Traditionally the Fourth of July weekend at Lake Berryessa results in numerous arrests, several boating mishaps and even a drowning.

However, this year was a different story, according to local law enforcement officials.

“We only had 11 arrests for such things as drunk in public, fighting and other minor incidents,” Napa County Sheriff’s Capt. John Robertson said. “Fourth of July isn’t as busy as Memorial and Labor Day weekends. But we usually see anywhere from 40 to 60 arrests.”

Over the weekend, the popular Pope Creek Bridge hangout, which normally draws up to 200 to 300 boats on the holiday, was down to “maybe 30 at peak times,” Robertson said. “There were only two minor boating accidents, no major incidents and no drownings.”

One reason for the drop in activity at the lake is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation decision to close Rancho Monticello resort on June 15.

Rancho Monticello is one of four lakeside concessions given deadlines to close down by the bureau.

In June 2006 the bureau ordered the removal of about 1,300 privately owned trailers from the seven lakeside resorts. All of the contracts to run the resorts were put up for bid. With several concessions, the bureau has yet to finalize the contract with the new operator.

Spanish Flats Resort’s days are numbered, with a closing date of July 13. Steele Park Resort’s contract does not run out until May 2009.

“I was up at the lake and we just didn’t see the crowds that we usually do for the Fourth, especially with it being a three-day weekend,” Robertson said. “We actually saw empty campsites. That’s unusual. At Putah Creek Resort we saw about 30 groups of campers by the boat launching. Normally that number would be a couple of hundred. Boat traffic on the lake was also way down.”

Deputies issued 45 citations for minor violations, including minors in possession of alcohol.

Turtle Rock store on Berryessa Knoxville Road is usually hopping on a holiday.

“We had less people than normal. We were busy enough, but not quite as much as we usually are on the Fourth of July,” said Maxine, a store clerk who agreed only to give her first name.

“It could very well be the gas prices. People are staying home. One customer said they saw on the Internet a message saying, ‘Don’t bother going to Lake Berryessa. There’s nothing to do,’” she said. “That’s not true. Some of the campsites may be gone, but there are still the day use areas.”

Steele Park,

Markley hopping

Lisa Hanson, manager of Steele Park Resort, said the weekend was jumping.

“We were very busy. We didn’t have enough room for everyone that wanted a campsite. I had to close the park down at 12:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” Hanson said.

Markley Cove Resort also recorded a healthy holiday weekend.

“We don’t have any camping or day use, just the boat launch and rentals. We were very busy over the Fourth,” said manager Tom Wayman. “We had more people than last year. We’re not going anywhere. We have signed our contract. But we are still negotiating. All of the private resident trailers have to be out of here by May 2009.”

Wayman said with all of the dealings with lake resort concessionaires and the Bureau, Lake Berryessa is getting a bum rap.

“All of the media coverage has been negative. They make it sound like we’re a ghost town up here. That’s so far from the truth. There are plenty of activities at the lake. The removal of the trailers at the resorts ordered by the Bureau are private residents. It has nothing to do with tourists.”

California Highway Patrol Officer Jaret Paulson said only six DUI arrests were made at the lake over the three-day weekend.

“We were working the lake heavy on Saturday and Sunday. We experienced less traffic than normal for a holiday.”

Paulson said CHP made 20 DUI arrests over the three days countywide.

“We had no fatalities and no major injury crashes,” he said.