Policy Corner: Keeping Public Lands Public

Bryan Pride • April 4, 2025

A lot has happened in the Public Lands space since our last Policy Corner. Doug Burgum took his role as the 55th Secretary of the Interior, and Kathleen Sgamma received confirmation to head the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The House Natural Resources Committee has held several oversight hearings on topics ranging from selling off public lands to establish American Energy Dominance, defunding federal agencies such as BLM as a method to incentivize Multiple Land Use by private companies and undercutting the efficacy of the Endangered Species Act (ESA)and calling it a “needed reform”. Through questionable actions made by DOGE, we have also seen thousands of Forest Service, BLM and National Park employees fired and, through court order, rehired. With all this chaos happening far and near, the real question becomes: What does all this chaos mean for Californians?


Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land is concentrated in 12 western states. California holds nearly 15 million acres of BLM lands. In addition to BLM land, California has land that is managed by other federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The recent reductions to staff across all federal agencies directly impacts National Monuments, National Parks, and National Forests, that are located within California.


Every year, Californians, residents from nearby states, as well as international tourists visit the public lands within California as a way to spend time with families, enjoy the great outdoors, and experience mental healing. The National Park Service reported that 36.2 million people visited the 28 national parks in California in 2023. Those visitors spent roughly $3.2 billion dollars, which supported 39,678 California-based jobs and contributed $5.1 billion dollars to our state economy. While it may not be as visible, the presence of BLM and U.S Forest Service also creates jobs in California and positively contributes to the local economies of our communities and the overall economic strength of California as a whole. Public Lands are more than recreation; they create employment opportunities and contribute to economic prosperity.


Despite National Monument and public lands holding immense value in the hearts and minds of Californians and the American people in general, our public lands are being threatened. It was announced earlier in the month that DOGE plans to close federal offices across the United States. One of the offices that has been targeted to close is the Ukiah BLM office. The Ukiah BLM office plays a significant role in coordinating protection for the federal lands in California ranging from the intercostal mountain range and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which includes the Mendocino forest. The Ukiah office assists with issuing permits for timber harvesting, livestock grazing, off highway vehicle recreation, and overseeing proper adherence to environmental preservation practices. Additionally, Ukiah is essential in coordinating CalFire dispatch and response to the wildfires that affect our forests and our communities.


The Ukiah BLM office also houses the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Manager. Without a Ukiah office, the Monument Manager's ability to respond to fires, guarantee safety, and ensure that conservation practices are taking place in and around the monument is reduced. This means that our public lands and forests are at heightened risk of wildfires and trails we love to hike become unsafe to those who use them.


The closure of the physical office is not the only threat to Ukiah BLM operations. Many of the staff have been in their posts for years and have recently been promoted, meaning the invaluable staff is at risk of being terminated due to their probationary status. We run the risk of losing these public servants and the institutional knowledge they have of our public lands. 1.5 million Californians throughout the region will be affected if we lose the Ukiah office or staff.


The Department of Interior (DOI) is also proposing selling an area of federal land larger than the city of Los Angeles as part of the agency's plan to use public lands to help solve the recently announced "housing and energy crisis." The DOI is looking to sell about 400,000 acres—625 square miles—of federal lands for housing. Federal lands that are within a radius of up to 10 miles of all cities and towns with a population greater than 5,000 people are at risk of being sold to private companies. This has the potential to affect communities that are near the Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument. When private companies have ownership of land that surrounds protected landscapes, public access to National Monuments is reduced, oversight on how once-public lands are managed is lost which has the potential to result in the destruction of monuments such as the Berryessa Snow Mountain.


With so much going on in the Public Lands and Conservation space, Tuleyome is working hard within our networks to fight against policies that put our public lands at risk. For the past several weeks, we have connected with both Congressional Offices and members of the California State Legislature, asking our representatives to be advocates for our public lands and promote good land stewardship.

On March 18th, Tuleyome joined the California Power in Nature Advocacy day, where we, along with 80 other organizations throughout California, gathered in Sacramento to advocate for policies that prioritize the protection of California Public Lands and Coastal Waters. This was an opportunity for Tuleyome to amplify the voices and concerns that many of us have regarding public lands and the importance of prioritizing land protection. We were well received by California Legislators and hope to see statewide initiatives that strengthen conservation practices and promote good land stewardship.


Reaching beyond a state level, Tuleyome is partaking in a Conservation Lands Foundation advocacy Fly-in where I will be visiting Congressional Representatives in Washington D.C. and advocating for the importance of: public lands remaining public, the necessity to reinstate park rangers and other public servants in our U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management offices. Our visit to Washington will feature stories and connections about how we enjoy our public lands as outdoor enthusiasts, community members, botanists, and individuals whose livelihoods are dependent on public lands.


