Idea of Blue Ridge-Berryessa conservation area draws mixed reactions

By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | March 14, 2008 15:56

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FAIRFIELD - Bob Schneider has lived in Davis for about 40 years and started exploring the Blue Ridge-Berryessa area in earnest only about 15 years ago.

Even Schneider, a long-time conservationist who helped establish Redwood National Park, was surprised by the landscapes so close to home. Now he wants to raise the region's profile.

'This area is very, very special,' Schneider said. 'It's one of the 25 biological hot spots on the planet.'

Schneider is president of the nonprofit, Woodland-based group called Tuleyome. The group wants Congress to designate the Blue Ridge-Berryessa habitat, including the northwest edge of Solano County and parts of Yolo County, as a national conservation area.

But some people oppose the move, saying it would bring more federal control to the region, hurt private property rights and provide no benefits.

Tuleyome had originally envisioned a national conservation area covering some 800,000 acres, 1,200 square miles, and including both private and public lands in Solano, Napa, Yolo, Lake and Colusa counties. Now that vision has been scaled back to about 400,000 acres of public land only.

'We can't bridge the gaps with the private landowners,' Schneider said.

The Blue Ridge-Berryessa area is a remote land where people boat, tule elk roam and ranchers herd cattle. It includes Lake Berryessa, the old Homestake and Knoxville mines, and oak woodlands that are home to many species of birds and animals.

Then there are the greenish serpentine rocks and soils. Serpentine is California's state rock. The soils are largely infertile, yet support an array of rare, stubby vegetation that has adapted to the harsh conditions. Serpentine can be found in such areas as the state's 8,000-acre Knoxville Wildlife Area in Napa and Yolo counties

It's unclear precisely what national conservation area status would mean. The federal Bureau of Land Management has 14 such areas in the nation and treats each differently. Specific legislation and a management plan would have to be created for the Blue Ridge-Berryessa area.

Schneider said the status would raise the profile of the Blue Ridge-Berryessa area and make it a priority for state and federal grants.

'Branding' is a term that's in vogue. Yosemite National Park has a name. Lake Tahoe has a name. The Blue Ridge-Berryessa area is largely unknown even in the cities at its doorstep, except for Lake Berryessa itself.

'Yosemite, of course, is iconic,' Schneider said. 'But we're competing for funds with Yosemite.'

The grant money could help with such things as buying development rights to preserve privately owned ranch land and aiding in good land stewardship practices. Landowners wouldn't be forced to participate in such programs, Schneider said.

A Blue Ridge-Berryessa management plan would bring some coordination to public lands overseen by agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the state Department of Fish and Game and federal Bureau of Reclamation, Schneider said.

But Tuleyome has been unable to convince some key parties. Solano County Supervisor Mike Reagan has told Schneider to leave northwestern Solano County out of plans for a national wildlife area, both public and private lands alike.

Solano County's public portion could potentially include the Blue Ridge portions owned by the Bureau of Land Management and the county's Lake Solano Regional Park.

There's always strings to such programs, Reagan said. Perhaps there would be restrictions for towers on the Blue Ridge to provide wireless coverage, he added.

'They get their nose in the tent and the other environmental groups start imposing more restrictions as you go,' Reagan said.

Lake Solano Regional Park and the ridgelines are already being preserved, Reagan said. And Solano County can already apply for state and federal grants, he added.

'We don't need their help,' he said.

The Maxwell-based Family Water Alliance is also wary about the idea. Executive Director Ashley Indrieri sees no benefits for landowners, only potential drawbacks if the federal government draws up a management plan for the region.

Since there is no plan yet, Indrieri didn't list specifics. Perhaps there would be restrictions on putting up a fence, or an endangered species preserve would end up near private property and lead to restrictions, she said.

'There would be more money for environmental groups, which is why an environmental group would push this type of agenda,' Indrieri said.

She doesn't see a growth threat in such a remote area. And, she said, growth issues are for counties to decide.

Schneider is concerned the region in coming decades could be threatened by ranchette development. He mentioned the rural residential development in Solano County's English Hills as the type of growth pressure that could spread north.

Tuleyome would like Rep. Mike Thompson to carry the legislation to create a Blue Ridge-Berryessa area, but it needs a specific proposal that local communities would support.

That is the multi-year effort that group has embarked on. It is trying to create a plan that generates enthusiasm among the various counties and communities within the proposed national conservation area, including Solano County.

Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, Ext. 232, or at beberling@dailyrepublic.net.

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The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area (BRBNA)

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Follow this link to view FWA's letter of opposition to Congressman Mike Thompson on the BRBNA National Conservation Area.

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Click here to read FWA's press release on the BRBNA.

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Click here to read FWA's Editorial on Capay Valley General Plan by Vicki Murphy, FWA Director

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View Preserving America: It's Land and It's People real life video at Stewards of the Range

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For more information on the BRBNA, be sure to check out the links below:

Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area: www.brbna.org,

Tuleyome: http://tuleyome.org

Yolo Hiker: http://www.yolohiker.org/

Yolo County General Plan: www.yolocountygeneralplan.org

Capay Valley General Plan

Wildlands Project: www.wildlandsprojectrevealed.org and http://wildlandsproject.org

Rewilding Project: http://www.sweetliberty.org

To view FWA's educational brochure on the BRBNA, click here.

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