May 6, 2008

 

 

Dear CalUWild friends --

 

Things can move quickly in the public lands arena, and there are a couple of items to bring to your attention before I take a break for a few weeks.

 

So without further ado, here's the shortest CalUWild Update ever.

 

 

Thanks,
Mike

 

IN UTAH
1.   Washington County Bill Not Good Enough
          Please Let Senators Know
          (ACTION ITEM)
2.   Utah Wilderness on YouTube

IN CALIFORNIA
3.   Wild Heritage Campaign Roundup
          Mt. San Jacinto State Park
          Idyllwild
          May 30 - June 1

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

IN UTAH
1.   Washington County Bill Not Good Enough
          Please Let Senators Know
          (ACTION ITEM)

As mentioned in April's Update, Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT) has reintroduced his Washington County public lands bill, S.2834. The conservation community is hoping to improve the bill, but at the same time we feel its important to let our senators know that it's unacceptable in its present form.

 

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has sent out the following alert, asking people to contact their senators.

 

 

On April 9, Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced S. 2834, the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act of 2008. While in some ways this bill is better than Senator Bennett's 2006 version, which you helped to defeat, it still contains some of the same damaging provisions for southwestern Utah that would perpetuate bad precedents for all future public lands bills. Once again we need your help!  Please let your Senators know that S. 2834 is bad for Utah wilderness!

  

SUWA will continue to work with Sen. Bennett and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to make the necessary improvements to S.2834, but we are unable to support the bill in its current form.  The most problematic provisions in the bill would:

 

--  Fail to protect over half of Washington County's proposed wilderness-quality lands as identified in America's Red Rock Wilderness Act

 

--  Put at risk to ORV damage sensitive Zion-Mojave lands, including threatened desert tortoise habitat in the Mojave Desert and currently protected Wilderness Study Areas near Zion National Park

 

--  Sell off up to 14 square miles of America's public lands, the majority of which are not currently identified for sale

 

-- Create a loophole to redirect conservation funds to pay for development projects in Washington County, potentially including the controversial Lake Powell water pipeline

 

The good news: there is still the time and the means to improve S. 2834, but we need to let every member of the Senate know that this bill has major problems.  Here's what you can do:

 

--  Read more about the Washington County Growth and Conservation Act of 2008 and why the bill as introduced is bad for Utah wilderness.

 

--  View a map that shows how the bill's Wilderness proposal compares with that of America's Red Rock Wilderness Act.

 

--  Tell your Senators to oppose S. 2834 in its current form so that we can gain the support necessary to either fix the bill or stop it from advancing through Congress.

 

 

 

As always, letters are best, but should be mailed to local offices rather than to Washington, DC because of security. Faxes are almost as good. Phone calls to Washington are also helpful.

 

Sen. Barbara Boxer's contact information may be found here.

 

Sen. Dianne Feinstein's contact information may be found here.

 

Thank you for taking a few minutes to do this!

 

 

2.   Utah Wilderness on YouTube

If you're in need of a short break (5 minutes or so), take a quick look at Utah's wilderness. Rich Csenge, Utah activist extraordinaire, has made a short video that's now on YouTube. Rich runs Mainers for Utah Wilderness, one of the Utah state activist groups that has sprung up over the years.

 

Click here.

 

 

IN CALIFORNIA
3.   Wild Heritage Campaign Roundup
          Mt. San Jacinto State Park
          Idyllwild
          May 30 - June 1

Join wilderness enthusiasts, volunteers, and staff from around the state for our annual, state-wide celebration of California wilderness! Our Fourth Annual California Wilderness Round-Up is a great weekend of hiking, camping, and fun.

 

Friday, May 30-Sunday June 1, 2008.

 

Mount San Jacinto State Park, Idyllwild Campground, Idyllwild, California.

 

The Round-Up will give you an opportunity to visit proposed wilderness areas in the California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act which is currently moving through Congress.

 

You will also have a chance to celebrate our successes, meet other volunteers and wilderness advocates and share stories with wilderness-lovers from around the state while camping out under the mountain sky.

 

The weekend is free and open to your friends and family. Campgrounds are already reserved and spaces will fill up quickly, so don't wait. Register today!