Berryessa swimming area reopens this weekend

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Thursday, September 17, 2009

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By Register Online Staff

Lake Berryessa coverage

October 5th, 2009

Berryessa Highlands residents agree to water rate increase

September 18th, 2009

Oak Shores to reopen for swimming

September 17th, 2009

Berryessa swimming area reopens this weekend

September 13th, 2009

Sad days at the lake

September 12th, 2009

Sixth person dead from drowning at lake this year

5 p.m.The Lake Berryessa swimming area closed last week after three people drowned is reopening this Saturday.

The Oak Shores Area at Lake Berryessa was closed to water access last Saturday out of concern for public safety, stated the Bureau of Reclamation.

“Lower reservoir levels have resulted in steep drop-offs from the shoreline. Visitors - especially children - are strongly encouraged to wear life vests if entering the water,” states the bureau in its press release “Visitors are further discouraged from attempting to swim to exposed islands away from the shore. Swimmers may easily find themselves in distress in very deep water.”

There are no lifeguards at Lake Berryessa, but a lifejacket-loaner program runs on weekends at the Water Education Center at Oak Shores.

Shannon Johnson of Lake Berryessa died Sept. 10 after being pulled unconscious from the waters at Acorn Beach in the Oak Shores area.

Two days earlier, a Fairfield man drowned while also swimming at Acorn Beach

A 23-year-old Guatemala man drowned Sept. 7 while attempting to swim to an island in the Foxtail Flat area of the lake.

7 comment(s)

broke new mom wrote on Sep 17, 2009 5:46 PM:

" what is happening to cause all of these people to drown so unexpectedly like this? Is it something to do with the water or all these poor people just not very good swimmers? I don't get it.... I guess tragedies don't always make sense. "

napagirl76 wrote on Sep 17, 2009 6:08 PM:

" they should put up a sign that reads "welcome to Lake Berryess. To date xxx have drown here. xxx have drown in the past 30 days. Please be safe and wear a life jacket" maybe if people saw the numbers and saw that these things do happen they would think twice before going into the water with out a life jacket. after all do you think any of these drowing stories ran in vacaville, farfield, winters or any other news papers in the area? "

supernova8610 wrote on Sep 17, 2009 6:44 PM:

" napagirl has a good idea. "

bbymoma22 wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:49 PM:

" Sadly these things happen every summer.. we always here of about a handfull of people drowning. Most of the time people have also been drinking for most of the day! Intoxication will play a big roll in the numbers of dealths, when you are messing with a large body of water. "

twocentsguy wrote on Sep 17, 2009 7:54 PM:

" Right on Napagirl76. Add to her suggestion, put out a couple of life preservers, rope, etc. Although I haven't been at the lake in awhile, I doubt they have such life saving neccessities. Maybe a phone to call 911 nearby. "

usa boater rights wrote on Sep 18, 2009 12:26 PM:

" History and corners reports have proven Oak Shore (BOR )areas have had the highest number of deaths. in or around the lake.
Clearly, BOR has been and continues to stand by promoting more areas like Oak Shores (death shores) to enhance the lake experience.
Next month we will be posting another sign across from Oak Shores. If any one has suggestions of the wording be e-mail us www.usaboaterrights@yahoo.com "

sharonden wrote on Sep 19, 2009 8:44 PM:

" Temperatures are going to be in the 100s this week. It would be unfathomable not to have Lake Berryessa open to water use! The lake is a PUBLIC resource, with water and recreation as the key elements. Happy splashing.
USA/BR is correct - Oak Shores has always had the highest number of deaths, with the most gentle slopes, unfortunately it is the less experienced lake people that have spiked those numbers. Signage ideas - "BOR concept of recreation is in the dark ages" or "Public demands access for the stewards of the lake - US - open our resorts" or "Get out BOR - let us In" or "We love OUR lake - BOR move away" or "Water Recreation is the heartbeat of Lake Berryessa"... "

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