Tuleyome Book Recommendations 2022

Nate Lillge • November 9, 2021

   December 2022

Otherlands: A Journey Through Earth's Extinct Worlds


by Thomas Halliday

November 2022

Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle's Incredible Journey Home


by Lindsay Moore


In 1997, a loggerhead turtle was rescued after enduring injury to its shell. She was given the name Yoshi by her rescuer and taken to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa where she spent 20 years being rehabilitated until finally scientists felt confident she could return to the sea. With the use of a tracking device, scientists were able to monitor Yoshi's remarkable journey home after so many years. Lindsay Moore's beautiful telling of this story through watercolor pictures and poetic, informative text is inspiring for kids and adults alike

This Contested Land


by McKenzie Long


McKenzie Long discusses thirteen national monuments, including Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, and the stories, controversies, and passions of each.

October 2022

The California Field Atlas


by Obi Kaufmann


Obi Kaufmann has spent years exploring the backcountry of California, striving to understand the state's many ecosystems. Through the pages of The California Field Atlas, Obi explains the wonders of the Golden State with poetic prose and colorful illustrations.

August 31, 2022

Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict


by Michael T. Klare


International security expert Michael T. Klare argues that in the early decades of the new millennium, wars will be fought not over ideology but over access to dwindling supplies of precious natural commodities.

July 20, 2022

The Cold Canyon Fire Journals


by Robin Lee Carlson


This is Robin's first book and it details the impacts of fire on Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve - one of the area's most popular hiking spots.

June 22, 2022

The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook


by Ann M. Evans


Ann Evans is the co-founder of the Davis Farmers Market. The book includes recipes for year-round cooking from market offerings and provides information about some of the vendors

May 25, 2022

Pacific Coast Tree Finder: A Pocket Manual for Identifying Pacific Coast Trees


by Tom Watts


A handy book that easily fits in your pocket. Don't know what tree you're looking at? You will with this easy to follow, step-by-step guide!

April 27, 2022

Oaks of California


by Bruce M. Pavlik, Pamela C. Muick, Sharon G. Johnson, and Marjorie Popper


"The first book ever devoted to the state's native oaks..." This is a wonderful, detailed book about the diversity of oaks, human history with the trees, and their importance to wildlife.

March 30, 2022

The Cougar Conundrum: Sharing the World with a Successful Predator


by Mark Elbroch


Mark Elbroch, mountain lion biologist, discusses whether mountain lions are a threat to humans and domestic animals and their need for protection as they are forced to the edge of their habitat. This book provides information and advice for this wildlife modern wildlife challenge.


March 2, 2022

Gertrude's Oaks: The History & Legacy of Woodland's Urban Forest


by David L. Wilkinson


Woodland was founded as a small in the middle of a valley oak grove and given it's name by Gertrude Swain Freeman - whose husband founded the town. More information about David Wilkinson's book is available here. David will be signing books on Friday March 6 at 6 pm at Local Inspirations, 524 Main Street, Woodland.


February 2, 2022

The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees


by Douglas W. Tallamy


Oaks are very distinctive and full of stories. This book highlights the seasonal cycles of the trees and the connections they have with other living organisms - from woodpeckers to caterpillars. It also provides information about what species of oak is the best to plant in your area.


January 5, 2022

America's National Monuments: the Politics of Preservation


by Hal Rothman


Rothman investigates the history of national monuments, and follows the evolution of federal preservation which has saved many natural, cultural, and arhaeologically significant sites. In the twentieth century, national monuments tended to be behind the national park system. Laws, policies, personalities, and rivalries all affected efforts to preserve these important locations.


December 10, 2021

Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of Western North America


by David Allen Sibley


This is a comprehensive guide to birds in the western United States. Over 700 bird species found west of the Rocky Mountains are included with illustrations and maps. This is a great resource for beginner and expert birders. This comes in handy when trying to identify the millions of birds migrating through the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region right now!



November 10, 2021

Our National Monuments: America's Hidden Gems


by QT Luong


Yes, we recommended this book a couple of weeks ago but we are excited to have been included in this wonderful book. QT Luong has assembled many wonderful pictures from 27 national monuments, including Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument! The book was published yesterday, November 9! Head to the website to get your own copy!


October 27, 2021

Our National Monuments: America's Hidden Gems


by QT Luong


This book showcases 27 national monuments - including Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument - with beautiful photographs and highlights the importance, significance, and wonder of the monuments. The author hiked and camped in the 22 land-based national monuments that were subject to the 2017 executive order questioning the designation of 27 national monuments. The book includes maps, descriptions of the author's explorations and highlights of the monuments. The book, set to be published November 2, is now available for pre-order via QT Luong's blog and Amazon.



September 29, 2021

The Largest Avian Radiation


by Jon Fjeldsa, Les Christidis, and Per G.P. Ericson (Editors)


This book explains how DNA has been used to complete a tree of life for the 6,200 perching bird species, which are 60% of all birds. It discusses how the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs had less of an impact on the southern hemisphere and therefore, the perching birds we see today can be traced back to that hemisphere.

by Robin Wall Kimmerer


GatheringMoss is a beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection that invites readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses. Robin Wall Kimmerer shares a series of linked personal essays that lead readers to an understanding of how mosses live and how their lives are intertwined with the lives of countless other beings, as well as what these fascinating organisms have to teach us.