Each time we engage in these efforts, Tuleyome is representing our diverse community and advocating on behalf of the land we love, but we could still use more help in amplifying the importance and love of our public lands.


I want to thank everyone who has been emailing and asking how to help advocate for our public lands. All of us have the ability to advocate for keeping our public lands in the hands of the public; together, we have strength, and we can amplify our voices.

For those of you who are interested in getting involved, there are many ways to help out. Some of the most impactful efforts include calling your state and federal representatives. Elected officials want to hear from you. Calling elected officials leads to impact; each call is documented and reviewed. It is one of the best methods for elected officials to keep record of what their constituents care about. I want to urge our readers to call your representatives, and it's okay to call multiple times. Each time you call, it is documented and demonstrates the urgency associated with the cause. Even if you called once before, call again and keep calling.


Reaching out to friends, family members, and community groups and encouraging them to call their representatives is a powerful way to advocate. Don't know who your representative is? No problem—use these links to find both state and federal representatives by using your zip code.


You can also send letters to elected officials. Using this link, you have the chance to send a letter to your elected officials and customize what you want to say about public lands. We encourage folks to use these grassroots options and join the fight to keep our public lands public.


All of us have the ability to advocate for our public lands and its resources – wildlife, flora, fauna, water and culture. If you're interested in learning more ways to help raise awareness and advocate for your public lands, feel free to reach out to me.


Until then, Happy Hiking!


-Bryan Pride (bpride@tuleyome.org)

Policy Director

RECENT ARTICLES

Policy Corner: The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act

By Diego Barraza • December 3, 2025
In October, Tuleyome hosted a community walking tour showcasing Mare Island’s southwestern coastal wetlands, a notable potion of the six distinct parcels proposed to be included in The San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act. By law, National Wildlife Refuges overseen by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), are legally mandated to conserve migratory bird and endangered species habitat while allowing for public access and recreation compatible with those mandates. This boundary expansion legislation is expected to be introduced in the 119 th Congress by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). Approximately 6,934 new acres would be included in the boundary expansion. The boundary expansion aims to enhance the existing refuge’s 24,390 acres of essential wetland habitats along the coastlines of Sonoma, Solano, and Napa Counties. These tidal marshes, mud flats, and seasonal wetlands all host migratory birds, small mammals, and form the nursery grounds to sensitive fish species. Some iconic species include the California clapper rail, salt marsh harvest mouse, San Pablo song sparrow, and Suisun shrew. Current owners of the parcels that are proposed to be included within the refuge boundaries are the State Lands Commission, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the Sonoma Land Trust, all who support the proposal.

Monumental Questions - The United States Endangered Species Act

By Kristie Ehrhardt • December 3, 2025
You may have heard that there are some modifications brewing regarding the protections afforded species by the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA). Often regarded as one of the most powerful and effective (as well as sometimes controversial) environmental laws in the United States, the ESA was written into law with bipartisan support on December 28, 1973. The purpose of the ESA was to provide the infrastructure to conserve species and their habitats here in the United States and elsewhere. To date 99% of the species listed under the ESA have avoided becoming extinct. Under the law, organizations as well as individuals can petition to have a species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA. The petitions then undergo extensive evaluation and review by scientists and the public prior to a decision being made about whether the species in question should be listed under the ESA. The ESA also requires that critical habitat areas also be protected as well as recovery plans be drafted for the species. Although this sounds very rigid, the law does allow for flexibility and requires coordination between federal, state, tribal and local agencies to conserve and protect species and their habitat. As the ESA currently stands, once a species is listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA, it and its habitat is afforded formal protection. Any impacts to the species itself or its habitat will likely require a permit and possibly remediation from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or other leading agency. Under the required recovery plans, populations are monitored over several years to determine if efforts being made are aiding to its recovery. Once a species is considered recovered, it is removed from the special-status species list. Admittedly it is a long process but it is successful. One of the most illustrious delisting is that of the Bald Eagle ( Haliaectus leucocephalus ) in 2007 following the banning of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and a recovery period for the eagles. Another celebrated species that has been delisted from the ESA is the American Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ) in 1999 following a captive breeding program and other intense conservation efforts. In 2016, more species were removed from the special-status species list than ever before. The other way that species can be removed from the special-status species list is if the decline has become irreversible and they are unfortunately classified as extinct. Habitat loss, overuse, competition from invasive non-native species and disease introduction are often human-caused and can be reversible if caught early enough. The goal of the ESA is to strengthen and highlight conservation efforts for species and their associated habitats. In addition to the ESA, the United States also works in cooperation with Migratory Bird Treaties with Canada, Mexico and Japan as well as the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere, the International Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries, the International Convention for the High Seas Fisheries of the North Pacific Ocean, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and other international agreements. The ESA also offers assistance to states and other associated parties to develop and utilize conservation programs that meet national and international conservation standards for the best interest of the US citizens and our heritage in fish, wildlife and plants. The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument is home to several species protected under the ESA including the federally threatened Northern Spotted Owl ( Strix occidentallis caurina ), the federally endangered Pacific Marten ( Martes caurina ) and the Pacific Fisher ( Pekania pennanti ), the federally threatened California Coastal Chinook Salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytseha ) and the Northern California Steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss indeas ).  -Kristie Ehrhardt ( kehrhardt@tuleyome.org ) Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager

