NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Federal Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Bonnie will attend a public meeting in Napa County this week to meet with local and regional officials and discuss permanent protection for the Berryessa Snow Mountain region.
The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held on Friday, Dec. 19, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, 2277 Napa-Vallejo Highway, Building 100 in Napa.
Legislation to protect Berryessa Snow Mountain as a National Conservation Area was introduced in 2011, but has been stuck in Congressional gridlock.
The legislation is supported by Sen. Barbara Boxer and Representatives Mike Thompson, John Garamendi and Jared Huffman.
Representative Mike Thompson has asked President Obama to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the area as a national monument. This action would protect the same access and protections as a National Conservation Area.
“This is the right way forward for the region and our communities,” said Bill Dodd, the new Assembly member for the Fourth District, a resident and former county supervisor in Napa. “Designating the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Monument will preserve the land, help our local economies, and protect a wide variety of plants and animals.”
The Berryessa Snow Mountain region includes public lands that stretch one hundred mile starting in Yolo County’s wild backyard to the sub-alpine habitat of Snow Mountain Wilderness in the Mendocino National Forest to the north.
The region supports an incredible diversity of wildlife habitat and rare plants found nowhere else on earth.
More than 200 local businesses have expressed support for a national monument, and Yolo, Solano, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties have all passed resolutions of support for the designation.
“These lands deserve to be recognized not only for their natural and scenic values, but also for the recreational opportunities they provide,” said Napa County Supervisor Diane Dillon. “Permanent protection of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region will benefit the land, increase the visibility of our area and promote tourism, and protect our iconic northern California wildlife.”
Outdoor recreation in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region currently supports more than 600 jobs and $55.3 million in economic benefits for local counties.
An economic report released by the city of Winters Chamber of Commerce demonstrated that a national monument would have a significant impact, generating up to $50 million for local economies over a five year period following a designation as a result of increased visibility and visitation following a national monument designation.
Visitors to the Berryessa Snow Mountain region can catch a glimpse of California’s iconic wildlife, including tule elk, river otters, and California’s second-largest population of wintering bald eagles, and enjoy numerous outdoor recreation opportunities including hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, boating and horseback riding. A national monument designation will ensure continued access for these activities.
“This area is a unique national treasure and we have a responsibility to preserve it for our kids and grandkids,” stated Dodd.