Thank our Central Coast champion
Sespe Creek purple flower
In April, Rep. Carbajal introduced the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act (HR 2199). The bill would protect thousands of acres of sensitive habitat in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument. Highlights of the bill include the safeguarding of 244,476 acres of wilderness, creating two scenic areas encompassing 34,882 acres, and designating 159 miles of wild and scenic rivers.
Rep. Carbajal has proven himself invested in this bill from the beginning of his term, and CalWild is seeking a mark-up in the coming months to advance the bill and work with the momentum we gained this year through the bi-partisan passage of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.
Using the form below, please take a moment to thank Rep. Carbajal for prioritizing this piece of legislation.
Thank our Senators for all these bills!
Photo by Sam Kweskin
Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Kamala Harris deserve recognition for recently passing legislation protecting more than a half million acres of the California Desert and for introducing legislation to protect another half million acres of wilderness areas in the San Gabriel Mountains, Central Coast, and Northwest California.
In March, Congress approved and President Trump signed the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. An omnibus bill with legislation ranging across the country, the Dingell bill included the California Desert Protection and Recreation Act, a labor of love that began over 10 years ago and was originally introduced by Senator Feinstein. Cosponsored by Senator Harris, the bill protected 515,825 acres of public lands, including 375,500 acres of wilderness, 39,835 acres of National Park expansions, and 100,490 acres of special management areas. The bill also included 73 miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers.
Not resting on their laurels, Senator Harris and Senator Feinstein in April introduced S. 1109 – the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act; S. 1110 – the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act; and S. 1111 – the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act. These are Senate companion bills to legislation simultaneously introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Jared Huffman, and Rep. Salud Carbajal, respectively.
Using the form below, please send emails TODAY to Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Dianne Feinstein thanking them for introducing and passing the California Desert bill, and for introducing S. 1109, 1110, and S. 1111 to protect some of the wildest places on our public lands.
Shasta Dam Raise Threatens the McCloud and Sacramento Rivers
McCloud River 1100×733
The Westlands Water District is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed raise of Shasta Dam and enlargement of Shasta Reservoir upstream of Redding on the Sacramento River. Westlands has declared itself to be the federal government’s local “cost sharing” partner for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s proposed raise of Shasta Dam and reservoir enlargement. As such, the District is preparing the EIR required by state law and seeking public comments about issues to be addressed in the EIR.
Raising Shasta Dam and enlarging its reservoir violates existing state law and Forest Service management direction protecting the McCloud River. The dam raise will cost at least $1.3 billion while increasing California’s statewide surface water supply by less than 1%. The expanded reservoir will provide negligible environmental benefits, while severely affecting Native American cultural sites and practices, rare plants, threatened wildlife, and more than 2,500 acres of public land in the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area. Enlarging the reservoir will require the removal of numerous roads and structures and force the relocation of at least 130 property owners. The dam raise will also modify downstream flows and affect ecological processes in the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge, Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area (including a segment of the Sacramento River eligible for National Wild and Scenic River protection), Sacramento River State Wildlife Area, and three state parks.
Please use the sample comment letter below and add your personal thoughts.
McCarthy needs to lend his voice to protect Giant Sequoia
Representative Kevin McCarthy
The Giant Sequoia National Monument (GSNM) covers 328,315-acre protecting the giant Sequoia groves and their surrounding forests and watersheds from resource development. A previous protection proposal by President George H.W. Bush was less than 1/3rd of the Monument established by President Clinton. The more expansive Clinton proclamation was preceded by extensive public input and local meetings. Although some people opposed its establishment, the Giant Sequoia National Monument enjoyed widespread public support, which continues today.
The Forest Service has all the policy tools it needs to effectively address tree mortality in the Monument. What the agency lacks is adequate funding from Congress. The Forest Service has suffered from severe budget cuts since the Giant Sequoia National Monument was established and most of its current budget is spent fighting wildfires. Budget cuts are a major impediment to effective forest management in the Giant Sequoia National Monument. Lack of funding and political support in Congress is also the primary reason why the Monument lacks a visitor center, which would improve the visitor experience and boost tourism and the economy of local communities.
The well documented economic value of the Giant Sequoia National Monument is completely ignored by President Trump and the Western Caucus. Travel and tourism are important to the communities in the Giant Sequoia region, supporting about 55,100 jobs. Tulare and Fresno counties have experienced strong growth since the monument was established, with increases in population, jobs, and personal income. Overall, outdoor recreation in California generates $92 billion annually in consumer spending, directly contributes to 691,000 jobs, and adds $6.2 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Please make sure McCarthy understands how many benefits the Giant Sequoia is providing to his own constituents.