Enjoying Outside! - Wild Turkeys

By Kristie Ehrhardt • December 3, 2025
Urban legend has it that our national symbol was nearly the Wild Turkey. Ben Franklin called them a “bird of courage” and it’s been said that he suggested that the Bald Eagle be replaced with a Wild Turkey. I’m not sure if that is true but I will say that after having a confrontation with the turkey brigade, they are not to be messed with. There are only two species of Wild Turkey world wide; the one we’re familiar with here in North America (Meleagris gallopavo) and the Ocellated Turkey (M. ocellata) found in Central America. For different reasons, the Wild Turkey is probably one of the most recognizable birds in the United States. Although I think they look best foraging under oak trees, some think they look even better on a platter surrounded by all the Thanksgiving accoutrements. Wild Turkeys are upland game birds and belong to the family Galliformes. The domesticated white turkey is a relative of our pretty Wild Turkey. Adult males have featherless red heads, long reddish-yellow legs with three toes facing forward and one rear-facing toe just below a nasty spur that they use to fight other males with. Their body feathers are generally dark brown and black with a stunning coppery sheen and a fan shaped tail. His iridescent feathers have areas of bronze, copper, green, gold, purple and red. Females on the other hand are about half the size of males and in following female upland game bird dress code, are mainly drab brown to camouflage while sitting on the nest. Ironically, this hefty brute that tries to intimate shoppers in the grocery store parking lot or corner toddlers in the neighborhood park was nearly extinct by the 20th century. By the early 1900’s only about 200,000 individuals were left roaming the country-sides of the United States due to habitat loss and over-hunting. Thanks to conservation efforts and responsible hunting practices, today their population is estimated at 6.5 billion wild birds in the United States. While several states have “turkey-rich refuges” here in California it seems that the birds have badgered their way into many of our urban and suburban areas. Wild Turkeys have funny appendages with funny names. The wattle is the skin flap that hangs from the beak to the neck and the snood is the piece of flesh that dangles from the beak. Can you guess what a caruncle is? Naturally, they’re the little bumps of flesh that cover the bird’s necks and heads. And of course we can’t forget about their beards - those are the bundle of stiff feathers that grow from their chests. All males have them and so do a few females but theirs is not nearly as glorious as the males’. The beard gets longer as the bird ages and biologists still don’t know what the purpose they serve. Very young turkeys are called poults and eat insects like they were gummy bears. As they age they develop a more refined and mature pallet and begin to incorporate some vegetation. Adult turkeys eat acorns, nuts, seeds, berries, insects and even small reptiles and amphibians. Young males are called jakes and adult males are called Toms while female turkeys are called hens. Wild Turkeys are highly adaptable and in California they can be found occupying a wide range of habitat types from oak woodlands, to mixed conifer forests, valley riparian, high deserts and even suburban parks and parking lots. You may find them pecking at their reflections in glass office complex doors, strutting around the post office parking lot or sitting on the hood of your car in the driveway. Fun Wild Turkey Facts! Wild Turkeys are much more agile than they appear. They have been clocked at 18 miles per hour on foot and can fly 50 to 60 miles per hour! Wild Turkeys have excellent vision and can see three times better than our perfect 20/20! They can change the color of their heads based on their mood! Although they’ve been called “courageous”, these softies sleep together in trees for safety. Males and female turkeys can be distinguished based on the size and shape of their droppings. Who knew? On average, adult Wild Turkeys have between five and six thousand feathers! When you’re walking off your Thanksgiving meal, keep an eye out for these beauties. Their habitat includes more than just your dinner table!  -Kristie Ehrhardt ( kehrhardt@tuleyome.org ) Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager