Interior Secretary, BLM Director Visit Proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion

Nate Lillge • September 28, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:


Erika Brink, Full Court Press Communications


erika@fcpcommunications.com | (951) 553-3561


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


September 25, 2023


INTERIOR SECRETARY, BLM DIRECTOR VISIT PROPOSED

BERRYESSA SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT EXPANSION


Sacramento, CA — Today, tribal, congressional and community leaders thanked Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning for visiting Molok Luyuk, the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument expansion area. On Sunday, September 24, the Interior Secretary and BLM Director visited the lands and held a roundtable discussion to hear from local community leaders on the need for President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to protect the landscape.


“We are humbled and excited to have our Nation’s leaders visit our ancestral lands, particularly Molok Luyuk, an area of sacred and historic importance to Patwin tribes,” said Chairman Anthony Roberts, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. “Tribes have stewarded this area for millennia and welcome deeper collaboration with the Department of Interior and local stakeholders to protect Patwin culture and heritage.”


The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which is requesting the expansion, has a long and significant connection to Molok Luyuk, stretching back thousands of years. The ridge includes areas where religious ceremonies are practiced and sites that were central to vital trading routes. A key goal of this effort is also to establish co-management with federally recognized Tribes and to return to an Indigenous name for these lands. Molok Luyuk is Patwin for “Condor Ridge” and is a name provided by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Currently the area is referred to as “Walker Ridge.”


“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,” added 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.”


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 (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). President Obama designated the national monument in 2015, responding to a call from Representatives Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, then-Senator Barbara Boxer, other members of California’s Congressional delegation, and community leaders to permanently protect these lands.   


“Molok Luyuk is a rare treasure of rich cultural heritage and history, diverse wildlife and rare plants, stunning natural beauty and accessible recreational activities,” said Sandra Schubert, Executive Director of Tuleyome, leader of a local conservation organization and a participant in the roundtable. “We are deeply grateful to Secretary Haaland and Director Stone-Manning for visiting the lands and listening to why we want this special place protected. We encourage President Biden to expand the existing monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk.”


The proposed expansion area is located on the eastern edge of the existing monument and includes 13,753 acres of public lands in Lake and Colusa County. These BLM managed lands include oak woodlands, rocky outcroppings, wildflower meadows, the largest known stand of McNab cypress, and dozens of rare plant species. Protecting the landscape would help the state of California under Governor Gavin Newsom and the Biden Administration meet their shared goals to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030.


“Molok Luyuk is a ‘must protect’ area in the midst of a changing climate,” said Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, California Environmental Voters. “These public lands serve as a critical wildlife corridor for species such as tule elk, mountain lions and bears. It’s also home to imperiled wildlife such as bald and golden eagles and many rare plants. Protecting this habitat would help preserve critically important biodiversity.”


Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein and Representatives Garamendi and Thompson have called on President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and permanently protect Molok Luyuk (Condor Ridge). The Antiquities Act is a 1906 law that grants presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments to permanently conserve them.


“The meeting with Secretary Haaland and BLM Director Stone-Manning was a fruitful discussion on the many reasons why Molok Luyuk should be permanently protected,” said Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation, who attended the event. “The addition of Molok Luyuk will protect the area’s rich biodiversity and play an important role in helping the State of California and the Biden Administration meet its goal of protecting 30% of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030. We are grateful to the Interior Secretary and the BLM Director for personally visiting the area and listening to local community leaders.”


Popular recreation activities on these lands include hiking, mountain biking, photography, camping, horseback riding, and off highway vehicle (OHV) use on designated routes. Incorporating the adjacent federally owned land into the existing national monument would improve land management and public access, and protect sensitive wildlife, prime habitat areas, and cultural resources.


“As an avid OHV recreationist, I strongly support expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk,” said Don Amador, former chair of the CA State Park Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission. “The permanent protection of Molok Luyuk will improve the management of these lands and increase public access to recreation opportunities. This is a win-win for our community and I add my voice in support of President Biden using the Antiquities Act to expand the monument.”


