Board extends exclusive negotiating agreement for Margaritaville proposal at Lake Berryessa; officials report new mussel controls

The Napa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a five‑month extension of the county’s exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with Tim Napa LLC (the Tim Wilkins/Camp Margaritaville development team) to continue work on a proposed resort and amenities at Steel Canyon, Lake Berryessa.

The extension, approved unanimously, gives the developer additional time to complete federally related steps after recent changes to the concession acreage and to continue design, infrastructure and financing planning. The board also heard an update on a mussel prevention program at the lake that county staff said is running “quite well.”

The ENA amendment authorizes staff to continue exclusive negotiations with Tim Napa LLC and Camp Margaritaville Resorts. Public Works Director Steve Letterer introduced the item and said staff recommended the limited extension because of federally related delays in the process. “We would like to give the development team that time back to continue their work,” Letterer said.

Developer Tim Wilkins told the board the project team completed due diligence and design work and learned late last year that the concession boundary had been enlarged. That required a redesign and a longer financing timeline. “This resort is not gonna be an upmarket, high‑end resort — it’s a family‑oriented resort,” Wilkins said, describing planned amenities that include a water park, zip lines, a lazy river, multiple restaurants and on‑site employee housing. He said the team is planning substantial sewer and water upgrades and preliminary studies indicate those utilities can be expanded to serve the resort.

Lee Sears, the county’s Lake Berryessa resort program manager, outlined the status of the four BOR (Bureau of Reclamation) concession sites at the lake — Steel Canyon, Berryessa Pointe, Monticello and Spanish Flat — and said she was working to finalize ENAs with other prospective operators. Sears also briefed the board on the mussel program, a joint effort led by the Bureau of Reclamation and Solano County Water Agency, which includes boat decontamination stations, quarantine and tagging programs for launched boats. “So far, it’s gone quite well,” Sears said, adding that some boaters arrive unaware of the requirements and education and signage remain important.

Public commenters who live or recreate at Lake Berryessa expressed broad support for redevelopment and for the developer selected for Steel Canyon. Several asked the county to prioritize safety, wildfire preparedness and traffic management; Wilkins said the team has retained traffic consultants and is coordinating with fire and law enforcement on plans that could include a sheriff substation on the site and space for emergency staging.

The vote to approve amendment number 1 to the ENA with Tim Napa LLC (Camp Margaritaville) was moved by Supervisor Ramos and seconded by Supervisor Alessio; the motion carried unanimously.

What’s next: The developer said it will finish the revised site plan and begin the next steps toward environmental review and financing. Staff and the developer said they would continue to work with the Bureau of Reclamation on the concession term and other federal approvals.

Votes and public engagement were unanimous for the extension; supervisors and staff emphasized the need to balance recreation and economic benefits with wildfire, traffic and environmental protections.