Protect California Wilderness and Rivers - My Backyard

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Support Sen. Boxer's legislation to protect 2.5 million acres of California wilderness

What the Act will do
Areas proposed for protection

trees On August 1, Senator Barbara Boxer reintroduced the "California Wild Heritage Act" in the U.S. Senate. The bill, S. 1555, is landmark legislation which would protect about 2.5 million acres of new wilderness and 440 miles of wild and scenic rivers in California. It represents the most diverse and accessible array of wild places ever protected in a single piece of Congressional legislation.

More than sixty percent of our state's clean drinking water originates and flows through its wildlands. But in the last 20 years, nearly 700,000 acres of unprotected wildlands, an area nearly the size of Yosemite National Park, have been lost. Californians want to save these last wildlands and rivers, and the broad support Senator Boxer's bill has achieved reflects how important preserving wildlands is to our state¹s diverse residents.

Brandy Daniel is an economic consultant and an avid equestrian in Oroville, California, a rural area in the northeast part of the state, bordered by the Plumas National Forest. "Senator Boxer¹s bill will protect the future of our state¹s rural economies," says Daniel. "Tourism plays a key role in supporting the communities near our remaining wild places. Horseback riders, anglers, hunters, and many others seek the recreational opportunities and solitude that these pristine lands and rivers provide."

Studies have borne this out, showing significant economic benefits for communities near protected wilderness or wild and scenic rivers. According to a 2002 regional economic study in the Eastern Sierra conducted by Wilderness Society economists, wildlands support more than 2,800 jobs and contribute between $125 million and $171 million in local revenues to the area.

Another strong source of support for protecting wildlands comes from the state's growing Latino population. In a survey done exclusively of Hispanic voters, 81 percent of Latinos‹more than the general population's 78 percent‹support protection of more wilderness.

"California Latinos are committed to protecting our environment and natural heritage," said Ed Navarro, a board member of both the California Wild Heritage Campaign and the National Hispanic Environmental Council. "Like all Americans, we recognize our obligation to serve as good stewards of the environment, and Sen. Boxer¹s legislation will ensure that these special places remain unspoiled for all Californians, including the 34% who are Latino."

Support has been continually building for the Wild Heritage Act over the past year. The following is just a partial list of current supporters:

More than 3,000 businesses, scientists, and civic leaders

Nearly 200 local elected officials

Attorney Gen. Bill Lockyer, Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, State Treasurer Phil Angelides

California State Assembly and Senate.

The current need is to encourage Senator Dianne Feinstein to support the bill. We are asking all Southern Sierrans to contact her office and ask for her support (see "what you can do," below). Meanwhile, the House companion bills to S. 1555, authored by Rep. Mike Thompson (northern bill) and Rep. Hilda Solis (southern bill) are expected to be introduced in the House sometime soon.

What you can do:

Your participation in the campaign is key to its success! We particularly need you to write a personal letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein asking her to cosponsor the bill. Tell her why wilderness and wild river protections are so important to you and your family. Write her at:

Hon. Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

If you want to do more:

Contact our local wilderness organizer, Tim Allyn, to get involved in local outreach, outings and other activities to gain local support for our wilderness. Contact Tim at tim.allyn@sierraclub.org.

The California Wild Heritage Act designates:

22 new Wild & Scenic Rivers totaling nearly 440 miles

Two new Wild & Scenic study rivers totaling 78.5 miles

76 new wilderness areas and wilderness additions totaling 2.5 million
acres

Two wilderness study areas totaling 83,000 acres

Three salmon habitat restoration areas totaling 74,667 acres

One 17,000 acre Sacramento River National Conservation Area

One 29,000 acre Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

Just a few of the areas to be protected in the statewide bill include:

Northern California: the King Range, or "Lost Coast," offers the longest undisturbed wild coastline in the lower 48 states.

Central Coast: the Ventana Potential Wilderness Additions are home to the endangered California Condor and abut the Big Sur coastline.

Eastern Sierra: the White Mountains are the second largest roadless area in the U.S. and home to the oldest living trees in the world, the ancient bristlecone pines.

Western Sierra: Duncan Canyon is a rare and spectacular ancient forest haven in the Sierra.

Central Sierra: the Clavey River, tributary of the Tuolumne, is considered by scientists to be one of the healthiest watersheds in the Sierra Nevada. And the steep slopes above the South Fork Merced River area on the western border of Yosemite are as rugged and wild as can be imagined.

California Desert: the Avawatz Mountains are a spring-watered stronghold for desert bighorn sheep, enjoyed by rock-climbers, hikers, and equestrians seeking solitude.

Northern Sierra: the Feather Falls area in the Plumas National Forest contains the sixth largest waterfall in the United States.

Southern California: the Upper San Diego River is one of the most remote areas in Southern California, and is key to protecting water quality for San Diego.

Photo courtesy Bureau of Land Management.