RECENT ARTICLES

By Bryan Pride May 9, 2025
Across the country wildfires are increasingly more catastrophic; growing larger, spreading faster and burning longer than before. Nationwide, the total acres burned rose dramatically from 2.7 million in 2023 to nearly 9 million in 2024 . California is averaging more than 7,500 wildfires annually . Not including the recent Los Angeles fires, six of the top ten most destructive fires, three of the five deadliest fires, and all of the state's nine largest fires have occurred since 2017. It is unsustainable for both California and the country to continue burning at this magnitude. This leaves us with the question: "What can be done to solve the wildfire problem?" In response to this growing crisis, lawmakers are taking action. Congress is advancing different versions of the Fix Our Forests Act ( FOFA ) in the Senate and House of Representatives. How these bills progress and the opportunities to amend, change or improve these bills are constrained by the different processes in the House and the Senate. The House of Representatives The House of Representatives version of FOFA, (H.R. 471) , was introduced by Representative Bruce Westerman (R-AR) in January 2025 with 43 bipartisan cosponsors, including several from California. With a stated goal to expedite forest management activities under NEPA. H.R. 471, it significantly reflects Executive Order 14225, "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production" (March 1, 2025). While the legislation takes some important steps, there are also significant concerns regarding rollbacks of environmental protections and judicial review. FOFA , H.R. 471, establishes an interagency Fireshed Center overseen by the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service comprised of 15 agencies, administrations, departments and bureaus to gather data, provide guidance and work with states and tribes. It sets up a process to designate “fireshed management areas” and expands projects exempt from full reviews from 3,000 – 10,000 acres. The bill heavily favors logging as a form of fire management, but also embraces prescribed burns and prioritizes reforestation and restoration projects. H.R. 471 grants numerous “categorical exclusions”, exempting areas and projects from review under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and National Historic Preservation Act. H.R. 471 also fast-tracks environmental review and consultation. At the same time, the Administration is significantly gutting personnel and expertise through DOGE and its budget. H.R. 471 alters the judicial process. H.R. 471 limits when a court can grant injunctive relief. What is injunctive relief? That is the ability of the court to say: “Stop doing what you are doing.” Or slow it down, or change it, while we figure this out. It is common. Removing it is unusual. H.R. 471 limits the court’s ability to order corrective actions, limits plaintiff’s ability to sue, limits the court’s ability to require additional data from an agency and allows the challenged activities to go forward while under review. H.R. 471 also decreases the statute of limitations (the time that someone has to sue) from 6 years to 120 days. Much concern was expressed over the expansion of categorical exclusions, the change in judicial review procedures and timelines and fast-tracking of proposals. However, there was no opportunity to address any of these issues. When a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, much like in the Senate, it is assigned to a committee with subject matter expertise. Committees study bills, hold hearings and gather testimony from experts. Committees hold mark-up sessions to debate and make changes to the bill through amendments. When a House of Representatives Committee passes a bill, it sends the bill to the House Rules Committee. The House Rules committee determines the form of the bill, which amendments will be allowed, how long folks will have to speak, or not, and when the bill moves. The House Rules Committee is run by the party in power, by the majority party. The Rules Committee is heavily tilted to favor the majority party, giving it full control over the floor of the House or Representatives. The Rules Committee has nine members of the majority party, Republicans, and 4 members of the minority party, Democrats. There is no comparable Committee in the Senate. No committee hearings or mark-ups were held on H.R. 471. Only three amendments and only one hour of debate were allowed. In the House of Representatives, a simple majority vote is necessary for bill passage. In January 2025, the H.R. 471 passed the House of Representatives on a vote of 279-141 without a hearing or mark-up and with scant debate. In the Senate Now, attention has turned to the Senate, where Senators Curtis (R-UT), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Sheehy (R-MT) and Padilla’s (D-CA) version of FOFA , S. 1462 , introduced in April, is making its way through the Senate process. The bill’s stated goal is to improve forest management on BLM and USFS lands. Similar to the House of Representatives, when a bill is introduced in the Senate, it is assigned to a committee for study, hearings, expert testimony, a mark-up session and amendments. In fact, the Senate Agriculture Committee has already begun reviewing the legislation, holding a legislative hearing on S. March 6 . The next step will be a mark-up in committee, where we can expect to see robust debate. If the Committee decides to move forward with the bill, it sends it to the full Senate. If a committee does not send the bill to the Senate, the bill dies in committee. Once a bill is released from committee, the Majority Leader of the Senate is responsible for deciding when to send the legislation for a vote. There is no Rules Committee. At this stage of floor consideration and debate is when there is the most significant difference in the legislative process between the House and the Senate. During floor consideration, a senator or group of senators can exercise their right to unlimited debate through a filibuster, which can keep legislation off the floor indefinitely. Once a debate is closed through cloture, the Senate can move to a final vote on the bill, which requires a simple majority of 51 votes. A bill on the Senate floor requires only 51 votes to pass