REP. MIKE THOMPSON SECURES 60 BIPARTISAN CO-AUTHORS FOR HIS LEGISLATION TRANSFERRING MANAGEMENT OF LAKE BERRYESSA TO BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced that 60 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed on as co-authors of H.R. 4166, Thompson’s legislation that would transfer the management of Lake Berryessa from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“There is serious bipartisan momentum behind changing the management status quo at Lake Berryessa,” said Thompson. “My colleagues understand that our federal agencies need to be operating efficiently, and our community has waited too long for BOR to effectively execute its redevelopment plan at Lake Berryessa. I will continue working to gain additional support so that we can pass this bill, transfer management, and craft a successful redevelopment plan with BLM and Napa County.”
Recreation along the 165 miles of shoreline and 2000 acres of wildlife areas have been managed by BOR since the lake was formed after Monticello Dam was built in 1957. However, BOR has failed to provide and manage adequate concessions at Lake Berryessa in recent years. Currently, only one of the seven concessions has a permanent operator and four are operated under interim contracts, providing only boat launching and camping without hook-ups, showers or running water. The two remaining concession locations are closed. The lack of concessions has caused tourism to drop and has hurt the local economy.
BLM manages 264 million acres of public lands across the United States, and has extensive experience managing outdoor activities on public lands – including camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and more. BLM management of the Lake Berryessa Recreation area would help ensure better management and enhanced recreational opportunities for visitors to the lake.
Specifically the Lake Berryessa Recreation Enhancement Act would:
- Transfer administrative jurisdiction over the Lake Berryessa Recreation Area from the Bureau of Reclamation to the Bureau of Land Management;
- Direct the Department of the Interior to develop a comprehensive management plan ; and
- Allow the Bureau of Reclamation to continue to administer the Monticello Dam and other facilities related to the Dam
The Lake Berryessa Recreation Enhancement Act has been referred to House Committee on Natural Resources.
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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