The Bureau of Reclamation announces that beginning Memorial Day weekend, the Pope Creek Bridge waterway, located at Lake Berryessa, will be closed to all motorized and non-motorized watercraft during three major holiday weekends this year. This closure will occur again for the Independence Day holiday weekend and Labor Day holiday weekend. The area will be re-opened to watercraft after each holiday weekend.

Reclamation and the Napa County Sheriff's Office are working together to prevent unsafe conditions which result from thousands of visitors congregating on holiday weekends at the Pope Creek Bridge water area. The closure will assist Reclamation and the Napa County Sheriff's Office in ensuring a safe and secure area on holiday weekends. The closed area will be designated by buoys. Overcrowding on boats, near-drownings, disorderly conduct, offensive behavior, underage drinking, and assaults have occurred. Major injuries and several deaths have resulted from people jumping off the high rocks and the bridge. At all times, it is illegal to jump off the bridge and violators will be cited. Signs are posted warning visitors not to jump off the bridge or rocks.

2008 Closure Dates: Memorial Day Weekend - 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27 Independence Day Weekend - 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8 Labor Day Weekend - 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2

Pope Creek parking lot will remain open during these closure periods, but the gate will be closed and locked at 9 p.m.

For a map of the affected closure area of Pope Creek Bridge Waterway, please visit http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/field_offices/lake_berryessa/docs/pope_creek_closure_map1_1.pdf. For additional information, please contact Park Manager Janet Rogers, Lake Berryessa Field Office, at 707-966-2111 or e-mail jlrogers@mp.usbr.gov.