BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER
Senator Fran Pavley, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AJR 4 Hearing Date: March 24, 2015
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|Author: |Dodd | | |
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|Version: |February 3, 2015 |
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|Urgency: | |Fiscal: |No |
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|Consultant:|William Craven |
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Subject: Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
1. The Aniquities Act (16 U.S.C. 431-433) was the first federal statute
to provide protection for any general kind of cultural or natural
resource. It was signed into law in 1906 by President Teddy Roosevelt.
Section 2 of the statute gives the President the authority to set aside
for protection "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures
and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situation
upon the lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United
States."
While early conservation measures such as the establishment of
Yellowstone National Park (1872) or the Casa Grande Ruin in Arizona
(1892) preceded the Antiquities Act, each such effort required an act of
Congress as well as presidential approval.
Section 2 of the Act, as noted, made the establishment of national
monuments an administrative action that was quicker and far easier to
execute. That strength of the Act also has been known to engender
opposition to national monument protections. National monuments may be
administered by the National Park Service, the United States Forest
Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Bureau of
Land Management.
2. The Berryessa Snow Mountain region stretches from the shores of Lake
Berryessa in Napa County to the flanks of Snow Mountain. It includes
portions of Lake, Mendocino, Solano, and Yolo Counties. This area
encompasses some 350,000 acres of public lands and is recognized as an
important zone of biological diversity and scientific importance. It
provides habitat for bald and golden eagles, black bears, mountain lions,
tule elk, river otters, and the rare Pacific fisher. There are native
plants there that are found nowhere else. The region's geographical
proximity to the Bay Area and Sacramento makes it a major destination for
outdoor recreation that is easily accessible to millions of Californians.
PROPOSED LAW
This resolution would urge President Obama to use his authority under the
federal Antiquities Act to establish a federal monument in the region
known as Berryessa Snow Mountain.
The resolution makes legislative findings and declarations regarding the
Berryessa Snow Mountain region, including the many natural and
recreational values of the public lands in the region, and the
recreational opportunities, water resources and economic benefits it
provides.
The resolution urges that the President and the Secretary of the
Department of Interior to protect and preserve the Berryessa Snow
Mountain region for current and future generations by designating the
region as a national monument.
It further urges the Secretary of the Interior to consult with an area
advisory council consisting of representatives from Napa, Lake, Yolo,
Mendocino, and Solano County Boards of Supervisors, the California
Natural Resources Agency, and a representative of Native American Tribes.
The resolution concludes that in designating the region as a national
monument, the Secretary should take into consideration existing land
uses, including grazing, on the federal lands within the region,and that
the designation does not require nonfederal property owners to allow
public access to private property, or modify any law with respect to use
of nonfederal land, and that any acquisition of nonfederal land within
the National Monument come only from a willing seller.
If adopted, copies of this resolution are to be transmitted to the
President and Vice President of the United States and to the Secretary of
the Interior.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
John Laird, the California Secretary for Natural Resources, supports this
resolution because of the region's unique biologic diversity and because
the designation as a national monument will provide permanent protection
and public access. His letter points out the very large coalition of
interests that supports this resolution across the affected counties and
beyond. His letter notes the estimated $50 million economic boost to the
regional economy.
Sierra Club California makes many of these points and additionally notes
that a national monument in this region would result in coordinated
management of lands that are currently managed by five different
agencies.
The author, and the conservation groups most directly involved in
organizing the effort to support have generated many hundreds of support
letters. It is important to note that the resolution is supported by the
Counties of Yolo, Lake, Solano, Mendocino, and Napa. It is supported by
the cities of Davis, Winters, West Sacramento, and St. Helena. It is
supported by dozens of elected federal, state, and local officials. The
Elem Indian Colony Pomo Tribe is in support. Recreation groups such as
the Blue Ribbon Coalition, the International Mountain Biking
Association, Latino Outdoors, and Back Country Horsemen of America are in
support. Approximately 400 individual supporters have recorded their
support.
The author has said that it is his intention that a national monument
would recognize all existing land uses on private property.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
The Yolo County Farm Bureau and a prominent ranching enterprise, the Yolo
Land and Cattle Company, as well as one individual, are in opposition.
The opposition is based on the assertion that the national monument
designation overlooks the traditional public-private cooperation that is
often highlighted in Yolo County conservation efforts, and that the
designation of a national monument would create possibly high visitation
as well as another layer of government.
