Barbara Boxer: “I am pleased to introduce the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act. Congressman Mike Thompson and I…”

“I am pleased to introduce the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act. Congressman Mike Thompson and I introduced this legislation in the 112th Congress, and I am glad to continue working on this effort with him in this new Congress. This important legislation designates close to 350,000 acres of public lands in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Yolo Counties as the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area, or NCA. The area is a haven for hiking, camping, rafting, and horseback riding, and is home to a diverse array of wildlife including black bears and bald eagles. My bill does not add any new lands to the Federal Government, the lands included in this NCA are already managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service and it does not apply to state or private lands. A National Conservation Area designation will require these three agencies to develop a multi- agency management plan in consultation with stakeholders and the public, improving coordination on wildlife preservation, habitat restoration, and recreational opportunities. Creation of the NCA will also help the agencies take a more coordinated approach to preventing and fighting wildfires, combating invasive species and water pollution, and stopping the spread of illegal marijuana growth.…”