Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Letter of Support for the name change proposed by the United States Board on Geographic Names for a stream located within El Dorado County from General Creek to dukMéʔem wáťa.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names (CACGN), a committee within the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), has received a name proposal from the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) with the following name, dukMéʔem wáťa, within the geographic region specific to El Dorado County.
CACGN is a committee that provides recommendation to the U.S. BGN regarding geographic names to be used on maps or any other publications published by federal agencies. The BGN is a federal body charged with maintaining uniform geographic name usage throughout the federal government. It considers proposals, suggestions and concerns associated with geographic names, and forwards those located in California to the CACGN for an initial review and recommendation.
The stream that is being proposed for renaming is located West of Stony Ridge Lake and flows Northwest then Northeast into Lake Tahoe (39.0551853, -120.113243) in El Dorado County. The proposed name “dukMéʔem wáťa” was submitted by the California Department of Parks & Recreation in collaboration with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California to the BGN for their consideration of the stream which is currently named General Creek. The CACGN seeks input from the El Dorado Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of support or objection of the proposed name.
CACGN requests comments be received by November 7th, 2025. CRNA staff anticipates bringing this case to CACGN on December 12, 2025. Once CACGN votes to recommend approval or disapproval of the name proposal, CACGN’s recommendation will be sent to the BGN for a final decision.
Supervisor Laine has been in communication with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada & California and is in support of the name change. The letter, if approved for signature, will be submitted to CACGN prior to the November 7th, 2025 deadline.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to have the Chair sign the Letter of Support for the name change.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact related to this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair's signature on one copy of the Letter of Support
2) Deliver the signed letter to the Chief Administrative Office, Attention: Alison Winter
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Alison Winter, Principal Management Analyst