Environment and Energy Daily
Published October 2, 2006

Senate Sends Northern California Bill to bush

By Dan Berman

H.R. 233 would designate 273,130 acres of public lands in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties as wilderness and designate a 21-mile stretch of the Black Butte River as wild and scenic. The bill includes the King Range -- the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48 states -- and a critical portion of the Eel River, home to up to half of California's endangered steelhead trout.

"From the Lost Coast to the majestic redwoods to the stunning wild rivers, people from around the world come to enjoy our scenic treasures," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who joined Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) as a cosponsor of the legislation.

The North Coast wilderness bill was a multi-year, multi-Congress effort by the sponsors to get local and federal support for the effort to place the area off-limits to future logging, motorized activity or development. "What got it over the top was slow steady work, hearing concerns and making adjustments accordingly," said Jon Owen of the Campaign for America's Wilderness

Michael Duffy, marketing director for Arcata, Calif.-based Kokatat, which manufacturers watersports gear, said the wilderness area is critical for the outdoor recreation industry along the North Coast. "We firmly believe that the 'North Coast Wilderness' bill will generate additional recreation and tourism dollars while keeping these lands in their natural state for generations to come," Duffy said."

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