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Statewide Coalition Launches Campaign to Protect California's Remaining Wilderness and Wild Rivers

Statewide poll shows 72% of Californians support permanently protecting more public lands and wild rivers

Contact: Jean Munoz at 916-442-3155 x216

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 12:01 PDT, Monday, September 24, 2001

SACRAMENTO—Amidst a recent statewide opinion survey showing overwhelming support, the California Wild Heritage Campaign (CWHC) launched a statewide public education effort to win permanent protection of California's remaining wilderness and wild rivers.

"Over the last 20 years, 700,000 acres--an area of unprotected wilderness nearly the size of Yosemite National Park--has been lost in California," said Bob Schneider, CWHC director. "Our hope, and that of a majority of Californians, is to act now to protect our remaining wild places for future generations."

The poll commissioned by CWHC--a statewide coalition of nearly 200 organizations representing conservationists, businesses, churches and civic leaders--shows that 72 percent of California voters supports permanent government protection of more land and rivers in our state. The survey, conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin and Associates, interviewed 900 likely voters, August 25-30.

"Citizens throughout the state are working hard to preserve our remaining wild rivers and wilderness areas--the source of more than 60 percent of California's clean drinking water," said Steve Evans, Conservation Director of Friends of the River (FOR), and leader in the Campaign. "Not only are these areas home to many plants and animals, but they provide recreational opportunities to millions of hikers, horseback riders, anglers, whitewater boaters and campers."

A key element of the campaign is an unprecedented pair of citizens' inventories documenting California's remaining wild places in need of protection from logging, mining, dirt bikes and dams.

The inventories identified 7.4 million acres of public land and nearly 4,000 miles of free-flowing rivers and creeks that qualify for protection under the 1964 Wilderness Act and the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This represents 7% of California's land and less than 2% of California's rivers. The wilderness inventory was coordinated by the California Wilderness Coalition (CWC), and the wild river inventory was coordinated by Friends of the River--along with the hard work of volunteers and organizations statewide.

"After nearly four years of hard work by hundreds of people throughout the state, we have completed the largest ever citizens' inventory of California's wilderness," said Paul Spitler, executive director of CWC. "This represents not only the true extent of California's remaining wild places--but it represents the desires of hundreds of citizens who wish to protect the wild heritage in their own local communities."

Following are highlights of wild places identified within the inventory:

• Northwest - The King Range offers one of the only unroaded areas left on California's coastline.
• Northeast - The rugged mountains of the Skedaddle potential wilderness, cut by many steep, rocky canyons, caves and volcanic spires, are Northern California's largest unprotected wild area.
• Central Coast - The Ventana Wilderness Additions are home to the endangered California Condor.
• Eastern Sierra - The White Mountains are home to the oldest living trees in the world.
• Western Sierra - Castle Peak contains scenic rugged peaks that soar over 9,000 feet.
• Central Sierra - The Clavey River is considered by scientists to be one of the healthiest watersheds in the Sierra Nevada.
• California Desert - The Amargosa River flows below ground over much of its length, in the Mojave desert just south of Death Valley National Park.
• 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.

The campaign is currently building public support for Federal Wilderness protection of public lands and Federal Wild and Scenic designation for our remaining wild rivers--while also educating the public and elected officials about the importance of protecting California's wild heritage. Other major participants in the campaign include the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society.

For more information on the California Wild Heritage Campaign, including information on the polling and citizens' inventories, or to arrange a media hike or river tour, please visit www.californiawild.org, or call 916-442-3155, ext. 216.

Additional Contact Information: Paul Spitler (California Wilderness Coalition), 530-758-0380; Charley Casey (Friends of the River), 916-442-3155 x218; Barbara Boyle (Sierra Club), 916-557-1100 x105; or Dan Smuts (The Wilderness Society), 415-561-6641.

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