SUPPORT
State Governments
California (Secretary John Laird)
Local Governments
Lake County - Resolution of Support
Napa County - Resolution of Support
Solano County - Resolution of Support
Yolo County - Resolution of Support
Mendocino County - Letter of Support
Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District - Resolution of Support
Davis City Council - Resolution of Support
Winters City Council - Resolution of Support
West Sacramento City Council - Resolution of Support
St. Helena City Council - Proclamation of Support
Landowners/Farmers
Sierra Orchards - Craig McNamara
Conaway Preservation Group - Kyriakos Tsakopoulos
Perini Ranch - Dan Desmond
Richard Traverso
John and Judy Ahmann
Brien and Marie Brennan
Tuleyome
Recreation Groups
Blue Ribbon Coalition
Back Country Horsemen of America
International Mountain Bicycling Association
Lake County Horse Council
Latino Outdoors
Conservation Groups
American Rivers
Californians for Western Wilderness
California League of Conservation Voters
California Native Plant Society
California Wilderness Coalition
Conservation Lands Foundation
Defenders of Wildlife
Elder Creek Center for the Land
Environment California
Environment America
Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
Equine Land Conservation Resource
League of Conservation Voters
Natural Resources Defense Council
Sierra Club
The Wilderness Society
Tuleyome
Yolo Audubon Society
Elected Officials
Pete McCloskey - U.S. Congressman (ret)
Vic Fazio - U.S. Congressman (ret)
Mike McGuire - State Senator, Senate District 2
Noreen Evans - State Senator, Senate District 2 (ret)
Lois Wolk - State Senator, Senate District 3
James Wood - State Assemblymember, Assembly District 2
Bill Dodd - State Assemblymember, Assembly District 4
Mariko Yamada - State Assemblymember, Assembly District 4 (ret)
Mike McGowan - Yolo County Supervisor (ret)
Jim Provenza - Yolo County Supervisor
Don Saylor - Yolo County Supervisor
Oscar Villegas - Yolo County Supervisor
Diane Dillon - Napa County Supervisor
Keith Caldwell - Napa County Supervisor
John Vasquez - Solano County Supervisor
Linda Seifert - Solano County Supervisor
Erin Hannigan - Solano County Supervisor
Jim Spering - Solano County Supervisor
Skip Thomson - Solano County Supervisor
Ed Robey - Lake County Supervisor (ret)
Denise Rushing - Lake County Supervisor (ret.)
Jim Steele - Lake County Supervisor
Anthony Farrington - Lake County Supervisor
Jeff Smith - Lake County Supervisor
Carre Brown - Mendocino County Supervisor
John McCowen - Mendocino County Supervisor
John Pinches - Mendocino County Supervisor (ret)
Dan Gjerde - Mendocino County Supervisor
Dan Hamburg - Mendocino County Supervisor
Joe Krovoza - Davis Mayor, Yolo County (ret)
Dan Wolk - Davis Mayor, Yolo County
Robb Davis - Davis City Council, Yolo County
Rochelle Swanson - Davis City Council, Yolo County
Lucas Frerichs - Davis City Council, Yolo County
Brett Lee - Davis City Council, Yolo County
Cecilia Aguiar-Curry - Winters Mayor, Yolo County
Woody Fridae - Winters Vice-Mayor, Yolo County
Harold Anderson - Winters City Council, Yolo County
Bruce Guleden - Winters City Council, Yolo County (ret)
Wade Cowan - Winters City Council, Yolo County
Christopher Cabaldan - West Sacramento Mayor, Yolo County
Christopher Ledesma - West Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem, Yolo County
Mark Johannessen - West Sacramento City Council, Yolo County
William Kristoff - West Sacramento City Council, Yolo County
Beverly Sandeen - West Sacramento City Council, Yolo County
Bruno Sabatier - Clearlake City Council, Lake County
Jeri Spittler - Clearlake City Council, Lake County (ret.)
Karen Bower - Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District Director
Tony Norris - Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District Director
Michael Haley - Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District
Director
Dave Finigan - Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District Director
Alan Galbraith - St. Helena Mayor, Napa County
Peter White - St. Helena Vice-Mayor, Napa County
Greg Pitts - St. Helena City Council, Napa County
Sharon Crull - St. Helena City Council, Napa County
Paul Dohring - St. Helena City Council, Napa County
Wanda Quitiquit - Upper Lake School Board Trustee, Lake County
Herb Gura - Konocti Unified School Board Trustee
Tribal Groups
Elem Indian Colony Pomo Tribe
Business Owners and Business
Associations
Hundreds of business owners in Sacramento, Yolo,
Solano, Napa, and Sonoma and other counties
Landowners/Farmers
Sierra Orchards - Craig McNamara
Conaway Preservation Group - Kyriakos Tsakopoulos
Recreation Groups
Blue Ribbon Coalition
Back Country Horsemen of America
International Mountain Bicycling Association
Latino Outdoors
Lake County Horse Council
Individuals
More than 400
Brien and Marie Brennan
Tuleyome
John and Judy Ahmann
Richard Traverso
Perini Ranch - Dan Desmond
OPPOSITION
Yolo County Farm Bureau
Yolo County Cattle and Land Company
One individual
-- END --
Proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, List of
Supporters Page: 8 Updated: