Napa Valley Register-Protect Berryessa-Snow Mountain area

The Berryessa-Snow Mountain region is the crown jewel of Northern California's wild Inner Coast Range. Residents and tourists alike flock to the region to enjoy the dazzling natural features including waterfalls and lakes and rocky outcrops with views of Sacramento far in the distance. The geological and biological settings of the Berryessa region form parts of an important scientific story to share with existing and future generations. People also are attracted to the region to pursue a diversity of recreation opportunities from hunting and fishing to OHV riding on designated routes to boating and rafting. It is for these reasons that Berryessa-Snow Mountain region deserves to be designated as a National Monument.

Some folks have raised questions about Lake Berryessa being a part of a potential national conservation area or national monument. Rep. Thompson's bill (H.R. 1025) states there will be no impact on lake management and operations or recreational uses.

Rep. Thompson and national monument proponents are advocating that Lake Berryessa itself should not be included in a national monument and there be no impact on lake management and operations or recreational use. We are also advocating that existing federal public lands surrounding the lake that have important values should be protected as part of a national monument.

The efforts to protect Berryessa-Snow Mountain region as a national monument has the support of the Mendocino, Napa, Lake, Yolo and Solano counties' boards of supervisors and 52 other local officials as well as over 200 businesses throughout the region and user groups such as IMBA, Blue Ribbon Coalition and Back Country Horsemen of America. We hope this community developed and supported proposal will move forward and protect the Berryessa-Snow Mountain region for current and future generations as a national monument.