEstate.com
AMBER PAYNEREALTOR
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1995 Custom Built3 bedrooms, 2 Fullbaths, 2,652 sq. ft.
Upstairs living roomwith knotty pinevaulted ceilings &
wood stove
Upstairs master suitew/deck access
Two guest roomsFamily room
Formal dining roomw/deck access
Extra large kitchen
$494,0001040 Blueridge Drive
Enjoy this home year round! A scenic 45minutes fromNapa, this spacious homehas amazing views! Rear yard feature expansive deck with above ground pool &
hot tub. Room for gardens, RV, & boat.
SENSIBLE CHANGE FOR A BETTER FUTUREfamilies - children - our environment - sustainable economy
Elect Shepp for Supervisor - District 4On Your Side – Working to Protect, Promote & Preserve Napa County
WWW.SHEPP4SUPERVISOR.COMPaid for by the Committee to Elect Diane Shepp Supervisor, 2016 FPPC # 1379910
SHEPPDIANE
4 Put the NEEDS of residents & children FIRST.
4 Protect the water supply of residents & agriculture; limit deforestation & conversion of watershed &open space.
4 Plan smart proximity housing in urban areas, near public transportation, particularly for teachers, nurses, peace officers, and firefighters (professions our entire community depends on).
4 Prioritize commuter and tourist transportation projects including a tourist bus system, a light rail system, incentiv-ized commuter vanpools and ride-sharing.
4 Examine public health issues and impacts, particularly Napa’s cancer rate in children.
4 Develop Lake Berryessa as a Family- & Eco-Tourism des-tination for hiking, camping, boating, fishing, swimming and other outdoor activities.
Endorsed by many including:Get a Grip on GrowthNapa Vision 2050Protect Rural NapaVirginia H. Simms, former Napa County SupervisorKathryn J. Winter, former Napa County SupervisorJames H. Hickey, former Director Napa County Planning DepartmentNapa Sierra Club
Diane is available to listen and talk. WEDNESDAYS 1-4 PM.Otherwise by appointment. Please call 707-312-3346575 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 235, Napa, CA 94558 (office)
‘Like’ Diane on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shepp4SupervisorP.O. Box 2387, Napa, CA 94558 (mail)[email protected] www.Shepp4Supervisor.com
Paid for by The Committee to Elect Shepp for Supervisor 2016. FPPC ID# 1379970
Shepp Gives You a Voice. VOTE June 7
On Your Side
New Markley Cove Bid Prospectus - Why the Difference?Per Reclamation: "The Markley Cove business model reflects a commitment to theprovision of high-quality facilities and services; Reclamation foresees outstandingcommercial opportunities which is readily accessible to millions of potential visitors.The location, environment, scenic vistas, a multitude of outdoor recreationopportunities and proximity to other tourist destinations, including the Napa Valley,make this a desirable location for water and land based commercial recreationservices. Together, this presents a financially viable business opportunity withoutstanding growth potential over the term of the next concession contract.Business opportunities for the next concession contract term include a full-servicemarina, overnight lodging, pleasure boat rentals, retail sales, dining, and day usefacilities. Bidders may also suggest other appropriate facilities and services as part oftheir proposals.Successfulbidderswill be required toproposeadevelopmentprogramfor new concession investment and construction.Current occupancy levels on rental boat slips at Markley Cove at Lake Berryessa isalready near 100 percent, and existing waiting lists for marina slips indicates a highinterest in having a boatmoored at the lake.Current facilities atMarkleyCove includeimprovements valued at approximately $6.5 million that any incoming concessioncontractor would be required to purchase from the current operator.The upcoming Prospectus will be open for a period of 45 days in recognition of thecomplexities involved and the potential for individual bidders to develop proposals.Details on Required Services, Authorized Services, and how to submit a bid areincluded in the Prospectus. The Prospectus is viewable at www.fbo.gov undersolicitation number MP-16-MC1. The bidding period is open through June 27."
*****Unlike other resorts targeted for redevelopment, Markley Cove may not have itsmarina, store, office and other infrastructure removed. A successful bidder could opt
to start from scratch and build its own infrastructure on the 120-acre site. But thewinner will also have the option of keeping the existing infrastructure.These payment terms are inconsistent with the previous proposed contracts for theother resorts .
