Date: 10 July, 2015
Contacts: Jessica Kershaw (Interior), [email protected]
Martha Maciel (BLM), 916-078-4616
Secretaries Vilsack and Jewell Laud President Obama’s Designation of
Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
President’s Action Protects, Connects Northern California Area Known for Natural Beauty
WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell joined
members of Congress, California State and local elected officials, and community members across
Northern California today in praising the President’s designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain
National Monument. The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is one of three new
national monuments announced by President Obama today that help tell the story of significant
events in American history and protect unique cultural and natural resources for the benefit of all
Americans.
“The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument strikes a unique balance between Northern
California’s urban environments of Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area and the wild, remote
landscapes that surround the farms, ranches, orchards, and vineyards that nourish our nation,” said
Secretary Vilsack. “The President’s proclamation today will ensure that these lands will continue to
be a sustainable, working landscape that supports local economies and critical resources like fresh
water, grazing lands, and habitat for important plant, fish and wildlife species.”
“Today’s action honors more than a decade of work by the local community to protect this beautiful
landscape,” said Secretary Jewell. “The Berryessa Snow Mountain region draws families and outdoor
enthusiasts seeking adventure, recreation, and the solitude that only nature can provide. The
President’s action will help boost local economies and ensure that the area’s unique natural, cultural,
and recreational resources are protected for generations to come.”
The new 330,780-acre monument is comprised of existing federal lands, extending from Berryessa
Peak and other lands in the vicinity of Lake Berryessa in Napa, Yolo, and Solano counties through
the spectacular lands of Lake, Colusa, and Glenn Counties to the eastern boundary of the Yuki
Wilderness in Mendocino County. It is now the second largest national monument in California, after
the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The monument does not include Lake Berryessa
itself, which will continue to be managed as a recreation area by the Bureau of Reclamation.
In December, Secretary Jewell, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, and USDA Under Secretary
for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie visited the Berryessa Snow Mountain area at
the request of Congressman Mike Thompson to hear from the community about their vision for
conservation in the region. Since 2012, Congressman Thompson and Senator Barbara Boxer have
been introducing legislation to protect this area. The boundary declared by the President’s
designation follows the approach adopted by legislation introduced in February of this year following
extensive public outreach and engagement by the Congressman.
The region’s proximity to population centers such as Sacramento, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa
make the area an important setting for recreation for millions of Northern California residents.
Studies estimate an increase in visitors could bring up to $26 million in new economic activity and
$500,000 in tax revenue to local economies during the five year period post designation. Miles of
hiking, horseback riding, and designated off-road vehicle trails offer visitors views of the Sacramento
Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east and the Coastal Mountains to the west, as well as
panoramic vistas overlooking Clear Lake, Lake Berryessa, and the steep canyon of Cache Creek.
Hunting and angling are popular activities year-round. The Cache Creek, Cedar Rough, and Snow
Mountain wilderness areas provide opportunities for remote backcountry travel and Cache Creek
provides the closest commercial whitewater rafting to San Francisco. The area contains one of the
greatest concentrations of biodiversity in California and is home to threatened and endangered plant
and wildlife species including northern spotted owls, marten, and fisher. California Coastal Chinook
salmon and Northern California steelhead spawn in the area’s waterways.
“This is an amazing area for the public to get outside and connect with their public lands and the
natural environment,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “Visitors can get a truly wild
experience on this landscape, spending days and even weeks exploring the rugged terrain and finding
something new around every corner. From the smallest insects and flowers, the largest mammals and
trees, to the sweeping vistas of the Monument’s mountains and valleys across the Sacramento Valley
to the High Sierra – this is a breathtaking area with so much to see and explore.”
The proclamation allows for continued historic uses of the area, including hunting, fishing, and
livestock grazing, which will be managed under existing rules and regulations. The designation does
not alter or affect valid water rights, rights of way, or existing special use permits or commercial
activities, as long as they are consistent with the care and management of the objects and resources
protected by the designation.
“The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is an incredible resource for the people of
north-central California,” said BLM Director Neil Kornze. “The BLM is proud to play a role
managing these lands for the public's enjoyment and preserving them for future generations.”
The Forest Service and BLM will jointly prepare a management plan that will address the actions
necessary to protect the resources identified in the monument proclamation. The plan will be
developed with public involvement including tribal, state and local governments, ranchers, permit
holders, and other interested stakeholders.
The Antiquities Act was first used by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 to designate Devils
Tower National Monument in Wyoming. Since then, 16 presidents have used this authority to protect
unique natural and historic features in America, such as the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and
Colorado's Canyons of the Ancients. With these new designations, President Obama will have used
the Antiquities Act to establish or expand 19 national monuments. Altogether, he has protected more
than 260 million acres of public lands and waters – more than any other President – as well as
preserved sites that help tell the story of significant people or extraordinary events in American
history, such as César E. Chávez National Monument in California, Harriet Tubman Underground
Railroad National Monument in Maryland, and Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
in Ohio.