About the CWC
With towering redwood forests, pristine mountain peaks, and rugged desert landscapes, the wild lands of California encompass some of the most beautiful and diverse places on earth. These are refuges where eagles still soar across the horizon and salmon still swim from ocean to river—lands where nature thrives and the human spirit is free.
Learn more
 |
-
Coyote – CWC Archives
Moonset at Sunrise, Mt. Humphrey, John Muir – Sam Roberts
Hiker in the Hoover Wilderness – Sam Roberts
Spring Flowers in Death Valley – Phil Farrell
Duncan Canyon, Tahoe National Forest – Jim Rose
Bristlecone Pine, While Mountains – Sam Roberts
 |
One Person Can Make a Difference
One person can make all the difference in the world. One of our favorite quotes is from Margaret Meade, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has! “
The California Wilderness Coalition has been incredibly successful at protecting our State’s wild places. We have led the charge in designating over 13 million acres of wilderness throughout the state, such as the Trinity Alps Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Magic Mountain Wilderness, King Range Wilderness and Death Valley Wilderness.
Mt. Whitney, Tom Budlong
The California Wilderness Coalition has the opportunity to make a difference, but we cannot do it alone. We need the support of our friends, family, our community to succeed. The CWC has received a generous challenge grant of $75,000, wherein every dollar raised from membership will be matched dollar for dollar -- doubling the impact of your gift. We are reaching out to you now with just days left in 2011 to meet the challenge and assist CWC to preserve California’s natural landscape.
So far, we have raised 65% of our goal with membership gifts ranging from $35-$1,500. Our board and staff have also generously donated gifts of $250-$2,000. Please join those that have made gifts to further the mission of the California Wilderness Coalition.
Your gift will give us the resources we need to continue doing our “ boots on the ground work” ; outreaching to local communities, organizing support, meeting with local groups, chambers of commerce, city council members and members of Congress, advocating to protect California’s wild lands and rivers.
Amaragosa River, John Dittli
We want to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to discover places like Milpitas Wash near the Colorado River—home to ancient Palo Verde trees, the endangered gila woodpecker and the largest Sonoran Woodland in North America;. or to find a desert tortoise among the wildflowers in the Castle Mountains, to watch bighorn sheep scramble up rocky hillsides in the Avawatz Mountains, or to hike along the sparkling Deep Creek river with stunning views across the Mojave.
Bowling Alley, Laurel Williams
With your financial support, we can continue this great work, build on our previous successes, and make these protections a reality.
Your year-end gift supports the current and future work of CWC. If you've been inspired by our work, or by the places that we have protected, now is the time to make a gift. Make your special year-end tax-deductible donation to CWC today!
CWC Partners with Los Padres Forest Association
The California Wilderness Coalition has partnered with the Los Padres Forest Association to host a number of VOLUNTEER trail maintenance projects in and near potential wilderness areas in Santa Barbara. On Saturday, December 10th and Sunday, December 11th a cadre of volunteers, camped near the Santa Ynez River and Big Caliente hot springs and learned valuable trail maintenance skills along the Blue Canyon Trail System. A HUGE THANK YOU TO LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION for your leadership and hard work.
To see photos and learn more about the project, visit Los Padres Forest Association or Santa Barbara Outdoor Volunteers on Meet-Up.
Our next Volunteers project is scheduled for Saturday, January 14th and Sunday, January 15th. For more details, email Laurel Williams.
Join us as we celebrate the life of Elden Hughes
Please join the California Wilderness Coalition as we celebrate the life of Elden Hughes. Elden Hughes, a lifelong environmental advocate, helped spearhead efforts to protect the California wilderness, including his beloved Mojave Desert.
Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
December 4, 2011, 12:21 p.m.
Elden Hughes, a crusader for wild places and a leader of the Sierra Club's battles to protect desert wilderness from development and abuse, has died. He was 80.
Hughes, who died of prostate cancer early Sunday at his home in Joshua Tree, Calif., was a visionary and inspirational figure who mentored generations of activists in fights to reduce the environmental damage of developments, including renewable energy projects on pristine landscapes and wildlife.
Hughes was among a dozen environmentalists invited to the White House in 1994 when President Clinton signed the landmark California Desert Protection Act, which created a new national park in the eastern Mojave Desert and elevated Death Valley and Joshua Tree from national monument to national park status.
The Sierra Club stalwart with gray hair and piercing blue eyes was accompanied by a dozen baby California desert tortoises he had used as calling cards to lobby hundreds of congressmen and senators.
"Elden and his wife, Patty, would walk into a congressional office and place those little critters down on a table," recalled fellow Sierra Club activist Jim Dodson. "Within seconds, staffers would be oohing and cooing over tortoises big as silver dollars and cute as buttons. Next thing you know, the boss would wander out of a back office wanting to know what the hubbub was about. It was hard to say no to Elden after that."
Sen.Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), author of the final version of the protection act, said, "Hughes dedicated his life to the protection and revival of our great Mojave Desert and its tortoises. I'll never forget when he brought a couple of tortoises to a large constituent breakfast and the amazed and glowing faces of youngsters when he told them they live for decades. Elden led a huge citizen effort in 1993 to support my Desert Protection Act. We will pass the second Desert Protection Act, now pending in committee, in his honor. He will be greatly missed."
