Residents support protections of San Gabriel Mountains

A recent poll of residents in California’s 26th Congressional District living near the San Gabriel Mountains shows that three-quarters of voters want to see more protection for the wild lands and rivers in this range. The poll also reveals that these voters clearly favor more protection for wild lands and rivers across Southern California in general. This data is an unmistakable sign of how local residents who live near these mountains care about them.

In an Aug. 19 media briefing, Stephen Kinney of Public Opinion Strategies outlined some of the key findings of his poll.*

A notable 75% of residents surveyed were in favor of a proposal to protect wilderness and wild rivers in the San Gabriel Mountains, with only 15% opposed. Overall when asked if they would like to see more wild lands protected throughout Southern California 67% of voters were in favor while 72% were in favor of protecting more streams and rivers.

The San Gabriel Mountains Forever partnership and their supporters have been working hard to raise awareness of why these mountains and the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests deserve protection. These forests are an irreplaceable natural resource that are critical habitat for many endangered and sensitive plant and animal species, provide much of the region’s clean drinking water, and serve as an incredible recreation opportunity for Southern California residents.

The Angeles National Forest alone is also visited by more than 3.5 million visitors annually making it one of the most heavily visited National Forests in the country. San Gabriel Mountains Forever has a broad vision for the forests and is working to protect the San Gabriel mountain range’s wild places by seeking the two strongest federal protections for public lands: Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River designations.

With wilderness protection, unique and roadless wild lands are preserved in their unspoiled state for hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, rafting and many other activities. And the Wild and Scenic River designation preserves outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values for rivers and creeks. Currently no waterways in the San Gabriel Mountains are protected as Wild and Scenic and San Gabriel Mountains Forever is advocating for this protection for 46 miles of the clear and free-flowing rivers and creeks of the Angeles National Forest.

Check out the Our Campaign page on our website to learn more about this proposal.

* Public Opinion Strategies conducted this survey for San Gabriel Mountains Forever in California’s 26th U.S. Congressional District (Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas). The survey took place July 6-8 and had a sample size of 400 voters, with a margin of error of +/‐ 4.9%.