Permanent Protection for Berryessa Snow Mountain

As Americans, we love our national parks, national monuments, vast wildernesses and open spaces. We find it hard to imagine why elected officials wouldn’t support more of our public lands earning this protected status.

Here in California, we’ve been calling for permanent protection of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, which stretches more than 100 miles and encompasses more than 350,000 acres across Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Solano and Yolo Counties. Unfortunately, partisan politics has Congress in gridlock, where all efforts to enhance our public lands have been stalled, blocked, or undermined in recent years.

It’s time for President Obama to use his executive authority to permanently safeguard Berryessa Snow Mountain. Urge President Obama to designate the region as a National Momument: Take action now! »

All five counties within the Berryessa Snow Mountain Region have endorsed permanent protection for the area, which is rich in biodiversity, including species like bald and golden eagles, black bears, mountain lions, river otters, and tule elk, not to mention rare plants found nowhere else on the planet and important sources of drinking water and irrigation for nearby communities. The region also includes numerous trails, open spaces, lakes, and rivers, providing recreation opportunities for hikers, bikers, campers, hunters, boaters, and others.

A groundswell of local families, business owners, environmentalists, and elected officials are now asking President Obama use his authority under the Antiquities Act to protect the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a national monument. Add your voice: Send your message to President Obama now! »

U.S. Representative Mike Thompson and several of his fellow California members of Congress have attempted for years to get Congress to designate the area as a National Conservation Area, but Congressional gridlock stopped the proposals in their tracks. Recently, Rep.  Thompson and Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation in the House and Senate to designate the region as a National Monument.

At this time, it appears unlikely that Congress will move forward on proposed legislation that would accomplish the same goal.We deeply appreciate the efforts of so many elected officials and California’s environmental and recreation advocates over these last several years to collaborate with the community on permanently protecting this local and national treasure. The time has come for the President to take executive action.

Posted on March 27, 2015
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The month of March is Public Lands Month, and we’ve got some big goals. We’re pushing for 5 national monument designations while fighting for clean water, Indigenous land protection, ecosystem conservation, and increasing access to nature. 

But we need your help to make these campaigns a success →