Almost $1.5Mof the appraised value ofMarkleyCove is in launch ramps ($130,000),roads ($364,000), sewer&water infrastructure ($725,000) andother facilities definedby the BOR as Concession Area Infrastructure which "includes all road surfaces,landscape, utilities, and appurtenant structures affixed to the assigned lands in such amanner as to be a part of the realty including but not limited to parking stalls (forcamping, lodging, and day use), parking lots and roadways, launch ramps, electricaltransmission and connection services, street lighting, telephone and internet or othermethods of information technology, potablewater andwastewater systems.Uponexpiration, bankruptcy, or termination of this ConcessionContract for any reason,the Concession Area Infrastructure shall be the property of the United States at noexpense. No compensation shall be paid to the Concession Contractor for anyConcession Area Infrastructure."
Why the special payment terms for Markley Cove in this bid process when thisspecific contract language was the main reason Reclamation recieved no"responsive" bids during the last bid process for the other resorts? Unfortunately,even the new proposed Markley contract has the same confiscatory terms. Sowhoeverwins the bid and pays for the infrastructurewill have to give it back to thegovernment for free at the end of the 30 year contract."Part 4 - O. Utilities and Concession Area Infrastructure: Reclamation will not beresponsible for providing any utilities or infrastructure to the concession operationsat Markley Cove Concession Area. Concession Area Infrastructure will become theproperty of Reclamation on expiration or termination of the Concession Contract."
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54 Short History of a Long ProcessWith No Positive Results:Bureau of Reclamation Style
2000: Reclamation initiates the VisitorServices Plan (VSP) process with theNotice of Intent published in the FederalRegister on Nov 7, 2000.
Aug., 2001: Removal of 127 trailers fromthe "Outback" at Pleasure Cove due to aNotice of Violation from the RegionalWater Quality Control Board.
May-Jun., 2001: Public scoping per theNational Environmental Policy Act(NEPA) process.
Oct. 31, 2003: Draft EnvironmentalImpact Statement (DEIS) released.
Feb. 16 - Apr. 22, 2004: First and secondextension to the DEIS comment period inresponse to stakeholder interest.
May, 2004 - Jan., 2005: Review andevaluate DEIS comments.
Feb. 16, 2005 - Apr. 4, 2005: Thirdextension to the DEIS comment period inresponse to stakeholder interest.
Nov. 4, 2005:FinalEnvironmental ImpactStatement (FEIS) released.
Nov., 2005 - May, 2006: At the request ofCongressman Pombo, Reclamationextends30-day"coolingoff “periodunderNEPA to a full 6-months. Although notrequired by NEPA, Reclamation acceptscomments to the FEIS throughout thistime.
Jun. 2, 2006: Final Record of Decision(ROD) released.
Jun. 16, 2007 Berryessa For All v. UnitedStates Bureau of Reclamation (No. C07-0259-SI) seeking injunctive relief onthe basis that the FEIS and VSP RODviolate NEPA, Administrative ProcedureAct (APA) and Federal Law.
Jun., 2007: Initial Prospectus releasedsoliciting proposals for all sevenconcession areas.
Sep. 6, 2007: Initial due date for proposalsin response to the Prospectus.
Jan. 2 - Feb. 28, 2008: Panel deliberations.
Apr., 2008: Selection of successfulbidders.
Jun., 2008: Negotiations initiated or
scheduled between successful bidders andReclamation.
July 10, 2008: District Court Order inBerryessa For All v. United States Bureauof Reclamation (No. C 07-0259-SJ).District Court denies plaintiff's motion forsummary judgment and grantsReclamation's motion for summaryjudgment. Court determines that the FEISand VSP ROD adequately complied withNEPA, APA, and Federal Law.
Dec., 2008: Reclamation awards newlong-term concession contract forPleasure Cove Marina.
Jan. 13, 2009: Final Judgment entered inMurad, requiring the last of 73 defendantsnamed in the case to vacate the premises atPleasure Cove.
Mar., 2009: Reclamation cancelsnegotiations with Markley Cove andPensus to ensure conformance with legalrequirements (minor technicality).Seriously disrupts ongoing process.Begins new bid process.
