RA masthead

November 16, 2011: Vol. 1, #11

In This Issue:
BLM recommends San Joaquin Gorge for W&S
House to Act on bill to drown Merced
Support a National Rec Area for the San Gabriel

River News & Events

BLM Recommends Wild & Scenic River Protection For The San Joaquin River Gorge!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is recommending protection of the magnificent San Joaquin River Gorge as a National Wild & Scenic River. The agency’s recommendation is in the Bakersfield BLM Draft Resource Management Plan (DRMP), which is providing management direction for more than 408,000 acres of public land in central California. The Wild & Scenic recommendation for the San Joaquin River Gorge is gutsy given that it defies the intent of several members of Congress and other government agencies to build the proposed Temperance Flat Dam, which would flood the Gorge and destroy its outstanding attributes.

Dam proponents will be mobilizing to oppose the agency’s recommendation for Wild & Scenic protection and its many other conservation-oriented proposals – including protecting all Wilderness Study Areas and other lands with wilderness qualities. Conservationists need to speak out in favor of protecting the Gorge and other sensitive areas in written comments to the BLM. The deadline for public comments in Dec. 9, 2011.

Take action today to thank BLM and encourage them to adopt "Alternative C."

Support San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area

The National Park Service (NPS) is completing its San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Resource Study and is looking at five alternatives to determine whether all or part of the spectacular natural assets in this region are significant, suitable, and feasible for protection as a unit of the National Park System.

One of the alternatives – Alternative D – proposes National Recreation protection for the National Forest lands in the San Gabriel Mountains, urban parks and open space along the San Gabriel River, and the adjacent Puente-Chino Hills. The NPS is soliciting public opinion on this and other alternatives at four public meetings in Palmdale, Pomona, Santa Clarita, and Tujunga on Nov. 14-17.

Please attend one of the public meetings if your in the LA area this week to advocate for the protection of a San Gabriel Mountains and Watershed National Recreation Area – an area that provides clean water, clean air, and outstanding outdoor recreation for millions of people, as well as essential habitat for many threatened and endangered plants and animals.

To send your comments to the NPS - click here to go to our alert.

House Resources Committee Declares War On Merced And Other Wild Rivers

The Republican dominated House Natural Resources Committee approved several bills that weaken federal protection for the Merced Wild River and other rivers in the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. The Committee approved by a party-line voice vote Rep. Jeff Denham’s bill – H.R. 2578 – which adjusts the boundary of the Merced Wild River to allow for possible expansion of the New Exchequer Reservoir.

The bill is expected to move to the House floor for a full vote soon. Please click here to send an email TODAY to your representatives in Congress urging them to protect the Merced Wild River by rejecting H.R. 2578.

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