Photo: Jim Rose
In 2012, The Conservation Alliance funded Tuleyome's Berryessa Snow Mountain Conservation Campaign; to secure permanent protection for the public lands in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Conservation Area or National Monument.
On Thursday, March 7th, Representative Mike Thompson re-introduced the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act with co-sponsors Representatives John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Ami Bera, and Anna Eshoo, which would protect 350,000 acres of public land just a short drive from the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.
In addition, Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced the senate companion to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act.
A National Conservation Area designation will support the local economy by ensuring continued access to the area for outdoor recreation while protecting the area's natural beauty, wildlife habitat and rare plants. The public can continue to enjoy and use these lands for activities like hunting, grazing, hiking, biking, and rafting.
Recent economic studies have found that jobs and personal income rose in local communities after nearby areas were permanently protected. That same potential is offered by the Berryessa Snow Mountain region. Protecting special places like this encourages tourism, increases recreational opportunities, assists local businesses and creates a desirable place for people to live and work.
"With its magnificent vistas and diverse wildlife, the Berryessa Snow Mountain region is one of California's greatest natural treasures," Senator Barbara Boxer said. "This bill will expand opportunities for outdoor recreation and help preserve this spectacular area for current and future generations."
"We're thrilled that Senator Boxer and Representatives Thompson, Garamendi, Huffman, Ami Bera, and Eshoo recognize the importance of permanently protecting our publicly owned lands in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region," stated Sara Husby-Good, Executive Director of Tuleyome. "There is strong community support for protecting this area in a way that will ensure the continued use and enjoyment of these lands for future generations."
"I applaud the reintroduction of legislation to permanently protect the Berryessa Snow Mountain region. The proposed National Conservation Area will not only preserve a very special region of California, but also provide opportunities for the public to reconnect with the outdoors," said Tom Ward, California Policy Advisor for the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). "IMBA is supportive of the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area because it would maintain and enhance trails and preserve important recreational uses in the region."
For more information on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act, click here.
For more information on Tuleyome, click here.