PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 27, 2007) -- Today, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA) introduced a broadly supported desert, forest and river conservation bill for Riverside County.
The legislation, titled the "California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act," would permanently protect four new wilderness areas, six additions to existing wilderness areas, four wild and scenic rivers and additions to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
Leading conservation groups, members of the local business community, sportsmen, and community leaders praised the bill, noting the wild treasures it will protect as well as the inclusive manner in which it was developed.
The bill would protect a total of 191,000 acres of wilderness in areas including Joshua Tree National Park, Cahuilla Mountain, South Fork San Jacinto and the Pinto Mountains among others. It would also expand the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument by approximately 5,000 acres and add 31 miles of four rivers to the National Wild and Scenic River System.
“We applaud this important and far-reaching measure,” said Jeff Morgan, Chairman of the Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club in Palm Springs. “Senator Boxer and Congresswoman Bono have worked across party lines to find common ground and ensure that future generations of Californians -- and all Americans -- will forever be able to experience the scenic beauty and recreational opportunities these natural treasures provide.”
Congresswoman Bono and Senator Boxer spent more than a year consulting with diverse stakeholders and making numerous accommodations to address local concerns. As a result, the bill is broadly supported by a wide range of local interests, municipalities, chambers of commerce, realtors, equestrians, and businesses.
“This broadly-backed bill is the product of significant local collaboration and consultation. At every step of the way, Representative Bono and Senator Boxer worked together to gather input from local interests and make adjustments to address local concerns,” said La Quinta City Council Member Terry Henderson. “That’s why the La Quinta City Council and five other local municipalities endorsed the legislation.”
Passage of the California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act would ensure that a broad range of family recreational opportunities, such as hiking, hunting, horseback riding, bird watching, camping and other outdoor activities will remain widely available in Riverside County for future generations.
"The equestrian community is extremely pleased by Congresswoman Bono's efforts toward preserving these special hiking, hunting, and horse trails” said Adrienne Hochee, equestrian and realtor for Mountain View Coldwell Banker in Anza. "Knowing these backcountry recreation opportunities will be around for future generations to enjoy is an additional reward in maintaining these undeveloped spaces. This is a goal that also supports property values, in having recreational access close to our communities."
Over 50 local businesses support the measure because of the economic benefits of preserving the scenic beauty of Riverside County.
“People from across the country have come to this area for years drawn by Lily Rock, but now these beautiful wildlands will provide additional protected spaces to promote as environmental destinations,” said Geoffrey Caine, owner of the Caine Learning Center and First Vice-President of the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce. “Safeguarding these special places will ensure that visitors continue to seek out these lands, and help keep the cash registers of area businesses and inns ringing.”
The bill will protect habitat for threatened Peninsular bighorn sheep and desert tortoise as well as many other species such as mule deer, mountain quail, and bald eagles. It will also preserve the biologically important watersheds of Fuller Mill Creek, Bautista Creek, Palm Canyon Creek and North Fork San Jacinto River.
“Some of the areas protected in this legislation contain plants and other species at the far southern end of their range, and even some that exist nowhere else on earth,” said Dr. Mike Hamilton, Director of the UC Riverside James Reserve. “The scientific value of these extremely varied and diverse habitats can’t be overstated.”
“This visionary bill will ensure that Riverside County's free-flowing rivers will remain that way for generations to come,” said Steve Evans, Conservation Director of Friends of the River. “Kudos to Boxer and Bono for ensuring our children can enjoy unspoiled nature in perpetuity.”
Representative Bono and Senator Boxer made a series of adjustments to the bill since it was first introduced in the last session of Congress. They have stated they will continue to seek local input as the bill makes its way through the legislative process. The list of adjustments includes drawing boundaries to allow popular motorized vehicle routes to remain open, ensuring Native American access to important cultural sites, drawing boundary setbacks in consultation with local communities, and clarifying that federal agencies could use all the tools necessary to fight and prevent wildfires.
“Representative Bono and Senator Boxer went to exhaustive lengths to fine-tune the bill so that work could be done in these wilderness areas to both reduce forest fire risk and fight forest fires with the needed equipment,” said Daniel Matrisciano, a member of the Fire Safe Council of Southwest Riverside County. “They have accommodated fire breaks and boundary setbacks, and agencies will remain able to use any means necessary to fight fires -- including the use of chainsaws and heavy equipment. I applaud their efforts.”
The California Desert and Mountain Wilderness Campaign is made up of Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, California Wilderness Coalition, Friends of the River, National Hispanic Environmental Council, and Campaign for America's Wilderness.
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