To learn more about this effort and to sign a petition in support of the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, visit www.expandberryessa.org.


# # #


Photos of the lands to be protected are available for use here.


Please credit Bob Wick for these images.


Please contact Erika Brink for English and Spanish interview requests, please contact erika@fcpcommunications.com, (951) 553-3561.


For interviews with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, please contact R. Omar Carrillo, Director of Government Affairs at ocarrillo@yochadehe-nsn.gov (some interviews granted upon request).

RECENT ARTICLES

September 11, 2025
For Immediate Release: September 11, 2025  Contact: Nate Lillge, 530-379-8697, nlillge@tuleyome.org Trump Attacks Public Lands, Again Trump Proposes to Eliminate Public Lands Protections through Executive Action Woodland, CA – Yesterday, the Administration furthered their attack on America's public lands by directing the elimination of the Public Lands Rule . This is another step in the Administration’s wholesale assault on our public lands in clear opposition to the will of the people. The Public Lands Rule protects our treasured, multi-use landscapes so they'll be there tomorrow. The Rule recognizes that conservation is a type of land use, along with grazing, timber production, energy development, and recreation. Built on decades of management experience and guided by science and data, the rule provides land managers with essential tools to maintain our public lands, ensure access and protect our resources while supporting the diverse ways that communities depend on public lands. "The Public Lands Rule improves the management of our public lands, empowering the Bureau of Land Management to focus management on the needs of the lands where they work," says Sandra Schubert, Tuleyome Executive Director. "Rescinding the Public Lands Rule will rip authority from local land managers to place it in the hands of D.C. bureaucrats whose main goal is to sell our public lands to the highest bidder. All this in opposition to the overwhelming support for our public lands and their protection." By removing the Public Lands Rule, the Administration is failing ranchers and rural communities. Decision after decision made by this Administration has focused on short-term profit, extraction, and selling public lands to private entities. Supporting rural communities, the backbone of our economy and food systems, means ensuring farmers and ranchers have healthy lands they can depend on. It means empowering local BLM managers who understand what their communities need to thrive and provide for the American people. Overused lands don't recover. Degraded grasslands can't support cattle. Clearcut forests take decades to regrow. Contaminated watersheds poison communities for generations. True support for rural communities means embracing the Public Lands Rule. That is exactly why the American people want and support the Public Lands Rule. The Rule has overwhelming support. When given the chance to comment on the Public Lands Rule, more than 150,000 Americans did – 92% in support. When ranchers, recreationists, and resource companies all depend on the same lands, we recognize that we must use them responsibly to ensure they stay productive for everyone. The choice is clear: Protect our public lands for current and future generations, or consume everything now and leave nothing behind. Without the Public Lands Rule, our cherished landscapes lose protection and one of our greatest treasures, our public lands, is at risk.
By Sandra Schubert September 11, 2025
On July 10, 2025, we gathered to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument with the people who worked to establish the Monument in 2015 and add Molok Luyuk to it in 2024. We gathered in Lake County. The event began at the Tallman Hotel with folks gathering, speakers, trivia, food, videos, celebration and music by the Rural Jazz Project. We had folks from throughout the region – the Bay Area to Chico, Ukiah to Sacramento…. We had our partners at the Bureau of Land Management, local government representatives and all aspects of our broad coalition – conservationists, scientists, hunters, hikers, and community members, and more. The presentations and speakers were amazing. Tuleyome put together a reel of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument highlights . I was privileged to emcee the event and welcome our speakers and guests. We were honored to have Tribal leadership. Michael Marcks, Vice Chairperson, Executive Council, Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake graced us with opening prayer. Vice Chairman Michael Marcks was joined in providing remarks by Vice Chair Eddie Crandell, Vice Chairman for the Robinson Rancheria of Pomo Indians and Lake County Supervisor . Gail Totton, Tribal Resources Manager for the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation , the lead for the addition of Molok Luyuk to the Monument, shared their thoughts on the anniversary and Molok Luyuk. