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THOMPSON, DILLON TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO TRANSFER MANAGEMENT OF LAKE BERRYESSA FROM BOR TO BLM

June 10, 2014

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) and Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon today testified in front of the House Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and Power in support of Thompson's bipartisan legislation to transfer management of recreation at Lake Berryessa from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

"BLM is the agency best suited to manage recreational activities at Lake Berryessa," said Thompson. "This management transfer has broad support both in Congress and in our local community.We need to pass this bill and begin working with BLM, BOR and the county on a smooth management transfer, and with BLM on a successful redevelopment plan."

"I strongly support this legislation because Lake Berryessa is an important regional recreation destination, which generates tourism critical to the local economy," said Dillon. "I have worked more than a decade trying to solve problems and improve the situation with the Bureau of Reclamation at Lake Berryessa. However, BOR's strength lies in their management of water resources. BLM is much better suited to manage this vast recreational and resort area."

At the hearing, Tom Iseman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the Department of the Interior testified on behalf of the Obama Administration in support of the legislation to transfer the management of Lake Berryessa from BOR to BLM.

Thompson's bill, H.R. 4166, now has 225 co-authors, seven more than is needed to pass the House.

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

Video of Thompson testimony can be seen here(link is external). Video of Dillon's testimony can be seen here(link is external). Video of Iseman's testimony can be seen here(link is external).

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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