May 15, 2009: Revised Prospectusreleased for six concession areas.
May26,2009: Interimcontracts signed forMarkley Cove and Steele Park.
Jun. 9, 2009: Interim contract signed foroperation of temporary campground atOak Shores.
Jun., 2009: Reclamation initiatesenvironmental remediation and clean-upof trash, debris, and abandoned personalproperty from previous operations at eachconcession area.
Sep. 30, 2009: Proposals due; fiveseparate proposals received. Someprevious bidders dropped out.
Nov., 2009 - Jan., 2010: Evaluation paneldeliberations.
Jan. 14, 2010: PensusGroupLLCselectedas most responsive bid for all sixconcession areas. Pensus cganges namesof resorts to Chaparral Cove, ManzanitaCanyon, Black Oaks, Foothill Pines,Lupine Shores - very unpopular change.
Apr. 28, 2010: Contract Award. Basicservices are provided by Pensus during2010 at Lupine Shores (previously SteelePark) and Chaparral Cove (previously
Putah Creek) concession areas.
Jun. 21, 2010: Long-term concessioncontract awarded toPleasureCoveMarinaLLC, superseding previous contract.
Feb. 10, 2011: Pensus' proposedConcession Facilities Improvement Plan(CFlP) is accepted by Reclamation withcomment.TheCFIPessentially representsa buildout schedule for required andauthorized services under the contract.
Mar. 3, 2011: OIG Investigative Reportdetermines no improprieties with contractaward process.
Dec. 22, 2011: Pensus' proposed 2012IMP is accepted by Reclamation.
Dec., 2011- Feb., 2012: Informalcollaboration between Reclamation andPensus to address performance issues.
Feb. 27, 2012: Reclamation providesPensus a Letter of Non-Compliance with30-day opportunity to cure.
May 7, 2012: Reclamation providesPensus aNotice of Proposed Termination.
May 22, 2012: Reclamation and Pensusagree to invoke mediation. Mediationended with no settlement.
Dec. 6, 2012: Notice of ProposedTermination referred to Mid PacificRegional Director for final decision.Pensus contract terminated byMidPacificRegional Director.
Dec., 2012: Reclamation held three publicmeetings to explain decision to terminatePensus contract.
Jan., 2013: Reclamation changes resortnames to Steele Canyon, Spanish Flat,Putah Canyon, Monticello Shores andBerryessa Point Recreation Areas - verypopular change.
Feb. - Dec., 2013: Reclamation held sixLake Berryessa Community Forummeetings.
May 1, 2013: Reclamation executed aninterim contract with John and LindaFrazier to operate Markley Cove Resort.
May 20, 2013: Reclamation executed aninterim contract with Pleasure CoveMarina, LLC, to operate Steele Canyonand Spanish Flat Recreation Areas.
May 24, 2013: Reclamation executed an
interim contract with Royal Elk ParkManagement to operate Putah CanyonRecreation Area.
Aug. 21, 2013: Reclamation awarded acontract for Architectural andEngineering services to prepare a Marketdevelop 30 percent Conceptual Site Plans,develop 30 percent Conceptual Designs,and perform a Financial FeasibilityEvaluation for five concession areas.
Sep. 13, 2013: Reclamation purchased allrights, title, and interest in the boat launchramp and main road at Steele CanyonRecreation Area for $210,000.
Jan. 16, 2014: Reclamation held a publicworkshop to gather input on thePreliminary Draft Conceptual Site forSteele Canyon, Spanish Flat, BerryessaPoint, Monticello Shores, and PutahCanyon Recreation Areas.
Feb. 19, 2014: Reclamation held aCommunity Forum meeting at the CapellValley Fire Station.
Jun., 2014: Reclamation releases draftplans for next bid.
July, 2015: Reclamation releasesConcession Bid Prospectus.
Feb., 2016: Reclamation announces thatno successful bids were received inresponse to the Prospectus for thedevelopment and long-term managementof five concession areas at LakeBerryessa(Putah Canyon, Spanish Flat, MonticelloShores, Berryessa Point and SteeleCanyon recreation areas). The biddingperiod was open from July 2 to Aug. 31and extended to Sep. 15, 2015.
