President Biden is set to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which stretches from Napa County to the mountains of Mendocino National Forest. 

KQED’s Alix Soliman reports: 

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The expansion includes an additional 4,000 acres that are important to the Pomo and Patwin tribes, as well as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. 

Anthony Roberts is Chairman of that tribe. At a Congressional hearing in 2022, he advocated for the Monument expansion, which will cover Molok Luyuk — meaning “Condor Ridge.”

“Elements of the natural landscape on the ridge have traditional cultural significance to us and include areas where religious ceremonies are practiced, and sites that are central to our people’s origin stories.”

When President Obama established the National Monument in 2015, he excluded this parcel because there was a plan to put wind turbines on the ridge. But the wind project didn’t happen. 

With federal protection, Roberts hopes the government will work with his tribe to co-manage the land. 

I’m Alix Soliman, KQED News.

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Feature photo by Craig Miller/KQED