|
XML Site Feed:
Click here for URL.
|
 |
|
Virginia Ridge and Valley Act
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
House Passes the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, Creates Six New Wilderness Areas and Two National Scenic Areas
Step on the Path to Protecting What’s Left of America’s Wild Places
On Tuesday, October 23, the House of Representatives voted to create almost 50,000 acres of new wilderness by passing HR 1011, the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act, sponsored by Representative Rick Boucher (D-Va.). The bill establishes six new Wilderness areas and two National Scenic Areas in Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest.
"This vote to pass the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act is an important step towards protecting what’s left of America’s wild legacy," said Sierra Club representative Myke Bybee.
"We’re running out of truly wild places where families can camp, hike, hunt and fish. There are only a handful of places left like this that haven’t been logged, mined, drilled, or built on. The majority of our public lands are open for development of some kind," Bybee said. "Wilderness designation is one of the best tools we have to protect what’s left of our forests and mountains. Congress is recognizing that more and more with legislation like this."
Wilderness designation offers the highest form of protection for public lands. As National Scenic Areas, Smyth County’s Seng Mountain and Bear Creek will be protected from development but will allow mountain biking and limited motorized access. Areas slated for wilderness designation include:
• Stone Mountain, a 3,270-acre stretch of forest adjacent to the North Fork of the Powell River.
• Raccoon Branch, 4223 acres of rugged, high-ridged country prized by hunters, anglers, hikers, and horseback riders.
• Brush Mountain, 4,794 acres of slope characterized by its remoteness and opportunities for solitude.
• Brush Mountain East, 3,769 acres of remote country with stunning creek and mountain views.
• Garden Mountain, 3,291 acres that extend along the rugged south face of Garden Mountain, bordered by the Appalachian Trail.
• Hunting Camp Creek, 8,470 acres of remote country crossed by the Appalachian Trail.
• Lynn Camp Creek, a 3,226-acre tract of forest that includes the northern slope of Brushy Mountain and tranquil Lynn Camp Creek, as well as parts of the Appalachian Trail.
|
Have a question or a response for the Sierra Club Wild Legacy campaign? Click on the Comments link! User comments or postings reflect the opinions of the responsible contributor only, and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any posting. The Sierra Club accepts no obligation to review every posting, but reserves the right (but not the obligation) to delete postings that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate.
Up to Top
|
It is important to save our wildlife areas, especially for the enjoyment of the people, what is your stance on the admittance of cyclists, more specifically, mountain biking, to our backcountry trails? Do you consider this to be destructive use of our natural sites, or an integral part to monitoring and protecting these areas. Cyclist can cover more areas in shorter times, and identify illegal use of our protected areas. Some organizations have fought hard to exclude these members from use of America's backcountry. We are seeing this most recently in the closing of parts of the Continental Divide Trail along parts of the Rocky Mountains. IMBA has set up training programs for Bike Patrols, which are persons who are trained in emergency response and first aid, but they cannot help in areas that have been closed off to cyclists. A person hiking can take hours to find an injured hiker, and this is very realistic considering how most people go out unprepared. The government is understaffed and underfunded in providing rangers to patrol most of our protected areas, leaving us on our own. We need everyone to help look out for the good of our protected areas, not just to label them off limits to the people who help get nature protected.
Huh? Mountain bikes are necessary for "patrols" in Wilderness Areas? You can't be serious.
All of the Wilderness Areas allow for exceptions for health and safety. read the Wilderness Act: http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=legisAct
Post a Comment
<< Wld Legacy Main