Californians voice support for more nature in Lake County

Adding 4,000 acres to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument will protect the cultural significance of the land and help counteract climate change –  if we take action to finish the process. On December 13, the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service hosted a public meeting in Woodland, CA, to advocate for the expansion. The area under consideration is about 80 miles northeast of Santa Rosa.

The purpose of the meeting was for the Biden administration to hear from the local community and native tribes about a proposal to add nearly 4,000 acres to the monument. The proposal also includes renaming Walker Ridge to Condor Ridge, or “Molok Luyuk” in the Patwin Language.

Protecting this land is essential to  battling the climate crisis, and to protect the cultural and historical significance of the land itself. The monument is home to many rare plants and is a corridor for many species, such as tule elks, mountain lions and black bears. Native tribes including the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation have called this land home for more than 11,000 years. 

This meeting was not the first time that the members of the Biden administration have visited California and heard from the community about expanding the monument. In September, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland met with local officials and tribal leaders to discuss their plans for the addition, as well as their vision for the future of land conservation in Lake County. 

The expansion proposal has  support from California Reps. John Garamendi and Mike Thompson and Sen. Alex Padilla. The late Sen. Dianne Feinstein also endorsed the plan. In March, these members of Congress introduced the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act (H.R. 1396 and S. 683). In July, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted the bill out of committee, but the House of Representatives has taken no action on the bill. 

While the bill is stalled in Congress, the recent public meeting leaves room for optimism. The Antiquities Act gives presidents the ability to designate national monuments through proclamation. We hope that these public meetings are   a sign that President Biden will use his authority to protect this special place. 

We need your signature on the following petition to demonstrate public support for the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Please add your name to those of community and tribal leaders, elected officials and organizations across the country urging the president to act.