In the heart of quiet, residential west Davis, the management members of the Sierra Club Yolano Group, a close-knit circle of eight elderly friends that represent the Yolo and Solano counties, met on Oct. 8 to discuss the progress to set aside a national conservation area surrounding Berryessa Snow Mountain.

The proposed national conservation area would include 800,000 acres west of Sacramento and north of the San Francisco Bay, with elevations ranging between 2,000 and 7,000 feet.  Putah and Cache creeks both wind through the area, greenery to the whole valley.  The Sierra Club is one of many groups trying to get this land legal protection.

The land is also home to many animals, including tule elk, black bear, mountain lion, bald eagles, falcons, white pelicans, osprey, bobcat, foxes, and river otters. 

“Our goal is to protect this incredible biodiversity,” said Bob Schneider, the Yolano group’s conservation chair.

Getting legal protection for the land would allow it to be monitored and conserved in ways that not only protect the land, but work with the people who currently live and farm in the area and help them become more environmentally conscious.  It would limit the building of new houses there and keep the animals as far away from human tampering as possible.

“Any farming is better than houses, because once you pave it, you can’t get it back,” Marc Vayssières, the treasurer of the group pointed out.

Various government agencies and local farmers, however, fear that the change to “national conservation area” might bring more people to the area, thus making the initial problems worse. 

“They’re concerned that more people are going to impact their operation, and that’s a valid concern,” said Schneider.  “We hope to see this happen late this year or early next year.”

The Yolano group currently has about 1,475 members, but the management group meets on the second week of every month and is completely open to the public.

“Since it’s open to the public, we never know how many people are going to show up,” said Ida Bryan, who is in charge of newsletter distribution.  “But we always love to see new faces!”

“We’re one of the most democratic groups around,” joked Schneider.  “We discuss issues and discuss issues and discuss issues.  Everyone is heard, not everyone agrees, but decisions are always made.”