Lake Berryessa News
August 10, 2026
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Lake Berryessa Statistics (8/10/26)
Lake Berryessa water level now stands at 431.9 feet - 8.1 feet below Glory Hole.
The lake output is averaging of 550 cfs (1,108 A-F per day).
Lake capacity is now at 1,402,118 Acre-Feet or 90.4%.
Water temperature is averaging 82 degrees at the surface and a constant 55 degrees at 70 feet.
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Cowboying at the Gamble Ranch on Lake Berryessa's East Side
George Gamble has been sharing some fascinating local history with The Lake Berryessa News. Those of you who watched Yellowstone over the years have witnessed a lot of cowboying activities portrayed relistically, including the branding of cattle. Here's a history of how cattle branding began and evolved, and the technical details of how it is done correctly.
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The History and Art of Branding & the LJ Brand
by George Gamble
The history of branding livestock dates to ancient Egyptian times c. 2700 BC. The word "brand" comes from the Germanic root "to burn" or to make something hot such as a firebrand or a burning stick. It commonly identifies the process of burning a mark into the thick hide of livestock as a means of identification and proof of ownership. In more recent time the process has been refined by the vaqueros in the south west United States and Northern Mexico, and branding of livestock is now utilized worldwide.
The brand is constructed of iron or steel and is generally heated by a wood fire or propane with the mark or symbol registered to the owner of the livestock to be branded. The construction of a brand is not an exact science, but many are far better than others. The design of the brand should be as open as possible otherwise too much heat will be concentrated in one spot rendering the brand illegible and commonly referred to as a "frying pan" brand. The face of the metal pieces creating the brand should be one-quarter inch and wherever two pieces of metal come together to form the design there should be a three-sixteenth inch gap to reduce the heat in that area. The L J brand Is a perfect example of a well-designed brand and will never create a "frying pan" if applied correctly.
A correctly applied and designed brand will require the red hot iron to be held on the dry hide for several seconds depending on the age of the animal being branded and the amount of hair to be burned through. The brand must make a design by causing a warping or dislocation of the hair follicles causing the new hair growth at different angles from the natural hair creating the owner's desired design. A well applied brand comes with experience and will burn off the hair down to the hide leaving a beautiful dark brown hue to the hide resulting in the desired mark of ownership.
The use of a brand not only shows ownership but assists in the sorting of cattle when the livestock are grazed by multiple owners on open range. The main purpose of branding, however, is to prove your ownership to a brand inspector should livestock become lost or stolen. Your brand is your proof of ownership.
Most western U. S. states have strict laws regarding brands including brand registration with the State Department of Food and Agriculture (California) and physical brand inspections prior to the transfer of title or the movement of livestock to pastures of another county or state. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Brand Book, the L J Brand, designated as A003745, was 100 years old in 2018, having been registered and recorded by Launcelot John Gamble in the year 1918.
It is not exactly clear when Mr. Gamble graduated from the University of California at Davis, but it was most likely in the year 1916, since Davis celebrated its 100th birthday in 2014. Mr. Gamble was at Davis for two years studying Animal Husbandry. Mr. Gamble purchased property in Middletown, Lake County, shortly after graduating and became a cattle rancher necessitating the need for a brand. The Gamble Brand appeared in the "California Brand Book 1919" being published for the first time during that year and consisting of 355 pages. The 1975 Brand Book consists of 1,327 pages!
At that time there were 58 Brand Districts in California with the Gamble Brand being registered in Lake County, District 14, comprising of Mendocino, Glenn, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, and Colusa counties. The registration address given was L. J. Gamble, Middletown. The current registration is under the names George and Launce Gamble, dba Gamble Ranch LLC, PO Box 209 Rutherford, CA 94573. It is considered to be the oldest brand in continuous use Napa County.
