Lake Berryessa Hole Deaths: Why There’s Only 1 Recorded Spillway Death in the Bell-Mouth?

Lake Berryessa has a giant hole, which many dubbed a "Glory Hole" and some called a "spillway death." Although it appears dangerous, there has been only one recorded death in the area.

Lake Berryessa Hole Deaths

The Berryessa spillway may look intimidating, with some fearing it. However, the authorities have implemented measures to prevent inquisitive public members from moving too close to it. In fact, there has only been a single death reported at the spillway.

A woman, identified as Emily Schwalak, fell into it in 1997 and died. According to some stories at the time, she may have intentionally pushed herself over the edge and submerged herself.

Emily reportedly rejected an eyewitness's attempt to persuade her to swim to safety and talk her out of moving near the spillway. She allegedly gripped the edge of the pit for nearly twenty minutes before disappearing from view. Her body was discovered in Lower Putah Creek a few hours later.

Aside from Emily, the only other live thing to be drawn into the Berryessa spillway was a bird. Nevertheless, unlike Emily, the reports showed that the bird made it through the tumultuous 75-meter descent.

What's The Glory Hole in Napa's Purpose?

The Lake Berryessa hole has a purpose. If the water level in the reservoir is too high, the hole opens up, and the excess water whirlpool into it.

You can think of the Berryessa Spillway as a "giant drain" in California's Napa Valley. It is roughly 72 feet broad and 245 feet long, with one of the highest volume capabilities in the world.

When the lake fills up completely after a lot of rain, the spillway helps keep the thousands of residents nearby from experiencing catastrophic flooding. The tumbling water is stored at the Berryessa spillway and transported 2,000 feet downstream into Putah Creek.

Although the vortex looks like a hell-mouth, it's just a spillway. The engineers designed it in the 1950s as an alternative to a more classic side chute. It's their way of controlling the water level in the dam.

However, a side chute would be stuck in a tiny space between cliffs, like the Devil's Gate, where the Monticello Dam is located. The builders ultimately decided to use a large, ancient drain similar to the ones in the sink or bathtub.

The construction is called a bell-mouth, which sounds exactly like hell-mouth. These have been utilized globally to regulate the water level of numerous different dams.

One of the most well-known spillways is the Glory Hole in Napa because it creates an impressive sight. In 2017, during an exceptionally rainy year, hundreds of people gathered on the concrete ledge to gape at the enormous chasm. Following yet another season of intense rainfall in 2019, the Glory Hole came alive once more, attracting thousands of interested spectators.

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