To learn more about Hughes and his leadership, click here.
Recreation can aid economic recovery
San Bernardino County Sun (CA)
December 20, 2011
Opinion
By Jodi Callahan
The recent Western Governors Association meeting was an important event for the Morongo Basin. The governors of Arizona, South Dakota, Washington and Utah convened at the Yucca Valley Community Center to discuss the value of the recreational economy, national parks, wildlands and tourism. The day before, the National Park Service held a symposium for the public about the economic value of Joshua Tree National Park. These events were special not only because they attracted significant media coverage and engaged four very powerful western governors, but also because they focused on an often
overlooked, but potent source of revenue: recreational tourism.
Redwood Coast Range _Blue Creek, Joe Gillespie
In many communities across the nation, recreational tourism has been
overlooked as a significant agent in vibrant economies. Our chamber
recognizes its importance: tourists come from all over the world to
Twentynine Palms to experience the quirky rock formations, vast Joshua tree forests and outstanding recreational opportunities of Joshua Tree National Park. When they visit, they stay in motels or bed and breakfasts; dine at our local restaurants and buy local souvenirs and art.
During the Yucca Valley Western Governors Meeting, Frank Hugelmeyer,
president of the Outdoor Industry Association, highlighted a 2007 report
that stated that recreational retail sales and services brought in $289
billion across the United States. And that's not even considering the ripple
effect it has on jobs and wages, infusing the economy with even more
benefits. The governors of both South Dakota and Utah acknowledged the
importance of tourism to the overall economy in their states. To read the full article, click here
Evans to focus on the Wild Rivers Project
Longtime river advocate Steve Evans is now a consultant for the California Wilderness Coalition and Friends of the River focusing on statewide Wild & Scenic River protection and management issues.
As Director of the Wild Rivers Project, Evans will advocate for both organizations for the legislative protection of nearly 380 miles of proposed Wild & Scenic Rivers in southern California and the Big Sur region. In addition, he will work to ensure that federal agencies complete comprehensive river management plans throughout California for designated rivers and complete Wild & Scenic River studies on federally managed public lands. Evans will also monitor and take action to protect rivers from destructive projects or policies.
“We’re excited that Steve will be representing the California Wilderness Coalition and advocating for the protection of our wild rivers” said Coalition Executive Director Kristi Davis. “Some of our wildest places encompass wild river canyons that need protection,” she said.
Evans first gained professional expertise in public lands and resource management as a volunteer advocate for the establishment of the Ishi and Bucks Lake Wilderness areas in 1984. After joining Friends of the River in 1988, he became the organization’s Conservation Director in 1990. Evans is also a former Board member of the California Wilderness Coalition and he has worked closely with the Coalition over the past decade to secure the passage of federal legislation protecting both wilderness and wild rivers in California.
If you have any questions about the Wild Rivers Project, contact Steve at Phone: (916) 708-3155, Email: sevans@friendsoftheriver.org, Address: P.O. Box 189707, Sacramento, CA 95818.
Land Acquisition in the Avawatz Mountains readies the area for wilderness
The Wilderness Land Trust, working with the owners of an old mining property in the Avawatz Mountains, purchased the land and donated it to the federal government. The over 2,000 acres of land lie within two wilderness study areas. Going from private ownership to public enables the land to be protected under the Wilderness Act as is proposed in the pending California Desert Protection Act. Senator Feinstein, the author of the bill stated:
"This is one more step to protect California's pristine desert, another private donation to our great public lands. I want to thank the Kerckhoff family, The Resources Legacy Fund Foundation and the Wilderness Land Trust for their generosity. This donation falls within the boundaries of land to be permanently preserved by my California Desert Protection Act, which is currently pending before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee."
The Avawatz Mountains to the south of Death Valley are a rugged mountain range chiseled with colorful canyons, home to bighorn sheep and hidden springs. The mountains rise from the Silurian Valley to over 6,000 feet and opportunities to explore abound. At times snow-covered and at other times seeming to bake in the desert sun, the area has long been visited by humans. The Timbisha Shoshone still visit the area for spiritual purposes today. To read the full article, click here.
A Veteran's Letter Urging Support of Public Lands
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (CA)
December 11, 2011
Letter
Keep lands public
As a veteran who served my country I am very concerned about some of the rhetoric coming from Washington concerning public lands. In recent months, Congress has introduced several pieces of legislation that threaten the sanctity of these lands by selling them off or removing much needed protections.
More specifically, Congressman Jason Chaffetz introduced the Disposal of Excess Federal Lands Act of 2011, which seeks to sell off over 3 million acres of land in the western United States. Congressman Rob Bishop introduced the Action Plan for Public Lands and Education Act of 2011, which would turn 5 percent of public lands in this country over to their respective states. This is nothing more than a giveaway of federal assets that are worth billions of dollars.
Finally, Congressman Kevin McCarthy's bill, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011, seeks to remove needed protections from over 40 million acres of land. This legislation would open these lands up to boom and bust ventures such as mining and drilling. This is not what Teddy Roosevelt had in mind when he signed the Antiquities Act.
Veterans care about these lands. These are lands we hunt, fish and hike with our friends and family. They must be protected.
Edward Almanza,
Rialto