California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 4

Introduced by Assembly Member Dodd

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Wood)

(Principal coauthors: Senators McGuire and Wolk)

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonilla)

January 8, 2015

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 4—Relative to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AJR 4, as introduced, Dodd. Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

This measure would urge the President of the United States and the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior to designate the area known as the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The Berryessa Snow Mountain region stretches
nearly 100 miles from the shores of Lake Berryessa to the flanks
of Snow Mountain; and

WHEREAS, The Berryessa Snow Mountain region encompasses
more than 350,000 acres across the Counties of Napa, Mendocino,
Lake, Solano, and Yolo and is rich in wildlife, including bald and
golden eagles, black bears, mountain lions, tule elk, river otters,
and the rare Pacific fisher; and

WHEREAS, Berryessa Snow Mountain is a biodiversity hotspot
and includes numerous trails, open spaces, lakes, and rivers that
help create a fishing, camping, boating, birding, horseback-riding,
bicycling, and off-highway vehicle paradise; and

WHEREAS, Permanently protecting the Berryessa Snow
Mountain region will ensure continued recreational opportunities
while safeguarding the region’s beauty, wildlife, rare plants, and
water, which includes important sources of drinking water and
irrigation for nearby communities; and

WHEREAS, The Berryessa Snow Mountain region is within
easy driving distance for millions of citizens residing and visiting
the bay area and the Sacramento metropolitan area; and

WHEREAS, Protected public lands are major contributors to
our nation’s $646 billion outdoor recreation economy; and

WHEREAS, More than one-half of California residents
participate in outdoor recreation each year, supporting more than
700,000 jobs, generating more than $6 billion in state economic
activity; and

WHEREAS, Studies have shown that local economies
surrounding permanently protected areas such as national
monuments expand after establishing a monument, increasing
per-capita personal incomes; and

WHEREAS, More than 100 businesses in areas surrounding the
Berryessa Snow Mountain region support a national monument
designation, as do nationally recognized recreation and sportsmen’s
groups such as the International Bicycling Association, Back
Country Horsemen, and the Equine Land Conservation Resource;
and

WHEREAS, President Obama recently designated 346,000 acres
of public land in southern California as the San Gabriel National
Monument, and expanded the California Coastal National
Monument to include the Point Arena Stornetta Public Lands;
now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of California urge President
Obama and the Secretary of the United States Department of
Interior, Sally Jewell, to protect and preserve the unique and
precious qualities of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region for
current and future generations by creating a Berryessa Snow
Mountain National Monument; and be it further

Resolved, That in designating the Berryessa Snow Mountain
region as a National Monument, the Secretary consult an area
advisory council consisting of, but not limited to, one representative
from each of the Napa, Lake, Yolo, Mendocino, and Solano County
Boards of Supervisors, a representative of the California Resources
Agency, and a representative of Native American Tribes; and be
it further

Resolved, That in designating the Berryessa Snow Mountain
region as a National Monument, the Secretary take into
consideration existing land uses, including grazing, on the federal
lands within the region; and be it further

Resolved, That the designation of the Berryessa Snow Mountain
National Monument does not require nonfederal property owners
to allow public access to private property, nor does modify any
provision of federal, state, or local law with respect to use of
nonfederal land; and be it further

Resolved, That any acquisition of nonfederal land within the
National Monument occur only through exchange, donation or
purchase from a willing seller; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States and to the Secretary of the United States Department of
Interior.