John Ahmann, standing on his land near Lake Berryessa where he runs cattle, has decided with his wife, Judy, to place 3,000 acres of land into a conservation easement that they hope will become part of the proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A large oak tree is silhouetted against new spring growth in the hills of the proposed conservation area in Napa County. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Bear Creek winds through a canyon in Napa County. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A rock overlooks Lake Berryessa, part of the proposed conservation area. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Bob Schneider, who works with the environmental group Tuleyome, signs in for the Cold Canyon-Blue Ridge Loop Trail in the Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
People hike along the Cold Canyon-Blue Ridge Loop Trail. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Flowers along the Cold Canyon-Blue Ridge Loop Trail. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A moss-covered rock along the Cold Canyon-Blue Ridge Loop Trail. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A tree is covered in moss and lichen. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A rock is marked with graffiti on the Cold Canyon-Blue Ridge Loop Trail. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Ghost pines are backlit by the setting sun in the proposed conservation area. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
An outcropping of serpentine, the state rock, is surrounded by green vegetation in Napa County. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A cloud hangs over the Blue Ridge Mountains. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Dark clouds move over a tree-dotted ridgeline in the proposed conservation area. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
