State - The U.S. Senate approved a major expansion of wilderness areas nationwide Thursday, protecting more than 2 million acres of public land from drilling, logging and mining, including 735,000 acres across California. The 73-21 vote was a huge victory for conservationists, who persuaded Senate leaders to roll 160 wilderness bills into one giant package. The bill would permanently protect lands in nine states, from the Eastern Sierra Nevada in California to Oregon's Mount Hood and from Utah's Zion National Park to the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. The package now heads to the House for final passage consideration, but its sponsors said the Senate's lopsided passage will help smooth the way. It could be the first environmental bill that Barack Obama signs as president. In California, the measure would expand wilderness areas from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks to Joshua Tree National Park and also would authorize $88 million to help restore the historic salmon run on the San Joaquin River. The bill would help implement a settlement to end the 18-year dispute between environmentalists, federal regulators and Central Valley farmers over how to maintain water levels to preserve a key spawning ground for Chinook salmon. The newly designated wilderness areas are all on existing public lands - managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service and other agencies - but now will have the highest level of protection under law. Under the 1964 Wilderness Act, drilling, mining and logging are banned, as are motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles and four-wheelers. Hiking, camping and horseback riding are allowed. California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who helped sponsor the bills to protect the new wilderness areas in California, said that as the state's population climbs toward 50 million people as early as 2020, it is crucial to set aside areas for the public to enjoy where wildlife can still thrive. The bill includes some areas in California that conservationists and recreational users view as true gems, including 77,000-acre additions to the Hoover and Emigrant Wilderness that feature alpine lakes, glacial valleys, pine forests and 12 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail; a 223,000-acre stretch of the White Mountains in Mono County, which is the country's largest and highest desert mountain range; and 85,000 acres in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, famous for its Giant Sequoia groves. Staff Report
Thursday, 22 January 2009 23:37
United States Senate: Wilderness
State - The U.S. Senate approved a major expansion of wilderness areas nationwide Thursday, protecting more than 2 million acres of public land from drilling, logging and mining, including 735,000 acres across California. The 73-21 vote was a huge victory for conservationists, who persuaded Senate leaders to roll 160 wilderness bills into one giant package. The bill would permanently protect lands in nine states, from the Eastern Sierra Nevada in California to Oregon's Mount Hood and from Utah's Zion National Park to the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. The package now heads to the House for final passage consideration, but its sponsors said the Senate's lopsided passage will help smooth the way. It could be the first environmental bill that Barack Obama signs as president. In California, the measure would expand wilderness areas from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks to Joshua Tree National Park and also would authorize $88 million to help restore the historic salmon run on the San Joaquin River. The bill would help implement a settlement to end the 18-year dispute between environmentalists, federal regulators and Central Valley farmers over how to maintain water levels to preserve a key spawning ground for Chinook salmon. The newly designated wilderness areas are all on existing public lands - managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service and other agencies - but now will have the highest level of protection under law. Under the 1964 Wilderness Act, drilling, mining and logging are banned, as are motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles and four-wheelers. Hiking, camping and horseback riding are allowed. California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who helped sponsor the bills to protect the new wilderness areas in California, said that as the state's population climbs toward 50 million people as early as 2020, it is crucial to set aside areas for the public to enjoy where wildlife can still thrive. The bill includes some areas in California that conservationists and recreational users view as true gems, including 77,000-acre additions to the Hoover and Emigrant Wilderness that feature alpine lakes, glacial valleys, pine forests and 12 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail; a 223,000-acre stretch of the White Mountains in Mono County, which is the country's largest and highest desert mountain range; and 85,000 acres in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, famous for its Giant Sequoia groves. Staff Report
