NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On May 19, Andrew Fulks was honored with a national “Trails Worker Award” at the 2015 American Trails Association's award symposium in Portland, Oregon.

Fulks, a licensed landscape architect, is presently the Putah Creek Riparian Reserve Manager for UC Davis, managing 6 miles of stream and several hundred acres, as well as being the president of Tuleyome's Board of Directors.

He has been a constant advocate for appreciation of the Putah and Cache Creek watersheds in the central valley of California.

To draw attention to the region, he founded www.yolohiker.org , a local trails advocacy, hiking and outings Web page and co-founded the Capay Valley Hiking Club, an ad hoc group of hikers that meet twice a month to hike in the watershed.

In 2002 Fulks co-founded Tuleyome, a nonprofit conservation organization in Woodland.

If one had to pick a single “greatest accomplishment” it would be Fulks' work on the Berryessa Peak Trail in Northern California.

In the mid-1990s he was determined to find some way for the public to be able to get to and enjoy Berryessa Peak, a site in Napa County that had been landlocked by private property for more than 150 years.

It took almost 15 years to splice together the public, private and governmental components needed to make his dream a reality.

Most of the trail, which straddles the boundary between Napa and Yolo counties, was hand-cut by Fulks and a group of volunteers.

In December of 2013 the trail was finally completed – just one month before Fulks' 40th birthday.

The inaugural hike for the public took place on Jan. 27, 2014, and since then everyday citizens and hiking groups guided by Tuleyome staffers have been able to climb this incredible 14-mile (round trip) trail.

The summit is at 3,057 feet, the high point of the Blue Ridge, and provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the region. It is now considered one of the premiere “marathon” trails of Northern California.

In his position as board president of Tuleyome, Fulks also leads public hikes throughout portions of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region, and fights to permanently protect the region as a National Monument.

Fulks' efforts have enhanced the lives and health of members of the local community, extended public awareness of the natural areas in our region, and – it is hoped – will make a national impact on the country when the Berryessa Snow Mountain is designated as a National Monument.

His love of the outdoors, his dedication to making spectacular landscapes available to the public, and his persistent attention to the trails in our region made him an obvious choice for the “Trail Worker Award,” and Tuleyome is so grateful to the American Trails Association for recognizing his work.