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The California Senate on Monday passed legislation that urges President Joe Biden to use the Antiquities Act to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and to rename the new area to reflect its cultural significance to Tribes in the region. The legislation, led by State Senator Bill Dodd, passed in a 35-0 vote.
“I am proud to have been on hand when President Obama finalized the original designation of Berryessa Snow Mountain, which is one of the most scenic and diverse landscapes in all of Northern California,” said Senator Dodd. “Now, it makes sense to include this additional piece, which was home to native Tribes for thousands of years. We can recognize the land’s cultural significance while protecting it for generations to come.”
President Barack Obama designated the 330,780 acre Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in 2015. The proposed 3,900 acre expansion is supported by state, local, Tribal, and federal leaders. The proposal would also name the area Molok Luyuk, meaning “condor ridge” in the Patwin language, an homage to the birds that once flew there.
Biden administration sets goal to protect wetlands, rivers, and streams
As part of a week-long Earth Day celebration, the Biden administration announced a new national goal to protect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of rivers and streams. To achieve the new goal, the administration announced it is launching the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge which calls on states, Tribes, and cities to put forward their policies for conserving and restoring fresh water. Ten states, eight tribes, and 24 local governments have already committed to the goal. The administration also announced a $70 million investment in projects that improve fish passage and $1 billion in funding to improve Tribal access to water.
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The Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA is the culmination of years of work to undermine federal Clean Water Act safeguards. But be clear-eyed: Those forces are now targeting state clean water and wetlands protections as well.”