Mar. 2, 2016: Reclamation holdsCommunity Forum Public Meeting toexplain results of failed bid process.Provides several potential alternativefuture actions. No communication fromReclamation since then.
Apr., 2016: Reclamation informs interimconcessioners for three recreation areasthat their contracts may be extended up totwo years.
May 20, 2016: Reclamation releasesMarkley Cove Bid Prospectus severalmonths late.
2017: Renaissance Lake Berryessa?Goodbye BOR - Hello Napa County?
Stebbins Cold Canyon Trail Is Open
Nearly one year after the Wragg Fire burnedUC Davis’ Stebbins Cold Canyon NaturalReserve and forced its closure, the reservereopened to the public on May 15.
When theWraggFire ignitedon July22, 2015,the 638-acre reserve was first in its path. Itripped through the reserve, burningcottonwoods, thick patches of chaparral, blueoaks and railroad ties built into the trail.
Before the fire, the reserve served as anoutdoor laboratory and classroom for studentsand scientists from UC Davis and elsewhere.Located just about 30 minutes west of Davisand bordering the newly designatedBerryessaSnowMountainNationalMonument, it is alsoa locally beloved natural space, welcomingroughly 65,000 visitors each year.
Natural Reserve System staff members haveworked closely with UC Davis students aswell as with volunteers from other regionalgroups dedicated to the outdoors, such as thenonprofitTuleyome.Theyhavehelped restoretrails, build steps that burned in the fire,remove brush and relocate the parking area.
Returning visitors will find much that isfamiliar, but there are some key changes:
Parking. Visitors will no longer need to crossthehighway toget from their car to the reserve.Pay attention to new signage that guidesvisitors to a new parking area below theentrance.
Construction. Some construction is still inprogress, such as fencing and signage.Reserve staff asks for patience as morepermanent changes are made.
It will be hotter. While much of the fire’sblackness has given way to greenery, theabsence of several trees means there is lessshade than before. People should bring plentyof water, wear a hat and try to avoid visitingduring the hottest parts of the day.
No dogs. The reserve is a protected researchsite, and dogs are not allowed on the trail.
Stebbins Cold Canyon is one of 10 naturalreserves in the UC system and one of the fewopen for public recreation. Scientists use UCNatural Reserves as outdoor laboratories andclassrooms, researching everything fromwildlife health to water quality, climatechange, plant sciences, entomology and landmanagement.
2
The Lake Berryessa News
www.LakeBerryessaNews.comPeter Kilkus
1515 Headlands DriveNapa, CA [email protected]
7June 15 HoroscopesAries (3/21-4/19): Be aware that severalof your closest friends may bring up anumber of your personal flaws this week,which will make some at your funeralslightly uncomfortable.Taurus (4/20 – 5/20): Wisdom says thatGod will not give you more than you canhandle, but then the Lord Almighty nevergot his Crocs caught in a revolving door.Gemini (5/21 – 6/21): The stars foretellthat food will materialize in yourrefrigerator the fourth time you open it.Cancer (6/22-7/22): They may tell youyou’re deluded, that you’ve lost yourmind, but you know good and well thatthose jabbering, naysaying radiators inyour apartment don’t know what they’retalking about.Leo (7/23-8/22):After years of putting upan emotional wall, you'll realize the errorof your ways this week and purchase threetons of brick and cement instead.Virgo (8/23-9/22): The baboon will seeyou as a threat to the social hierarchyof thepack, which truth be told, is giving youway too much credit.Libra (9/23-10/22): Interior decoratorsclaim that only about 18 inches of space isneeded for people to pass betweenfurnishings, but that was before they got aload of you.Scorpio (10/23-11/21): While being agood friend means telling the truth, you'llsoon realize that being a true friendmeanskeeping your mouth shut.Sagittarius (11/22-12/21): Your attemptto lighten the mood by relating a fewamusing anecdotes will only result inpeople getting angrier and angrier as thelife raft slowly fills with water.Capricorn (12/22-1/19): Your radicaltheory about a mysterious group ofcleaners who appear at night to tidy upyour office is strikingly close to the truth,but don’t worry: You’re in no danger.Aquarius (1/20-2/18): Your goodfriends will help remind you of what’sreally important in life, especially thoseto whom you owe all that money.Pisces (2/19-3/20): Once again nothingmuch is going to happen to you, but really,we appreciate that you took the time tocheck.
