 |
En Español
California Wild Heritage Campaign
The California Wild Heritage Campaign has proposed that some of our most diverse and accessible federal public lands and rivers be permanently protected as wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers. Since its inception in 2000, the Campaign has successfully advocated for legislation to designate some of California’s wild heritage as wilderness. On May 21, 2002, Senator Barbara Boxer introduced the California Wild Heritage Act into the U.S. Senate, which would protect over 2.7 million acres of California as wilderness. On December 19, 2002, President Bush signed the Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act, which protected the wild areas in Representative Sam Farr's 17th district. More recently, Congress has approved the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Act. This legislation, introduced by Representative Mike Thompson (D-Napa) and Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, will designate as wilderness 275,000 acres of pristine and remote stretches of public land in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, and Napa counties. Some of the lands to be protected by this legislation include the King Range, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States, and Cache Creek, home to the second largest wintering bald eagle population in California and a popular recreation destination for Bay Area and Sacramento residents. The legislation will also designate over 21 miles of the Black Butte River as a Wild and Scenic River, prohibiting future construction of dams and diversions.
 Once Congress designates an area as wilderness, it is forever wild -- free of destructive logging, road building, off-road vehicles, and mining that can scar the land for centuries. You can help protect these lands by volunteering
for the California Wild Heritage Campaign.
Why protect wilderness?
Keeping wild land free from logging, mining, and road construction is the best way to provide for the long-term ecological health of the landscape. Roadless areas and wilderness study areas contain habitat for countless species of imperiled wildlife. These areas also provide clean drinking water for California citizens and help filter impurities out of the air we breathe.
 Wilderness
is for people too!
Americans have long recognized the need for wild places in our society and culture. Wilderness is important for backcountry exploration and spiritual renewal. Wilderness areas are important to many of us seeking to escape to the wild outside for outdoor fun.
Why protect wild rivers?
Wild and Scenic River status protects free-flowing rivers from dams and water diversions that can destroy entire ecosystems. Wilderness designation is critical to watershed protection, but wild and scenic designation is the only way to permanently protect a river from dams. CWC's partners at Friends of the River have inventoried eligible river segments and proposed 20 of them to be permanently protected as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
The California Wilderness Coalition, along with numerous local, statewide, and national groups, is proud to be part of the California Wild Heritage Campaign.
|
|
Just three miles off of Interstate 80, 
