Press from Wilderness Bill Introductions 2011
Journalists around California are jumping on the story regarding the introduction of two Wilderness bills at the start of the 112th Congress. Here are a few of clips...
Bill to protect San Gabriel Mountains applauded by environmentalists
The Pasadena Star-News
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_17019964
Introduced by Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, the "Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests Protection Act" helps ensure that the San Gabriel Mountains "continue to be an important source of our drinking water, clean air, beautiful views and nearby recreation," said Claremont environmental activist Jil Stark.
The San Gabriel Mountains, which stretch across the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests, are among the most heavily used forests in the nation. Surrounded by various Southern California counties, the range is an outdoors escape for more than 15 million Southland residents.
The mountains are also the source of more than one-third of Los Angeles County's drinking water, and provide more than 70 percent of its open space. It is also the habitat for many endangered and rare species including Nelson bighorn sheep, mountain yellow-legged frog and California condor.
While conservation leaders praised the bill, they noted that some of the provisions - such as the management of wildfire in wilderness - are works in progress.
"We look forward to working with Congressman Dreier to strengthen and improve this legislation as it moves through Congress, and hope to see it eventually signed into law," said Daniel Rossman of San Gabriel Mountains Forever and a Wilderness Society staff member.
Wilderness proposal gets new life in Congress
San Diego Union Tribune
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/06/wilderness-proposal-gets-new-life-congress/
Thursday, January 6, 2011 at 12:55 p.m.
John Gastaldo
Supporters of open space in San Diego County are hopeful that a new bill to expand federal wilderness areas in the region will pass Congress this session.
Proponents of open space are hoping the second time is a charm for a federal wilderness proposal that covers nearly 21,000 acres in North County.
It doesn't hurt that the bill is sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, whose star is rising in Washington, D.C.
"He is an influential member of the Republican Party. He's a mover and a shaker and we certainly hope it will help," said Ryan Henson, senior policy director for the California Wilderness Coalition.
The Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Act of 2011 would add more than 7,000 acres of public land to the existing Agua Tibia Wilderness and will expand the Beauty Mountain Wilderness by an additional 13,635 acres.
Agua Tibia is enjoyed by thousands of hikers and equestrians each year who travel through it on the rugged Cutca Trail. Beauty Mountain is described by wilderness advocates as a "scenic jewel draped in chaparral, fascinating rock formations and oak woodlands."
Issa’s bill is a repeat of 2009 legislation. While that failed to pass Congress, portions of Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia in Riverside County were protected as wilderness in 2009 by legislation sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, and signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Issa's bill was one of two wild lands protection measures offered by California congressmen on the first day of the 112th Congress. The other would conserve about 18,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles and San Bernardino national forests.
"This legislation will protect and preserve lands for use by current and future generations," Issa said. "I'm asking for the public to review and share their ideas so that this wilderness area is created in full consultation with those who will enjoy the benefits of protecting this land and live near it."
To qualify for wilderness status, lands must already be federal property controlled by the Forest Service, the National Park Service and other agencies. Wilderness parcels generally exclude roads, buildings and power lines. After an area is designated as wilderness, the agencies can no longer reconfigure land-use plans to include development such as off-road vehicle courses, backcountry resorts and logging operations.
But wilderness areas do attract hikers who want to get away from it all.
“This bill will not only enhance the local tourism economy—very important to us as a hospitality industry business—and improve recreation opportunities, but it will ensure that magnificent scenery and rich wildlife habitat are conserved for the future," said Jim Stillwell, the General Manager of Warner Springs Ranch Resort in North County.
Mike Lee: (619)293-2034; mike.lee@uniontrib.com. Follow on Twitter @sdenvirobeat.
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