Berryessa Management AnalysisTo Be Presented to the
Board of Superviors on June 21Napa County staff have been
gathering data, visiting the lake, andinterviewing a wide range ofknowledgeable people to determinewhether Napa County should take overmanagement of all, or a part, of LakeBerryessa.
An initial report will be presented tothe supervisors at their regular meeting onTuesday, June 21. The report will beavailable on Friday, June 17th on theCounty's web site.
Interested residents should plan toattend this meeting to express their viewsas to how best to revitalize LakeBerryessa.Napa County Is Seriously Considering
Managing Lake BerryessaNapa County is trying to figure out
whether it might be the potential solutionto the Lake Berryessa resortredevelopment problem. The U.S. Bureauof Reclamation has tried for eight yearsunsuccessfully to renovate five of thereservoir’s seven resorts. It is looking forprivate concessionaires to rebuild resortsstripped of marinas and otherinfrastructure in anticipation of a long-stalled rebirth.
Some people want the Bureau ofReclamation to shrink its role inmanagingrecreationon the lake's federal land andgive Napa County the chance. The LakeBerryessaChamber ofCommerce has senta letter to Cong. Mike Thompson urginghim to support this effort.
Diane Shepp, a candidate for 4thDistrict supervisor, favored this approach
at a recent Board of Supervisors meeting.“I’m hoping perhaps you as the Board
of Supervisors will take a leadershipposition to take back some sort ofmanagement of the area onbehalf of all thepeople out there who have been hangingon by the skin of their teeth,” she said.
To date, Napa County has favored theapproach championed by Rep. MikeThompson, D- St. Helena. Thompson iscarrying legislation that would takeBerryessa recreation management awayfrom the Bureau of Reclamation and giveit to the Bureau of Land Management.
But somewant togobeyondswitchingone federal boss for another federal boss.They want to take an entirely differentapproach and put Napa County in charge.
NapaCountyoffcialsmetwithBureauof Reclamation in mid-April to start thediscussion. The issue will go to the Boardof Supervisors in late June.
For now, the county is gatheringinformation and performing its duediligence.
Although the county wouldn’tnecessarily have to manage all sevenresort sites, it’s not clear whether thiswould be a positive compromise or simplya weak approach to the problem - settlingfor the acceptable rather than optimal.
The county is closer to themarket thanthe Bureau of Reclamation which mightresult in better judgment of what mightsucceed at the lake. This is one benefitproposed by the Lake Berryessa Chamberof Commerce. Napa County managingLake Berryessa in partnership with NapaValley tourism professionals is the bestopportunity for a
"Renaissance Lake Berryessa".
Lake Berryessa ManagementChange Would Not Affect Solano
County Water UseConcerns that the discussions about
who should own or manage the recreationarea lands around Lake Berryessa couldaffect Solano County water rights areunfounded, area water officials said.
“In terms of water management andwater supply that is separate from therecreation and the use of the lands aroundthe lake,” Roland Sanford, generalmanager of the Solano County WaterAgency, said Thursday.
The agency has a contract with theU.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the vastmajority of the water supply at the lake.Small shares go to the Napa BerryessaResort Improvement District (NBRID) inthe Berryessa Highlands, the LakeBerryessa Resort Improvement District(LBRID) in the Berryessa Estates.Although these agencies are called “resortimprovement districts” they have noconnection to the lake resorts. Thedesignation was a State description of atype of bond issue used to develop theinfrastructure of rural housing projects.Berryessa water is also used by theSpanish Flat Water District which servesthe west shore homes and businesses inSpanish Flat and the Berryessa Pines.
The lake was specifically created as awater source for Solano Countyagricultural and urban interests. In fact, inthe earliest years, the lake was fenced offand even recreational uses wereprohibited.
TheSolanoCountyWaterAgencyhasa contract with the Bureau of Reclamationto operate the Monticello Dam and the
Putah Diversion Dam.Cary Keaten, general manager of the
Solano Irrigation District, said thatwhatever happens with regard to theresorts will have no affect on the powerplant it owns and operates at LakeBerryessa. Power generated is sold toPacific Gas & Electric Company for itsgrid.
