by Victoria Brandon
Redwood Chapter Chair
On Tuesday January 11 Redwood Chapter conservation leaders were thrilled to learn that Congressman John Garamendi has introduced legislation to permanently protect 4000 acres of the Lake County portion of what is now known as Walker Ridge by adding it to the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The bill, The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion Act or HR 6366, also includes a precedent-setting provision for Tribal co-management, mandates prompt preparation of a long-delayed management plan for the whole monument, and changes the name of the designated area and adjacent wildlands to “Molok Luyuk,” a name in the Patwin language that translates to “Condor Ridge”.
The Condor Ridge region, which straddles the Lake and Colusa County lines just north of Highway 20 and east of Indian Valley Reservoir, is culturally significant to several Native American Tribes, and notable for outstanding habitat, important wildlife connectivity, and diversified recreational potential. Condor Ridge is “a jewel of biodiversity,” according to Nick Jensen, conservation program director for the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), which has long advocated for the area to be given special status as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Among other things he was referring to Molok Luyuk’s 30 species of rare plants, ancient blue oak woodlands, rugged rock outcrops, wildflower meadows, rolling hills of chaparral and extensive stands of McNab cypress.
The expanded monument would also mark an important step toward helping the State of California and the Biden Administration meet the critical goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030.
Permanent protection of this extraordinary landscape has been a priority for Lake Group and Redwood Chapter for a long time. HR 6366, with Congressman Mike Thompson as original co-sponsor, is also supported by the Lake County Board of Supervisors, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, and many environmental groups including CNPS, Tuleyome, and the California Wilderness Coalition.
We look forward to celebrating this legislation’s prompt passage.