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla spoke to us via video and emphasized the importance of our efforts and our public lands. Luca Moretti read a statement on behalf of Representative Mike Thompson , a legendary champion of public lands, who commended us all and provided Tuleyome with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition . We were surprised and flattered with the honor bestowed upon us. Representative Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources , also spoke to us about his efforts to defend our public lands. Our state and local representatives also joined us. Rhiannon Philippi delivered remarks for California Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire. California Senator Christopher Cabaldon spoke to us via video and Sergio Emmanuel Ildefonso Zarate on his staff celebrated with us. Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry led a legislative resolution supporting the Monument, which was read by Laura Beltran . Many of our local Supervisors also celebrated with us. Brad Ramussen, Lake County Board of Supervisors , shared his insights. Lucas Frerichs, Yolo County Board of Supervisors , spoke to us and sponsored a Yolo County Board of Supervisor's resolution that was read by Bryan Pride, Tuleyome’s Policy Director . Neal Craig, BLM, Ukiah Field Office Manager , and our partners in protecting this amazing area, joined us and spoke to our collaboration. Interspersed with our speakers, Sara Husby, Tuleyome’s Executive Director when the Monument was established, led us in a series of trivia questions penned by Tuleyome’s own Kristie Ehrhardt. The depth of knowledge of our coalition shone through. And, it was fun. We hope folks enjoyed the prizes. Closing out the event were leaders in the conservation movement. José Gonzalez, founder and emeritus Executive Director of Latino Outdoors , offered his insights on the importance of public lands to all of our communities. Bob Schneider and Andrew Fulks , Tuleyome Co-founders and Tuleyome Advisory Council Members, shared the history of the movement and some stories, bringing us full circle, from the time when the idea of a Monument was a spark in their eyes to the establishment and expansion of the Monument. After the event at the Tallman, many of us headed to Middle Creek Campground, a few miles away for some nighttime fun. There was a nature walk with botany, forest bathing, star gazing, owling, s’mores, camping and laughter. I learned new ways of making s’mores, including a toasted marshmallow with a mini peanut butter cup tucked inside. Delicious! And, as a reminder of how wonderful our coalition is, there was an animal rescue. The morning after the event, many of us went to Judy’s Junction in Upper lake for breakfast. When I arrived with my mom, who had joined us, we saw numerous people under the hood of Jora’s car – Nick, Brendan, Karah, Isobel, Jora and a pair of legs sticking out from under the vehicle that I did not recognize. They were searching for a kitty that had lodged itself in Jora’s engine area. After much hullabaloo, the kitty ran – fast. We all thought – no, not over the highway! But, the little scamp jumped into another newly parked car engine. The chivalrous owner opened his hood and let us at it. I didn’t do much. I offered my shirt as a barrier to the hot engine. The heroes were the others. Folks from inside the diner pitched in, but it was our coalition to the rescue – the folks above and then Kim showed up. I’m not sure how, after all the time and efforts, but she was finally able to reach in and rescue the kitty. I saw her pull the little ebony guy out, hug him and rub her face against his. And I knew – he was no longer abandoned; he had a forever home. And, I was right, the little guy is now living with Kim and her family. I didn’t need the confirmation, but watching our group spend a couple of hours rescuing that little creature reminded me why I love this community. We care – all of us – about the life, the place and the creatures we live with. All of them. Big and small. None of this would have been possible without our generous sponsors: CalWild, Conservation Lands Foundation, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club National, Sierra Club Redwood Chapter, Tallman Hotel and Tuleyome. Thank you so much for your continuing support of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and all of our public lands. And thanks to all of you – everyone at the celebration, those who could not join us, and the kitty rescue team. You are what community is. I am honored to be part of ours. -Sandra Schubert Executive Director
By Nate Lillge September 11, 2025
Tuleyome is excited to welcome Mary Lamborn as our Communications Intern. She will working closely with Tuleyome staff to increase Tuleyome's outreach and positive impact on public lands in the northern Inner Coast Range Mountains and western Sacramento Valley. Mary is a recent graduate of UC Davis with a B.S. in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. As a native of the northern Inner Coast Range, she has deep ties to the region and spent time on the trails and waterways in Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Welcome, Mary!