Napa County officials confirmed thatthey are not getting into the waterconveyance business.
“We are not going to have anything todo with the water,” said Molly Rattigan,principal analyst in the Napa CountyExecutive Office.
The only exception to that would be ifthe county takes over management of theseven recreation area properties, thenthose facilitieswould requirewater as theybecome operational. Rattigan said shebelieves they would get that water in thesame fashion they have in the past, andwould not gain any control over the watersupply or distribution rights.
The Lake Berryessa Chamber ofCommerce has asked Rep. MikeThompson, D-St. Helena, to facilitate thetransfer of ownership from the Bureau ofReclamation to Napa County. The groupblames the federal agency for the spiralingdepression of the local economy, whichhas seen two resorts close and three othersreduced to minimum services without anyutilities.
Finding concessionaires to run theresorts has been difficult, and even thosethat do run resorts have reported gettingapproval for improvements has been achallenge.
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Journey From Cartoon Fantasies to Thoroughbred RealitiesAs with other interesting people who ended up in Napa County,Jim Fresquez of RustRidge Ranch & Winery has had a variedcareer.Many of us he grew upwith Hannah-Barbera cartoons, buthe did it from the inside. In 1957, when Hannah-BarberaProductions opened its doors, the two men developed a uniqueanimation process that would revolutionize cartoon production.They hired Jim Fresquez as a 16 year old jack-of-all-trades whoworked hisway up toAssistantDirector of Photography. The title,Jim laughs, means you have to do everything.
During his 15 years with Hannah-Barbera, Jim met a cowboyfriend of Will Rogers who recommended Jim to Michael Landonas a horse-trainer. Jim became Michael Landon’s personal horsetrainer for many years. His job was to keep the horses “bullet-proof” - ready to ride any time the Landon family arrived. Thisgavehim lots of ridingandexercise in theoutdoorswhichhe loved.He never went back to the Hollywood grind.
WhenMichaelLandondecided to racehorses, heasked Jim to trainthem, and Jim’s thoroughbred horse training career began. Duringhis 20 years as a trainer, Jim met many famous people, one ofwhomwasPetalumanative,M.E. "Buster"Millerickwhowaspartof the team that trained Seabiscuit, the 1930's racing legend. Dueto his relationship with Millerick, Jim now owns Seabiscuit’soriginal saddleandotherhistorical items.The full story is availableon the RustRidge web site at www.RustRidge.com.
Jim escaped to Northern California where he met Susan Meyer.Susan’s family ownedRustridge Ranchwhich has been abreeding and trainingfacility fort h o r o u g h b r e dracehorses since the1950's. In 1990, whenJim and Susan tookover RustRidgeRanch and Winery,they decide to displaySeabiscuit’s saddleand other items intheir Bed andBreakfast.
Jim and Susandecided to breed their
own thoroughbreds. The young thoroughbreds are exercised andtrained in the vineyards before they run at the track. The schedulecan get hectic when you may be racing three horses every threeweeks. Jim’sultimategoal is tobreedand race anational championthoroughbred.
So if you want to combine a beautiful environment, outdooractivity, fine wine, and thoroughbred horse racing, past andpresent, RustRidge B&B/Winery is where you want to be & be.Andyou’ll get to seeoneof Jim’s famous“lucky”cowboyhats too.
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54Two East Side Lake BerryessaRanches Receive AgriculturalConservation Easements ToProtect Them From Future
DevelopmentFor Amy Gunn, seeing stars over
Lake Berryessa was a big motivatingfactor in ensuring her family’s cattleranch will forever be rural.
“When I was little, in bed at night,the view frommy room looked out to thewest sideof the lake,” she said. “Myearlymemories are of complete wilderness.But the nighttime view has changeddramatically in 50 years, with homelights now visible in large groups inseveral areas.
“If we protect the east side of LakeBerryessa now, and we look ahead 50years into the future, the lake won't be acomplete circle of lights. Maybe mygrandchildren will still experience thatfeeling of being in the wilderness, evenso close to the Bay Area.”
