Monumental Questions - What is National Wilderness Month?

Nate Lillge • September 21, 2022

Exploring Cedar Roughs Wilderness in Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the 1964 Wilderness Act which created the National Wilderness Preservation System. At that time, there were 54 designated wilderness areas in 13 states encompassing 9.1 million acres. Included in the Wilderness Act is this wonderful definition of wilderness:


“A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” – Howard Zahniser

Since 1964, Congress has designated more than 111 million acres of land in more than 800 wilderness areas. Twenty years after the passage of the Wilderness Act, 1984 is the year in which the most new wilderness areas were created.


In addition to providing us with places to remove ourselves from the day-to-day busyness, designated wilderness areas help protect us against climate change, help reduce natural disasters, and provide a refuge for biodiversity. Forests help offset a portion of greenhouse gas emissions, native grasslands and wetlands retain water to lessen the impacts of floods and offering relief for droughts.


Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument includes three wilderness areas – Snow Mountain Wilderness, Cedar Roughs Wilderness, and Cache Creek Wilderness. Snow Mountain Wilderness is located in the Mendocino National Forest and encompasses over 60,000 acres of subalpine forest and chaparral. Cedar Roughs Wilderness is west of Lake Berryessa and is the smallest of the three wilderness areas at 6,287 acres. It includes many different ecosystems including stands of Sargent Cypress (Hesperocyparis sargentii). In 2006, 27,294 acres in eastern Lake County were designated as Cache Creek Wilderness. Cache Creek flows through the wilderness and is bordered by oak woodlands. If you’re observant while in the wilderness, you may spot a herd of tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes).


September is National Wilderness Month. Wilderness areas are great places to reconnect to nature and to sit back and relax (bring your own chair).


-Nate Lillge (nlillge@tuleyome.org)


Tuleyome Adventures and Engagement Director


Certified California Naturalist

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We are excited to announce the dates for next year's Certified California Naturalist courses! Our multi-week course will be held Fridays, January 16 to March 6 with three field trips held on Saturdays. Our one-week immersive course at Wilbur Hot Springs Resort is April 12 - 17 . Tuleyome’s Certified California Naturalist (CalNat) program trains members of the public to become California Naturalists. No advanced degree or previous naturalist experience is required – Tuleyome teaches you everything you need to know to become certified. Our course is focused on the northern inner Coast Range mountains, specifically the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region. The program, developed by the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, is designed to introduce Californians to the wonders of our unique ecology and engage the public in study and stewardship of California’s natural communities. The California Naturalist program uses science curriculum, hands-on learning, problem-solving, participatory science, and community service to instill a deep appreciation for the natural communities of the state and to inspire individuals to become stewards of their local resources. Courses combine classroom and field experience in science, problem-solving, communication training and community service, taught by an instructor and team of experts. Check out the Certified California Naturalist page for more information. -Nate Lillge (nlillge@tuleyome.org) Tuleyome Adventures and Engagement Director Certified California Naturalist
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