Californians travel to D.C. to advocate for land/river protections

Conservation staff and volunteers from across California traveled to Washington, D.C. from October 12-15 to discuss a variety of California land and river conservation campaigns.  The group had over 20 meetings with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the seven campaigns that the Wild Heritage Campaign is now working on.  

Members of the delegation met with Rep. Sam Farr (D-Salinas), Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-San Bernardino), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), and staff for members from around California.  The major topic discussed over the four days was the proposal from Sen. Feinstein to protect millions of acres of the California desert from development.  

Members of the delegation included business owners and members of Native American communities.  

Barbara Durham, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Timbisha Shoshone Tribe from Death Valley, California had this to say about her trip to D.C.: 

"I would like to thank the California Wilderness Coalition for inviting me to join them in Washington DC to meet with congressional leaders and staff such as Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, Representative Buck McKeon, Representative Jerry Lewis and others to get support of legislation to protect our deserts in California."

The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe of Death Valley, California supports protecting as wilderness, lands in and around Death Valley National Park, namely Surprise Canyon at the western base of our sacred mountain range called the Panamint Mountains. Plus the Avawatz Mountains and the Soda Mountains, these are areas used as trading routes for my people and the southern Paiutes.  Our tribe has a strong history and commitment to environmental protection and cultural preservation, and we need to work together to protect these areas for the next generation - the seventh generation."