Vallejo Times Herald- Senators, Thompson introduce new Berryessa Snow Mountain legislation to make region national monument

California representatives in Congress are making another push to get Berryessa Snow Mountain nationally recognized.

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, introduced Thursday the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Act. The legislation would designate the region as a National Monument to protect more than 350,000 acres of publicly-owned land in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Yolo counties.

"The Berryessa Snow Mountain region is one of California's greatest natural treasures," Boxer said in a statement. "This bill will expand opportunities for outdoor recreation and help preserve this region's magnificent vistas and diverse wildlife for current and future generations."

"Protecting the Berryessa Snow Mountain Region will help boost tourism, grow the local economy, improve recreation opportunities and protect important species," Thompson said. "By designating the region as a national monument, we can unite all federal lands under one management plan and preserve this national treasure for generations to come."

The new National Monument would cover lands stretching more than 100 miles from Putah Creek, below Lake Berryessa, up to the peak of Snow Mountain.

The area provides a space for hiking, camping, rafting and horseback riding and is home to wildlife including bald and golden eagles, black bears and tule elk.

The legislation would unite all currently publicly-owned land within the area under one management plan, which officials say could allow for coordination among federal agencies to protect wildlife, restore habitat, improve water quality, expand recreational opportunities and prevent wildfires.

The National Monument designation only applies to land managed by the federal government. Lake Berryessa is not included in the National Monument designation and current access to and uses of private land will not be impacted the legislation.

In addition, the bill protects private property rights by stating that nothing in the legislation requires a private property owner to allow public access to their property, and the bill includes legislative language ensuring that the National Monument designation will not impact motorized recreation on Lake Berryessa.

The legislation ensures that all existing grazing will continue unchanged. The bill does not prohibit other grazing in additional areas as long as it is accordance with all laws and regulations.

No legally-open roads or motorized vehicle trails will be closed as a result of the National Monument designation. Federal agencies will retain their existing authority to open new roads and trails or to temporarily close them when necessary, such as during major storms or emergencies.

Hunting and fishing will still be allowed in the National Monument and the California Department of Fish and Game will retain its authority over these forms of recreation. The National Monument designation would not impose any new regulations on hunting, fishing, or firearm use.

Existing laws and policies regarding firefighting will not be changed by the establishment of a National Monument. Federal agencies can continue to reduce fuels before fires start by thinning trees, establishing fuel breaks, and by using controlled-burns and other appropriate tools.

The leaders also say the new designation would also help raise the profile of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, increasing tourism and business opportunities for local communities. The bill would create a public advisory committee so that local residents, outdoors enthusiasts and business owners can share their ideas for preserving and promoting the area's wildlife and rivers, forests, ridges, canyons and creeks.

Supporters of this legislation include: the Lake, Napa and Yolo County Boards of Supervisors; the Calistoga and Napa County Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; the cities of Calistoga, Clearlake, Davis, St. Helena, West Sacramento and Winters; and more than 200 businesses.

While the Yolo County Board of Supervisors supports the legislation, two supervisors did vote against the resolution — Republicans Matt Rexroad and Duane Chamberlain, who both represent parts of Woodland.

Rexroad previously said the federal government already administers all the land, which makes it easy to stop any unwanted commercial development. He said he has never seen proof that the designation is necessary.

The Lake Berryessa Chamber of Commerce also opposes the area.

In December, at a public meeting about the future of the area with federal, state and local officials, Boxer urged President Obama to use his executive authority to make the designation. Boxer and Thompson first introduced the bill in the 112th Congress, and again in the 113th Congress.

While in January, Assemblyman Bill Dodd, along with Sens. Lois Wolk and Mike McGuire and Assemblyman Jim Wood, introduced a resolution in the California Legislature to petition President Barack Obama to create the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.