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Although various stories have been written about the history of the Berryessa Valley and the Berryessa family for which it is named, George Gamble sent me an article from the 2019 Napa County Historical Society which I had somehow missed. It is a detailed genealogicl study of the Berryessa family's tragic roots in the region. It also documents a wild and brutal period in American history. One section of the article gives an example:
"One particularly awful case involved Captain John C. Fremont. During the Bear Flag Revolt, Fremont marched on Sonoma and arrested Jose de los_Santos Berreyesa. Nazario's nephew and the town's alcalde (local magistrate), and two of his brothers. Jose de los Reyes Berreyesa, Nazario's 61-year-old brother, was sent to Sonoma by his worried wife to check on their imprisoned sons. He was accompanied by his teenage nephews Ramon and Francisco Haro, and they journeyed north from Santa Clara. When they paused near the mission in San Rafael, they had the unfortunate luck of encountering Fremont and his men. The Berryesas were murdered in cold blood then stripped of their clothing and belongings. After watching one of Fremont's soldier parade around in his murdered father's serape, Jose de los Santos was forced to buy back for $25."
Fremont ran for U.S. president in 1856. Here's one response to that campaign:
On October 4,1856, a letter possibly written by one of the Berreyesas was published in the Los Angeles Star. The author was furious that John C. Fremont was running for for president on the Republican ticket. Fremont made a name for himself during the Bear Flag Revolt and is often thought of in a heroic light, but as this letter shows, many Californios despised him for his violence and brutality.
"NO ROOM." - Just so. That's what Fremont said when asked if the venerable Don Jose Berryesa and the two cousins, should be taken prisoners and shot. He cruelly replied - "There is no room for prisoners." Shoot them down, was the cruel answer of the craven, dressed in a little brief authority. And now, in the language of the old Scotch proverb "the king has come the cadger's way."
The Californians well remember the needless butchery of their innocent, their unoffending countrymen; and in reply to his earnest solicitations for their votes and voices, to elevate him to the lofty position of the Presidential chair, their answer will be, "there is no room"
Mr. Fremont, though very good-looking (in the campaign pictures) "can't come in." No, no, you shed the blood of our kinsmen causelessly - you cannot no have our votes as a recompense for your cruelty. A better man wants that place. There is no room for you - no room for the heartless tyrant- no room for the despoiler of our homes - no room for the waster of our ranches - no room for the robber of our cattle - no room for him, who doomed three of our brethren to death, without trial, without even being questioned - shot them down, as landing from a boat, they were peacefully wending their way to inquire after a relative, then in prison; another victim of Fremont's cruelty.
No room for you, Col. Fremont, in the White House - no room for you in the Presidential chair. Such will be the answer of the Californians to your audacious, your presumptuous request, to be raised to a position, for which neither nature nor education has fitted you. On the 4th of November next, the Californians, at the polls, will tell you, "there is no room."
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The article is too long to include here, but I have posted a pdf copy on the Lake Berryessa News website at:
https://www.lakeberryessanews.com/resources/References-PDFs/Berryessa-Family-History-original.pdf
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Artificial Intelligence Invades Political Discourse
Federal Equal Time Rules only apply to broadcast, not print, media. The Lake Berryessa News usually does not take a position on political issues unless those issues involve the local Lake Berryessa Region. However, in researching my future update on the accelerating impacts of the Artificial Intelligence "boom", I was impressed by the advancements in AI photo and video production, and its use in political advertising. I am posting, in fairness, a few recent videos from both sides of the political debate for your review and possible amusement. I hope no one will be offended.
More on the state of AI in a future Lake Berryessa News report.
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Supports Present Administration
King Trump - Fighter Pilot
https://www.facebook.com/reel/4261752524096621
MAGA: Welcome to the Golden Age
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxyqSY9iBLo
Dr. Trump
https://www.facebook.com/reel/3271286803260203
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Opposes Present Administration
Reflecting Pool Attacked by Underwater Criminals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP0G1B8iqh
NBC's Meet Your Maker (Meet the Press parody)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPGblr5IPMw
Baby Trump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCngemPTWv0
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Neil deGrasse Tyson's most famous and widely shared quote is:
"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
He is also credited with saying:
"How sad it must be—believing that scientists, scholars, historians, economists, and journalists have devoted their entire lives to deceiving you, while a reality TV star with decades of fraud and exhaustively documented lying is your only beacon of truth and honesty."
