Community Corner

Photos: Lake Berryessa Glory Hole Inches From Spilling Over

As"Glory Hole Watch 2024" continues, here are some images captured March 9.

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The "Glory Hole" spillway at Napa's Lake Berryessa is pictured Saturday, March 9. (Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)
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Vistors flock to Lake Berryessa Saturday, March 9 to check the spillway. (Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)
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The "Glory Hole" spillway at Napa's Lake Berryessa is pictured Saturday, March 9, with the water level just inches from flowing down into the spillway as intended. (Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)
https://patch.com/img/cdn20/users/22423906/20240315/051641/styles/patch_image/public/img-7799___15171334453.jpg
The "Glory Hole" spillway at Napa's Lake Berryessa is pictured Saturday, March 9, with the water level just inches from flowing down into the spillway as intended. (Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)
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Monticello Dam, built in 1957 to contain Lake Berryessa, is pictured Saturday, March 9. (Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)

NAPA COUNTY, CA — In anticipation of the glory hole at Lake Berryessa reaching the spill level from recent rains, creating a spectacular, much-photographed sight, local photographer Al Francis took a drive Saturday, March 9, and captured the images above.

Thank you, Al! It is a beautiful sight to behold even without the spillway activated.

Glory Hole In All Its Glory

Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The so-called "glory hole" is a pipeline used to drain the reservoir of water when it's too full — which is exactly what happened in 2019 following a series of atmospheric river storms. See a photo from 2019.

Glory Hole Watch

Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"At the moment, the morning of March 5, 2024, the lake has stopped going up. I doubt the Glory Hole will overflow this year, but it could. We would need a few more inches of rain, but it looks as if the ground might dry up during the next few days." — Peter Kilkus, "Lake Berryessa: Glory Hole Watch 2024"

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