President Biden Expands Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to Permanently Protect Molok Luyuk

Defenders of Wildlife applauds President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is using the Antiquities Act to expand the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk (aka Condor Ridge), as part of his goal to conserve 30% of the country's lands and waters by 2030. 

“We’re delighted that President Biden is expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument with the addition of Molok Luyuk. It is critical that wildlife never lose access to this important corridor connecting the Mendocino National Forest to the Cache Creek Wilderness Area, and today’s action ensures they won’t,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife California program director. “As someone who has worked to protect this incredibly diverse and unique landscape for the better part of two decades, this is incredibly exciting and personally rewarding news. My heartfelt thanks to President Biden for taking this important step forward in land conservation.”

BACKGROUND:

Berryessa Snow Mountain became a national monument in July 2015 under President Obama. The monument stretches across more than 340,000 acres and is jointly managed by the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. The area hosts abundant wildlife including the special status northwestern pond turtle and foothill yellow-legged frog, six globally rare insects, 80 different species of butterflies, along with California newts, black bears, mountain lions and birds of prey.