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Since 1997, The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural
Area (BRBNA) Conservation Partnership has provided a monthly forum for the
exchange of information about activities occurring within this 785,000-acre
landscape of ranches, wild lands and public recreation areas. The group currently
includes over 100 partners ranging from conservation-minded landowners and
land management agencies to residents and environmental interests. The partners
all have a common goal – to save
one of California’s last, large-scale landscapes.
The Partnership’s
mission is to promote the conservation and enhancement of the BRBNA by encouraging
the protection and stewardship of its wild, agricultural, recreational, and cultural
resources. The Partnership is a voluntary and inclusive organization that facilitates
collaboration among its public, private and nonprofit partners; provides research,
information, and education to the partners; and conducts outreach to the public
about issues of conservation concern.
The Conservation Framework
In order to
provide a scientific foundation for its planning and stewardship initiatives,
the Partnership has developed a “framework” to guide conservation
of the BRBNA’s biodiversity, working ranches, and nature-based recreation.
This BRBNA Conservation Framework, summarized herein, includes an analysis of
the resources within the BRBNA, tools for identifying conservation priorities,
and strategies and opportunities for interested parties to participate in conservation
activities. The Conservation Framework also serves as the basis for a regional
public outreach effort by the Partnership. Members of the Partnership will meet
with residents, businesses, and government officials to convey the unique values
of the BRBNA and to seek input in order to ensure that the Framework is a useful
tool that enhances collaborative conservation efforts.
A Landscape of Ranches,
Creeks, Lakes & Wilderness
The Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area (Figure
1) is a mosaic of wild and range lands extending from the southern limit of the
Mendocino National Forest to Interstate 80. Consisting of natural habitat, working
ranches, and recreation lands, it is one of the last large landscapes in California
that remains relatively undisturbed by the development of cities, towns and commerce.
The BRBNA lies approximately 90 miles west of Sacramento and 100 miles northeast
of San Francisco and includes portions of five rapidly growing counties – Napa,
Yolo, Solano, Lake and Colusa. The region is composed of a mix of public and
private lands including federal, state, and local recreation areas, private ranches
and land trust protected preserves and easements. The University of California’s
Natural Reserve System also owns and manages three reserves within the BRBNA
dedicated primarily to research and education.
Regional Significance
Four distinct
values characterize this sparsely-populated landscape: the biological diversity
and uniqueness of its plant and wildlife habitats; the legacy of its working
ranches and ranching families; the many recreational opportunities offered
by its public lands and waters; and the evidence of human history found throughout
its natural boundaries.
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Figure 1: The BRBNA Natural Area Location |
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Diverse Habitat
The region supports a variety of ecological
communities including serpentine chaparral, grasslands, oak woodlands, and
extensive riparian and cliff habitats. Contiguous ranches and natural areas
provide unfragmented habitat for the movement of mountain lions, coyotes and
other big mammals. The BRBNA includes concentrations of rare species and globally
significant plant communities and has been recognized as one of the most biologically
diverse areas in the United States by The Nature Conservancy.
Ranching as a
Way of Life
A number of large cattle ranches as well as several vineyards,
one of which has been in operation since 1893, reflect the region’s economy
and history and reveal a landscape shaped by decades of human use. Poor soils,
limited water, and remoteness have suppressed competition from other land
uses, allowing these ranches to remain economically viable. Families operating
these ranches go back many generations and offer a window into a California
way of life that has vanished from much of the state.
Places to Raft, Fish,
Hike & Swim
The region’s public lands and waters draw visitors who
seek the wide variety of nature-based, resource-compatible activities found
here. These include hiking through the scenic and varied terrain; lakeside
and remote camping; biking and horseback riding along miles of less-traveled
roads; fishing, canoeing and kayaking in lakes and creeks; swimming, boating
and water-skiing at Lake Berryessa; and white water rafting in Cache Creek.
A History of Natives, Miners & Ranchers
Archaeologists have found traces
of human settlement throughout the BRBNA dating back 10,000 years. More recently,
four Native American groups populated the region – the Hill Patwin, the
Pomo, the Lake Miwok, and the Mayacamus (Wappo). Spanish explorers arrived
in the region as early as 1808, followed by other settlers in search of land
and livelihood. The California Gold Rush provided a market for the quicksilver
produced by the area’s mercury mines and transformed the surrounding
farming communities into a booming agricultural region.
Threats to Conservation
Planners anticipate that future growth within the five-county
BRBNA region will be even more pronounced than growth within the state as a
whole. By 2020, the five-county population is expected to increase by approximately
329,000 people, a near-doubling of the populace present in 2000. Growth is
likely to occur in two patterns – intensified development within the
BRBNA on existing agricultural and wild lands and increased densities in adjacent
urban and suburban areas.
Effects of Growth
Growth creates a myriad of changes
that affect wild lands, working ranches and recreation. Effects of growth
on wild lands include loss of habitat, introduction of exotic species that
threaten native species, severed wildlife corridors, and degraded water quality.
Impacts on working landscapes include loss or subdivision of existing ranches,
land use conflicts and increased land values that can make the economics of
ranching unsustainable and conservation purchases more difficult. Effects of
growth on recreation include overcrowding, which can diminish visitor enjoyment,
and lost opportunities for nature-based recreation and connectivity.