Boundary Enlargement of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument

President Biden enlarged the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by approximately 13,696 acres to include the full Molok Luyuk area, a sacred ridgeline for Patwin Tribes in northern California. The proclamation protects additional scientific, historic, and cultural resources under the Antiquities Act, renames the geographic feature to Molok Luyuk, mandates co-stewardship exploration with Tribal Nations, and directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop management plans including travel management and wildland fire agreements.

Federal Register Open PDF 89 FR 39531

Key directives

Reserve approximately 13,696 acres as expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument
Withdraw expanded lands from public land laws, mining laws, and mineral/geothermal leasing
Manage expansion area through BLM as unit of National Landscape Conservation System
Include expansion area in existing monument management plan
Promulgate rules and regulations for expansion area management
Explore memoranda of understanding with Tribal Nations for co-stewardship and educational outreach
Rename Geographic Names Information System Feature 237183 to Molok Luyuk
Issue travel management plan authorizing motorized and non-motorized mechanized vehicle use consistent with protection objectives
Monitor vehicle use and designated roads/trails
Evaluate agreements with State, local, and Tribal governments for wildland fire prevention and response

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Monument boundary enlargement takes effect upon proclamation
Federal lands withdrawn from entry, location, sale, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
Geographic feature renamed Molok Luyuk in Federal Geographic Names Information System

Near term (90d)

Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations for expansion area management
Secretary to explore memoranda of understanding with Tribal Nations for co-stewardship
Secretary and Board of Geographic Names to complete renaming steps in GNIS
Secretary to issue travel management plan for motorized and non-motorized vehicle use

Long term

Inclusion of expansion area in monument management plan
Monitoring of vehicle use and designated roads/trails ongoing
Evaluation and potential agreements with State, local, and Tribal governments on wildland fire prevention and response
Co-stewardship arrangements with Tribal Nations if MOUs are executed
Protection of rare plant communities and wildlife corridor in perpetuity

Risks & tensions

Potential conflict between recreational access (mountain biking, motorized vehicles) and protection of sensitive cultural and ecological resources
Co-stewardship MOUs with Tribal Nations are exploratory ('shall explore'), creating implementation uncertainty
Valid existing rights may limit full protection; acquisition of non-Federal lands within boundaries depends on future voluntary transactions
No explicit deadline for travel management plan or Tribal MOUs, potentially delaying implementation