LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport City Council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to support the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
“I'm proud to support the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument,” said Lakeport Mayor Martin Scheel. “This designation will stimulate local economies and protect our natural and recreational resources. Lakeport and many other surrounding cities will benefit from protecting these lands.”
The area, located less than two hours from Sacramento and the Bay Area, includes parts of Lake, Napa, Yolo, Solano, Mendocino, Glenn and Colusa counties.
This 100-mile stretch of federal public lands provides habitat for wildlife that migrate from Snow Mountain Wilderness in the Mendocino National Forest, through to Cache Creek Wilderness and public lands surrounding Putah Creek.
In early February, Representatives Mike Thompson, John Garamendi and Jared Huffman, and Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
Due to inaction by Congress to ensure permanent protection for the region, supporters are now asking President Obama to use the Antiquities Act of 1906 to declare the national monument.
In Lake County, the public lands are managed primarily by the Bureau of Land Management, including Cache Creek Wilderness, and many popular hiking and camping spots, such as the Judge Davis Trail, Cowboy Camp, and Walker Ridge.
The Berryessa Snow Mountain region is renowned for its rich biological diversity, geologic features and wealth of recreational resources.
Certain species inhabiting the area cannot be seen anywhere else on the planet. Common wildlife found in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region include bobcats, black bears, osprey, California newts, tule elk, river otters, over eighty species of butterflies, about half of California’s dragonfly and damselfly species, and the second largest wintering bald eagle population in California.
More than 80,000 individuals, 200-plus business owners, five counties included within the designation, many surrounding cities, chambers of commerce, the California State Assembly, and the state of California support national monument designation for the Berryessa Snow Mountain region.
Other supporters include conservation and outdoor recreationists, including hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, off-road recreation groups, and sportsmen groups.
Protected public lands greatly contribute to the U.S. economy. In California more than half of all residents participate in outdoor recreation each year, supporting more than 700,000 jobs and generating more than $6 billion for the state’s economy.
Recreation in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region already supports more than 600 jobs. A recent economic study found that designation as a national monument could generate $50 million for the local economy over five years.
Support for the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument continues to grow. Advocates for the designation are asking President Obama to take action now.
“We're so grateful to the Lakeport City Council for their support, which was obviously based on a thorough knowledge of the issues, and also much appreciate their favorable comments on the inclusive nature of the campaign for the permanent protection of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region,” said Victoria Brandon, chair of the Sierra Club Redwood Chapter. “We'll be looking forward to celebrating national monument designation of with them – and then seeing Lakeport become a gateway community.”
Lakeport City Council supports creation of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
- Lake County News reports
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