[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 103 (Wednesday, July 11, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S4895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 3375. A bill to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain National 
Conservation Area in the State of California, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Berryessa 
Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act. Congressman Mike Thompson 
recently introduced companion legislation to this bill in the House of 
Representatives, and I thank him for all of the work he has done on 
advancing this initiative.
  This important legislation designates 319,000 acres of public lands 
in Lake, Mendocino, Napa, 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. 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.
  By unifying these individual places under one banner, my bill helps 
put the Berryessa Snow Mountain region on the map as a destination for 
new visitors. This region is one of the most biologically diverse, yet 
least known regions of California. By raising its profile, an NCA 
designation will boost tourism and increase business opportunities in 
the region's gateway communities. The Outdoor Industry Association has 
estimated that outdoor recreation supports 408,000 jobs and contributes 
$46 billion annually to California's economy, underscoring the immense 
potential of sites such as the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain NCA to 
drive local economic growth. Additionally, the region will become 
recognized by more people as uniform signage and publications are 
created to reach more diverse audiences, allowing them to learn more 
about this beautiful area.
  Finally, this designation enables more people to share in the 
management of these wonderful resources through the creation of a 
public advisory committee. Local citizens, outdoor enthusiasts, 
business owners, and other stakeholders will be granted an official 
avenue to provide input on how to best care for these beautiful rivers, 
ridges, forests, canyons, and creeks, along with their diverse plant 
and wildlife species.
  Creation of this proposed National Conservation Area has strong 
support from a large coalition of local governments, elected officials, 
business owners, landowners, farmers, private individuals, and many 
conservation and recreation groups. This bill is the culmination of a 
grassroots effort of concerned citizens taking the initiative to care 
for the beautiful areas in their communities, and I am proud to support 
their work and commitment. I particularly applaud Tuleyome, a local 
nonprofit active in protecting wilderness and agriculture in the 
western Sacramento Valley and Inner Coast Range, for their leadership 
on this effort.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important 
legislation. The Berryessa Snow Mountain region deserves national 
status and recognition, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this effort.

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