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August Horoscopes
Aries (3/21-4/19: This week, Microsoft Word may define your grammar as "poorly constructed" and full of "run on sentences".
Taurus (4/20-5/20): Why not pick up the phone and yell into it wildly before dialing your required number.
Gemini (5/21-6/21): Tantalizing new evidence that you're about to have fun is going to reveal itself today.
Cancer (6/22-7/22): You've got as much right as anyone to stamp your feet and demand retribution.
Leo (7/23-8/22): You're as transparent as a blast of canned air - try to be more complex by wearing hats that are clearly too small for your head.
Virgo (8/23-9/22): You will never earn the respect of your peers if you keep inviting them to your house for slumber parties.
Libra (9/23-10/22): You should go with the more expensive helmet.
Scorpio (10/23-11/21): You are to be complemented for your skill at navigating websites.
Sagittarius (11/22-12/21): Finding solace in your friends will be key this week, so join a softball league or something to finally make a few.
Capricorn (12/22-1/19): Your selfish ways will not improve this week as you win a sizeable jackpot on the lottery.
Aquarius (1/20-2/18): Man Eating Salad Takes Moment To Appreciate What A Good Boy He’s Being.
Pisces (2/19-3/20): Overbearing girlfriend expects man to take feelings in his head, use words to say them into real world.
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Five Lake Berryessa resorts are open.
Spanish Flat Campground: https://campspanishflat.com/
Steele Canyon Campground: https://campsteelecanyon.com/
Pleasure Cove Marina: https://goberryessa.com/
Markley Cove Resort: https://markleycove.com/
Putah Canyon Campground: https://royalelkparkmanagement.com/putah-canyon
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Track the real-time Lake Berryessa weather at:
Skiers Cove (Below the Berryessa Highlands)
Skier Cove - KCANAPA228
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCANAPA228
East Side Road (Across from Big Island)
East Side Road, Lake Berryessa - KCALAKEB2
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCALAKEB2
Spanish Flat (Near the Spanish Flat Recreation Area)
Roger - KCASPANI1
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCASPANI1
Berryessa Pines
KCANAPA461
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCANAPA461
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Lake Berryessa Fire Watch Cameras
This site covers the whole Lake Berryessa Region.
http://www.rntl.net/lake-berryessa-cams/
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Free Book Chapters Available For Download
My sincere thanks to those of you who contributed to the future of the Lake Berryessa News. I challenge you to find any Lake Berryessa news anywhere. Hopefully, the many years of our intensive reporting about the latest Lake Berryessa issues will convince you of the truth of our motto, "Without The Lake Berryessa News there would be no Lake Berryessa news".
Here's a gift from The Lake Berryessa News to my readers - Free downloadable chapters from my books:
The Death of a Valley
Why Does Lake Berryessa Exist?
The Lake Berryessa Watershed
Rainfall and Lake Level History
How High Is Lake Berryessa?
How Deep is Lake Berryessa?
How Much Water Does Lake Berryessa Hold?
Mean Sea Level: Is There Such A Thing As Accurate Height?
Water In, Water Out, But From Where?
Does the WALROS Like Lake Berryessa?
Why is Lake Berryessa Not a Part of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument?
East Side Story
Hiking and Wildlife Viewing
Are There Quail on Quail Ridge?
Why Does A Hiker Cross The Road? To Get To Stebbins Cold Canyon!
Private Houseboats - Yes; Private RVs & Trailers - No: Why?
Motorized Boats Banned From Big Island Lagoon! Why!
Archeologists Can't Dunk But Can Dig
What Can't You Do At Lake Berryessa?
Napa Opposes Building the Monticello Dam
Monticello Dam Construction
Raise Monticello Dam
Power Generation at Monticello Dam
Monticello Dam Failure Analysis
Predicting the Future & Glory Hole Drone Videos
As Lake Berryessa Turns!
The Ins and Outs & Ups and Downs of Lake Berryessa
Does Lake Berryessa Sweat in the Summer?
Glory Hole Introduction
How Does Glory Hole Work?
Glory Hole: Awesome, Frightening, But Dangerous?
