Garamendi, Thompson Introduce Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA03), former Deputy Secretary of the Interior during the Clinton Administration, introduced the "Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act" (H.R.6366) with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA05) as the bill's original cosponsor. This legislation would expand the National Monument designated by President Obama in 2015 to include an adjacent federally owned land parcel in Lake County known as the "Walker Ridge" tract. Congressman Garamendi's bill also renames the entire ridgeline in Lake and Colusa Counties from "Walker Ridge" to "Condor Ridge ("Molok Luyuk" in the Patwin language), befitting the area's cultural significance to Native Americans like the federally recognized Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

In 2014, Congressman Mike Thompson championed bicameral legislation to establish the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, with then-Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Garamendi. In July 2015, President Obama declared the federal land surrounding Lake Berryessa as a National Monument, at the Congressmen's urging.

On July 29, 2021, Congressman Garamendi announced a public comment period on this draft legislation to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. Over the nearly 200 public comments submitted to the Congressman's office, all but one supported the proposed expansion.

"Conserving California's special places has been a lifelong passion throughout my tenure in the state legislature, as Deputy Secretary of the Interior to President Clinton, and now as a member of Congress representing Lake County. Walker Ridge is one of those special places, and I am thrilled to continue working in Congress to conserve this unique landscape for future generations of Californians to enjoy," said Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA03).

"In 2016, I worked to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Monument to protect the pristine landscape and biodiversity of the region while creating countless recreational opportunities and boosting our local economy. This legislation will expand the Snow Mountain region to include Walker Ridge, protecting even more public land. I'm honored to work with Congressman Garamendi to ensure that our public lands are protected for generations to come," said Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA05)," said Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA05).

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