LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The effort to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include the Walker Ridge area took another step on Monday.

Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) led members of California’s Congressional delegation on Monday in a letter calling on President Joe Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include adjacent federally owned land known as the Walker Ridge tract.

Garamendi and Padilla’s letter also requested that Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland order the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to rename “Walker Ridge” to “Condor Ridge” and “Molok Luyuk” in the Patwin language of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and other Native American peoples from the area.

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument stretches from Napa County in the south to Mendocino County in the north, encompassing 330,780 acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Much of the monument is in Lake County.

President Barack Obama designated the national monument in 2015, responding to a call from Representatives Thompson and Garamendi, then-Senator Barbara Boxer, other Members of California’s Congressional delegation, and community leaders to permanently protect these lands.

The proposed expansion area is located on the eastern edge of the existing monument. These BLM managed lands include oak woodlands, rocky outcroppings, wildflower meadows, the world’s largest stand of McNab cypress, and dozens of rare plant species.

“Molok Luyuk is a special and sacred place for area tribes and for many local residents who enjoy recreation activities like hiking and mountain biking,” said Lake County Supervisor E.J. Crandell, a member of the Robinson Rancheria tribe. “The natural beauty of our home also drives tourism, which is key to the economic vitality of the region. Protecting these beautiful lands would be a gift to future generations.”

“Molok Luyuk is a rare treasure of rich cultural heritage and sacred history, diverse wildlife and rare plants, and stunning natural beauty and accessible recreational activities,” said Sandra Schubert, Executive Director of Tuleyome, a local conservation organization. “We are deeply grateful to our Congressional champions Reps. Garamendi and Thompson and Sens. Padilla and Feinstein for shepherding this effort. We encourage President Biden to expand the existing monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk.”

Garamendi and Padilla’s letter was cosigned by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA05), Jared Huffman (D-CA02), Barbara Lee (D-CA13), Katie Porter (D-CA45), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA06) and Mike Levin (D-CA-49).

“Conserving California’s special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, and now as a member of Congress representing Lake County. Walker Ridge, soon to be known as Molok Luyuk, is one of those special places. I am proud to work with Senator Alex Padilla and our Congressional colleagues from California in calling for President Biden and Secretary Haaland to use the powers bestowed upon them to protect and expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument for future generations to enjoy,” said Congressman Garamendi.

“The sacred lands within and around the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are central to thousands of years of indigenous origin stories,” said Senator Padilla. “That’s why I’m leading calls with Representative Garamendi urging President Biden to use his existing authority to expand the Monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk. It is our duty to protect the abundant natural resources and the rich history of Molok Luyuk for today’s children and for future generations.”

“Molok Luyuk is home to both profound natural beauty and deep cultural significance. It is a special place, so it's fitting that California’s tribes and the U.S. government create a special relationship to protect it,” said Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Chairman Anthony Roberts. “We commend Representative Garamendi and Senator Padilla for their work to protect our homelands.”

Presidential proclamations under the Antiquities Act of 1906 only apply to federally owned land and do not affect privately owned or other non-federal land in any way.

Over 50 local and national organizations have endorsed the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act,” including: Lake County Board of Supervisors; Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation; Conservation Lands Foundation; Sierra Club; California Wilderness Coalition; The Wilderness Society; Lake County Land Trust; Backcountry Anglers & Hunters; California Native Plant Society; Hispanic Access Foundation; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Tuleyome (Woodland, CA-based nonprofit); Audubon California; Vet Voice Foundation; Native American Land Conservancy.

As Deputy Secretary of the Interior from 1995 to 1998 and now as a member of Congress representing Lake County since 2011, Congressman Garamendi has a lifelong passion for conserving California’s special for future generations to enjoy.

February 2014: Congressmen Mike Thompson, Garamendi and Huffman introduced bicameral legislation with then-Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

December 2014: Congressmen Thompson and Garamendi host then-Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Obama Administration officials on a tour of Berryessa Snow Mountain Region, urging National Monument designation.

July 2015: President Obama declared the federal land surrounding Lake Berryessa as a National Monument, at the Congressmen’s urging.

May 2017: Garamendi defends Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument against Trump Administration’s review to downsize national monuments designated by President Obama under the 1906 Antiquities Act.

July 2021: Garamendi sought public feedback on the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument expansion and his draft legislation.

January 2022: Garamendi introduced the “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” (H.R.6366) with Congressman Thompson.

March 2022: Garamendi testified before the House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands on his “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” with Tribal Chairman Anthony Roberts for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

April 2022: Senator Padilla introduced the companion legislation (S.4080) with Senator Feinstein.

June 2022: Senator Padilla testified before the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining on his companion legislation (S.4080).

July 14, 2022: U.S. House of Representatives passed Garamendi’s Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” as part of the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023” (H.R.7900).

July 21, 2022: U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed Senator Padilla’s companion legislation (S.4080) with bipartisan support.

In addition to the letter cosigners, the “Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act” is also cosponsored in the House by Representatives Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9), Jim Costa (D-CA-16), and Ro Khanna (D-CA-17).

20221017 CA Members Antiquities Act Request for BSMNM by LakeCoNews on Scribd