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Lake Berryessa Political History (Free Downloads of Book Chapters)
Policy And Politics Betray The People: The Lake Berryessa Saga: 1958 - 2020, By Peter Kilkus
I. The Five Tragedies Of The Berryessa Valley: A History Of Heartbreak
II. Lake Berryessa Political History Timeline
III. The “Big Lie”: How It All Began
IV. The “Big Fail”: Napa Abandons Lake Berryessa (1975)
V. The “Big Picture”: Lake Berryessa Issues: 1957 - 2012
VI. The “Big Illusion”: Notice Of Intent
VII. The “Big Fight”: Facts Do Matter
VIII. The “Big Betrayal”: Perversion Of Public Law 96-375
IX. The “Big Mistake”: Pensus - The Beginning Was The End!
X. The “Big Hole In History”: Post-Pensus Blues
XI. The “Big Boondoggle”: Creation Of A Phony National Monument
Addendum 1. Dueling Napa Register Letters To The Editor
Addendum 2. The Napa Register View
Index Of Primary Documents
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Lake Berryessa Technical Manual: The Science, Engineering, History, and Humor of a Major Unnatural Resource
https://www.amazon.com/Lake-Berryessa-Technical-Manual-Engineering-ebook/dp/B0C21DZ9M9/ref=sr_1_3?
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Policy and Politics Betray the People: The Lake Berryessa Saga: 1958 - 2020
https://www.amazon.com/Policy-Politics-Betray-People-Berryessa-ebook/dp/B08MFSQDBR/ref=sr_1_1?
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Conspiracy Theory or Automatic Pilot: The Economic Roots of Environmental Destruction
https://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Theory-Automatic-Pilot-Environmental/dp/1676368302/ref=sr_1_3?
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The KPIX Eye on the Bay interview below is one I did in 2010 and a relevant introduction to the substance of the book. I did it after Pensus had been given the contract for 5 resorts. As we all know Pensus was subsequently kicked out in 2012.
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Lake Berryessa Data Sources
There are many sources of Lake Berryessa water and weather conditions available. The Solano County Water Agency site is good for real-time graphs of level, capacity, and water temperature. The California Data Exchange Center has data going back decades for level, capacity, capacity change, dam outflow, dam inflow, and rainfall. Anyone can research their own data and create custom charts. This is the source of many of the charts on the Lake Berryessa News website.
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An upgraded wildfire alert camera system will be keeping watch on Napa County day and night and notifying Cal Fire crews of potential fires. Twenty cameras will be part of a system that will use artificial intelligence and other technologies to identify fire and smoke. If they detect something, an alert will sound in the Cal Fire emergency command center near St. Helena.
Cal Fire has made a large investment into the ALERTCalifornia system, partnering with UC San Diego. There are 1,000 cameras across the state and Napa County is one of the test models. Cameras can see 60 miles during the day, and this can increase to 120 miles on clear nights, with the changes in the air. The system can differentiate among smoke, clouds and dust. A link to this camera system and other relevant weather data is available on the Lake Berryessa News website at: http://www.rntl.net/lake-berryessa-cams/
This website was created by Doug Kunst. It is an amazing resource for Lake Berryessa fire cameras and weather. His business website is http://www.rntl.net/
Lake Berryessa Fire Alert Cameras
http://www.rntl.net/lake-berryessa-cams/
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Real-Time Lake Level, Lake Capacity, Water Temperature
Solano County Water Agency
https://www.scwamonitoring.com/LakeBerryessa/
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Lake Detailed Historical Data
California Data Exchange Center
https://cdec.water.ca.gov/
Research historical data and create custom plots
Lake Berryessa Code: BER
https://cdec.water.ca.gov/dynamicapp/sensorplots?staid=ber&dur_code=D
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Local Weather Stations (Weather Underground Network)
Skiers Cove (Below the Berryessa Highlands)
Skier Cove - KCANAPA228
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCANAPA228
East Side Road (Across from Big Island)
East Side Road, Lake Berryessa - KCALAKEB2
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCALAKEB2
Spanish Flat (Near the Spanish Flat Recreation Area)
Roger - KCASPANI1
https://www.wunderground.com/dashboard/pws/KCASPANI1