Lake Berryessa Visitor Services Plan (VSP)
In 2000, the Bureau of Reclamation began planning for the Lake Berryessa area to determine the type and level of facilities and services needed for future long-term recreation operations. Some of the issues that were addressed included:
- Day use needs
- Marina development
- Long-and short-term RV and trailer sites
- Changes to concessionaire operations
- Overnight lodging facilities and camping needs
Since the 1950s, Reclamation has authorized seven concessionaires to provide services to lake visitors. The concessionaires conduct their business on land owned by the Government. Six of the seven concession contracts will expire in 2008/2009. The Pleasure Cove Marina interim contract expires on September 30, 2008.
Public use needs are very different now than when the contracts were first issued. Reclamation, with the assistance of public input, developed the Visitor Services Plan (VSP) to provide an early “road map” for prospectus packages for the new concession contracts. The goal of the VSP is to support traditional, short-term, and diverse outdoor recreation opportunities for the public.
The VSP Record of Decision (ROD), released in June 2006, prescribes basic management principles to guide and support lake-wide integration of Government and commercial operations in the best interests of the visiting public. The VSP ROD limits future development of the concession areas to facilities that support short-term, traditional, non-exclusive, and diverse recreation opportunities at the lake. All privately owned trailers, mobile homes, and associated personal property must be removed from Federal property at Lake Berryessa. There will be no reduction of powerboats, sailboats, houseboats, or current capacity at the lake. Reclamation will partner with other Government agencies, private landowners, and private organizations to design/construct a regional trail system for non-motorized recreation, to include a multipurpose shoreline trail.