U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer

[Sen. Boxer] – U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer recently urged the Obama Administration to use its executive authority to designate the Berryessa-Snow Mountain region as a National Monument. A public meeting about the future of the area is taking place in Napa today with federal, state and local officials including Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA5) and John Garamendi (D-CA3), and Lake County Supervisor Denise Rushing.

“This region is one of the most biologically diverse, yet least known regions of California,” Boxer, D-Calif., said in a statement. “By raising its profile, a Monument designation will boost tourism and increase business opportunities in the region’s gateway communities.”

Boxer first introduced legislation with Congressman Thompson to provide the Berryessa-Snow Mountain region with additional protections in 2012. Her full statement, which will be read at today’s public meeting, is below:

Photos: BerryessaSnowMountain.org

“Madame Secretary, Under Secretary Bonnie, Congressmen Thompson and Garamendi, special guests, and members of the panel. First, I want to thank you for coming here today to hear from those who care the most about this wonderful part of the Golden State. I was pleased to introduce the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act, a companion to Congressman Mike Thompson’s legislation to bring heightened protections to this region. I thank him for his tireless work he has done in advancing this initiative.

“Our legislation protects over 300,000 acres of public lands in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Yolo Counties as National Conservation Area – as this area is a haven for hiking, camping, rafting, and horseback riding, and is home to a diverse array of unique plant life and wildlife including black bears and bald eagles. A National Monument designation by President Obama would recognize the national importance of these lands while at the same time fulfill the goals of our legislation. I strongly support and urge the President to proclaim this area a National Monument.

“All of the areas under consideration are federally-owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service. A National Monument designation will require multi-agency coordination on wildlife preservation, habitat restoration, and recreational opportunities. Creation of the National Monument will also help the agencies take a more coordinated approach to preventing and fighting wildfires, combating invasive species, and water pollution.

“By unifying these individual places under one banner, a National Monument helps put the Berryessa Snow Mountain region on the map as a destination for new visitors. This region is one of the most biologically diverse, yet least known regions of California. By raising its profile, a Monument designation will boost tourism and increase business opportunities in the region’s gateway communities. Additionally, the region will become recognized by more people as uniform signage and publications are created to reach a wider audience.

“Creation of this proposed National Monument has strong support from a large coalition of local governments, elected officials, business owners, landowners, farmers, private individuals, and many conservation and outdoor industry groups. This impressive grassroots effort of concerned citizens taking the initiative to care for the beautiful areas in their communities shows the best in public involvement in the future of their public lands’ future, and I am proud to support their work and commitment. I particularly applaud Tuleyome, a local nonprofit active in protecting wilderness and agriculture in the western Sacramento Valley and Inner Coast Range, for their leadership on this effort. They have worked with an incredibly diverse collection of people who deeply care about this very important part of our natural heritage. I also want to commend the people who work for the BLM, Forest Service and the Bureau of Reclamation, whose job it is every day to watch over, manage, and protect these lands.

“Again, I want to convey my strong support for this effort, and I urge the President to establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, as it so richly deserves heightened national status.”