The Gunn Ranch and adjacentSmitty Ranch have been permanentlyshielded from development in anarrangement known as an agriculturalconservation easement, and other localproperties are likely to follow suit. TheLand Trust of Napa County worked withthe Gordon and BettyMoore Foundationand the California Department ofConservation (DOC) to bring theeasements to fruition. The easementrestricts future development on the land,but allows the land to stay in privateownership and ensures that sustainableranching can continue into the future.
The Napa County easements werethe first completed under California’snew Sustainable Agricultural LandsConservation (SALC) Program. TheSALCProgram is part of theCalifornia’sClimate Investments, which useproceeds from the state’s cap-and-tradeauctions to reduce greenhouse gasemissions while providing a variety ofadditional benefits to Californiacommunities. SALC is administered bythe DOC for the Strategic GrowthCouncil (SGC). SALC supports thestate’s efforts to reduce emissionsthrough agricultural land preservation,complementing SGC’s climate
investments in infill and compactdevelopment.
“Protecting our natural andworking lands from future developmentis a key component in reachingour state'slong termclimate goals, and theStrategicGrowth Council is committed tostewarding and protecting these vitalnatural resources,” said SCG ExecutiveDirector Randall Winston.
“Wewereverypleased toworkwiththe State of California and the MooreFoundation to complete theseeasements,” said Doug Parker, ChiefExecutive Officer of the Land Trust ofNapa County. “And I especially want tothank the landowners for theircommitment to this project. This wasreally just the first phase of a very largeagricultural easement project aimed atprotecting all the land on the east side ofLakeBerryessa –14,000 acres. All of thelandowners are interested in doingeasements, so we are excited aboutworking with them to protect this largeand important area.”
The easements, totaling 1,558acres, are 18miles fromAngwin in NapaCounty and 12 miles from the City ofWinters Sphere of Influence in YoloCounty. Although the land is rural, theproperty just south of the ranches hasbeendivided into 40-acre lots and aroundthe lake, other areas have beendeveloped. The ranches have beautifulviews of Lake Berryessa desirable forranchettes, estate homes, or recreationalhomes. By eliminating the potential tosubdivide these ranches, 5.1 millionfewer vehicle miles travelled over thenext 30 years will be attained, alongwitha multitude of agricultural and habitatbenefits.
The ranch includes large opengrasslands that transition to oakwoodlands andmore forested land goingup from the lake to the ridge on theNapa-Yolo county line. Protecting the upperreaches of the land will ensure that theseforests are also protected, growing treesthat will continue to sequester carbon. Inaddition, the project will help protect thewatershedofLakeBerryessa, akeywatersource for Solano County, andsignificant scenic landscapes for all the
residents and visitors to Lake Berryessaeach year.To the east and north east, the ranches
are adjacent to protected areas. The landimmediately to the north and southremains under threat. Nearby protectedlands include Bureau of LandManagementproperty thatwasdesignatedlast year aspart of thenewBerryessaSnowMountain National Monument, andranches protected with easements in bothNapa and Yolo counties.
“Pursuing this project provides theopportunity to create, through severalphases, a contiguous area of over 57,000acres of permanently protected land,”Parker said. “This would ensure wildlifecorridors across this very large area andinto a complex of protected lands to thenorth.”
DOC’s Division of Land ResourceProtection administers the SALCProgram, based on its conservationeasement expertise under the CaliforniaFarmland Conservancy Program (CFCP).Since 1996, the CFCP has funded morethan 175 conservation easements,permanently conservingmore than57,000acres of the state’s best farmland withmore than $83 million in funding.
“We congratulate the Land Trust ofNapa County and the landowners on thecreation of these agricultural conservationeasements,” said David Bunn, Director ofthe Department of Conservation. “We
appreciate thework the land trust doesto preserve the productive ranchlands andnatural beauty of Napa County. We’reproud to have helped facilitate preservingthese properties and look forward toworking with land trusts and landownerson future endeavors that will result inlong-term greenhouse gas reductionbenefits.”
Added Dan Winterson of the MooreFoundation: “We are pleased to be able tosupport this important project, whichprotects high conservation-value landsfrom development. We extend manythanks to the landowners and the LandTrust ofNapaCounty for all of thework tocomplete the easement, and are veryexcited about the new, innovative fundingprovided by the SALC program thatallows these deals to come to fruition.”
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