after a debate has ended, but it takes 60 votes to cut off debate through a process called "cloture." If 60 Senators vote in favor of ending the debate, it will move to a final vote. Because of the razor thin margin in the Senate – 53 Rs, 45 Ds and 2 Independents – Republicans will need Democrats to vote with them to stop debate and advance FOFA to a vote. The requirement for broader consensus often means that legislation passed by the Senate has undergone more compromise. This provides an opportunity for the minority party to shape the bill that is not present in the House of Representatives. Thus, the Senate version of FOFA, S. 1462 , represents a significant improvement over the House version. It too sets up “fireshed management areas” and calls for fireshed assessments, albeit based on different criteria than the House version. A centerpiece of S. 1462 is the establishment of Wildfire Intelligence Center staffed by wildfire experts, technical leads, and indigenous leaders and governed by a Board of 16 agencies, administrations, departments and bureaus. The legislation removes historical barriers that previously prevented foresters, fire teams, and indigenous communities from implementing these preventative practices, allowing for more proactive management across all phases of wildfire prevention, response, and recovery. These centers create opportunities for multifaceted approaches throughout the entire fire management cycle, from prevention to rapid response to restoration. The Senate version also retains more authority for environmental reviews and judicial action. While the S. 1462 retains greater environmental review under NEPA and the National Historic Preservation Act, it also rolls back ESA reviews of land management plans and other environmental reviews depending on acreage. S. 1462 too limits injunctive relief, although not as significantly as the House version. S. 1462 leaves untouched other aspects of judicial review. The Senate version of FOFA has garnered bipartisan support from leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties, as well as from California Governor Gavin Newsom, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, and CAL Fire Director and Fire Chief Joe Tyler. Next Steps for the Legislation If the Senate passes a version of FOFA that is different from the House version, which is highly likely, a conference committee will be formed with members from both the House and the Senate to reconcile the differences. After the conference committee reaches agreement on a bill, both chambers must vote again to approve the reconciled bill before it can go before the President to be signed into law. Tuleyome will continue to keep you updated on the Fix Our Forests Act s. We hope to see real-time action and solutions to improve the fire resilience of our communities and our forests and improve forest health and wildfire management. Co-Authored by Bryan Pride and Sandra Schubert
May 9, 2025
I first heard about Tuleyome when I saw an ad for its California Certified Naturalist Class. I was recently retired and looking for a way to meet others and learn more about our natural environment. I met so many motivated advocates and eager learners in the class, and some have become good friends. Tuleyome focuses on a part of California I didn't know well. After completing the course I began participating in Naturalist class field trips, K-12 school outings, events, and Silver Spur Ranch camera maintenance trips. I love to help with the Naturalist class because I know the difference it made in my life. I also like turning kids and adults on to our special corner of California and the work Tuleyome is doing to preserve it. I make small regular donations now as an extension of my support for the mission. Tuleyome’s focus on a part of Northern California that is often overlooked resonates with me. It has been championing the inland coastal range and watersheds for protection, education, and wise use for 20+ years. I also appreciate how Tuleyome works with divergent spheres of interest, inspiring collaboration instead of conflict. Those partnerships have paid off locally, with Yolo County park development and Putah and Cache Creek watershed education and volunteer events. That’s an amazing legacy!  I want Tuleyome to succeed in their mission and that means supporting stability in staff and organizational resources. I figure every little bit helps.
By Kristie Ehrhardt May 9, 2025
May 2, 2025 marked one glorious year of Federal protection for the newest addition to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument - Molok Luyuk! Just a year ago, President Biden used the Antiquities Act to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include the mountainous ridge that runs along the eastern edge of the monument. Protecting Molok Luyuk, formally known as Walker Ridge, means that crucial wildlife migration corridors are protected and that biodiversity is safeguarded. Preserving Molok Luyuk provides an essential link between the existing monument and other protected areas for Black Bears, Mountain Lions and Tule Elk. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation gave the name Molok Luyuk and renaming it means returning an indigenous name to the ridge. Molok Luyuk is Patwin for “Condor Ridge” and it is located in Patwin heartland. Preserving the ridge means preserving significant ceremonial sites for the Miwok, Pomo and Wappo people as well as protecting vital, historic Tribal trading routes. The entire monument and much of the surrounding area is all part of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation’s vast ancestral lands. Molok Luyuk is a geologically unique area that presents 60-100 million years of history all within less than 14,00 acres. Plate tectonics has given rise to extraordinary biodiversity and the area has been called “perhaps the most accessible location” to see the unique geology of the entire Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. “A walk across Molok Luyuk is a walk through 100 million years of history.” Together with our conservation partners, Tuleyome invites you to help us celebrate this Momentous occasion by taking a trip to visit our favorite monument. The wildflowers are amazing! -Kristie Ehrhardt ( kehrhardt@tuleyome.org ) Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager