April 30, 2007
Dear CalUWild members,
supporters, and friends —
Earlier this month I took
part in a two-day symposium on wilderness and wilderness values at San
Francisco State University. It had the somewhat unfortunate title of
"Redefining Wilderness," leading many people to fear that it was an attack on
the 1964 Wilderness Act itself. However, what the organizers had hoped for was
an effort to broaden the community of people for whom wilderness is important.
With that in mind, the speakers and panelists came from a wide spectrum of
backgrounds: land managers, wilderness trip leaders, Native Americans,
academics (both biology and social science), therapists, activists, mountain
bikers, attorneys, and others. It was enlightening to see the variety of approaches
to wilderness.
The good news is that
there was no wholesale attack on the Wilderness Act or on the basic concept and
need for wilderness. The bad news, though, is that many people don't seem to
have a clear concept of what wilderness actually is. There weren't quite as
many definitions as attendees, but it came pretty close. The problem is that
you can't have a meaningful discussion about something if you have too broad a
range of focus. And unfortunately, people said that they found wilderness everywhere
from cracks in the sidewalk and backyards to isolated landscapes and
mountaintops.
The other stumbling
block, expressed several times, is that wilderness is somehow "anti-people" or
that people are "factored out" of wilderness. It became apparent, though, that
this idea comes from a basic lack misunderstanding of language: that the fact
that Wilderness is an area "not populated by people" does not mean that people
are excluded, but rather that permanent structures and roads are prohibited.
The unfortunate thing is that these ideas are being passed along to students,
who incorporate them into their thinking, making our task as advocates for
wilderness that much more difficult.
But it's good to know
where you stand, and CalUWild will be adjusting its message to take some of
these ideas into account as we continue our outreach efforts.
Speaking of definitions
and language, the administration recently published its draft designations for
two "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors." These covered the
Southwest and Mid-Atlantic states. My dictionary defines "corridor" as "a belt
of land between two other areas"—in other words, longer than wide. The
shaded area on this map
represents the corridor for the Southwest. Click on it and see what you think.
You have to wonder what the point was in having a comment period when you see
such a perversion of the English language. Unfortunately, it's typical these
days.
Fortunately, though, the
courts continue to rule against some of the administration's worst excesses.
Last month, the Ninth Circuit Court in San Francisco ruled that the U.S. Forest
Service could not eliminate protections for endangered species and for public comment
(itself an endangered species these days) when drafting National Forest
management plans. Congratulations to the Western Environmental Law Center and
the plaintiffs in the case!
We all have to keep up
our efforts. Thanks for your help!
Best wishes,
Mike
IN UTAH
1. Red Rock Wilderness Bill
Introduced
In House and Senate
Letters Needed:
"Thank Yous" and Requests for Cosponsorship
(ACTION
ITEM)
2. Backcountry Volunteers Service
Trips
IN CALIFORNIA
3. Carrizo Plain Management Plan
Comments Needed
DEADLINE:
June 12
(ACTION ITEM)
IN GENERAL
4. Job Announcement
Defenders of
Wildlife
California
Representative
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
IN UTAH
1. Red Rock Wilderness Bill
Introduced
In House and Senate
Letters Needed:
"Thank Yous" and Requests for Cosponsorship
(ACTION
ITEM)
As it has been in every Congress
since 1989, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act was introduced this month in
Congress. The bill numbers are:
H.R.1919
in the House
S.1170
in the Senate
We had an extremely successful pre-introduction cosponsor campaign, and here in
California, there are only a few representatives who were previous cosponsors
who aren't on the bill this time.
Here is the complete list
of cosponsors, previous cosponsors, and representatives we'd still like to see
on the bill.
Cosponsors:
Thompson (D-01)
Woolsey (D-06)
Miller (D-07)
Lee (D-09)
Tauscher (D-10)
McNerney (D-11)
Lantos (D-12)
Stark (D-13)
Eshoo (D-14)
Honda (D-15)
Lofgren (D-16)
Farr (D-17)
Capps (D-23)
Sherman (D-27)
Berman (D-28)
Schiff (D-29)
Waxman (D-30)
Becerra (D-31)
Solis (D-32)
Roybal-Allard (D-34)
Waters (D-35)
Millender-McDonald (D-37)
Napolitano (D-38)
Sanchez (D-39)
Sanchez (D-47)
Filner (D-51)
Davis (D-53)
Cosponsors in the 109th:
Matsui (D-05)
Watson (D-33)
Harman (D-36)
Other hopeful possibilities:
Dennis
Cardoza (D-18)
Jim
Costa (D-20)
Mary
Bono (R-45)
In the Senate, Barbara Boxer is a cosponsor, while Sen. Dianne Feinstein is
not.
Please call or write your
representatives and senators either thanking them or asking them to sign on.
Thanks!
2.
Backcountry Volunteers Service Trips
We've mentioned Utah Backcountry Volunteers before. Their latest
list of service trips for 2007 came out recently, so we're including it here.
Service trips are a great way to help protect the land, and quite different
from writing letters! Before signing up for a trip, check for space
availability.
You still have time to make this year's vacation an unforgettable and
fulfilling experience! Spend a
week in Utah's spectacular outdoors this Spring lending your muscle to make a
difference on the ground where you're enthusiasm and support is needed
most. Trips are filling up!
2007 Service Trips
May 13-19, Grand
Staircase-Escalante NM, Russian olive & tamarisk removal
(6 spaces open)
June 10-16, Manti-LaSal NF,
12-Mile Canyon, Twin Lake, ORV damage control
(9 spaces open)
June 24-30, Manti-LaSal NF, Dark
Canyon Wilderness, trail & campsite work
(7 spaces open)
September 9-15, Grand
Staircase-Escalante NM, Paria River, ORV damage control
(6 spaces open)
September 23-29, Monticello BLM,
Beef Basin, archaeology protection
(6 spaces open)
October 14-20, Capitol Reef NP,
trail work & vegetation removal
(8 spaces open)
Registration is easy. Send your tax-deductible $175 trip fee
to the below address and you're all set.
Check out trip details at www.utahbackcountry.org
or call Dave at (435) 785-8955 for more information. See you in the backcountry!
For more information, contact:
Utah Backcountry
Volunteers
P.O. Box 526197
Salt Lake City,
UT 84152
(435) 785-8955
info@utahbackcountry.org
IN CALIFORNIA
3. Carrizo Plain Management Plan
Comments
Needed
DEADLINE:
June 12
(ACTION
ITEM)
In 2001, Pres. Bill Clinton
designated the Carrizo Plain in California a national monument. Managed by the
Bureau of Land Management, the Plain is the largest substantially intact
remnant of the San Joaquin Valley ecosystem. The BLM began drafting a
management plan for the monument in 2002, but it was only an environmental
assessment (EA), which does not go into the same level of detail as a
full-blown environmental impact statement (EIS).
The agency has decided to
start over, and is beginning the scoping process again. Comments are due June
12. If you submitted comments in 2002, the agency says they will be included in
the latest planning round. But it might be a good idea to re-submit your
comments or ask the BLM to incorporate your previous comments.
BLM is holding a public
meeting May 5 at the Monument to discuss the scoping and planning process.
May 5, 2007 at the
California Valley Community Services District building on Soda Lake Road. The
center is located approximately three miles south of Highway 58 adjacent to the
California Valley Fire Station 42. This meeting is being held in conjunction
with a Carrizo Monument Advisory Committee meeting. The planning effort will be discussed (with time for public
scoping input) from 10 a.m. to noon.
Lunch will be available for $8.
The MAC meeting will then continue from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. focusing on
other agenda topics related to the national monument
The Wilderness Society
has prepared the following list of talking points for scoping comments.
CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL
MONUMENT
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN
- TALKING POINTS
The Monument is a special
and fragile place–that's why it was given special status and why its
management should be special too:
1 The
Carrizo Plain National Monument is a unique, diverse and spectacular landscape.
It is a singular place of national and worldwide significance.
2 Its
species, communities and ecosystems are extremely rare and imperiled. The very
future of its extraordinary plants and animals, unique ecosystems and other
outstanding features could very well depend on the decisions made in the RMP.
3 Because
of its significance, designation as a National Monument and inclusion in the
National Landscape Conservation System, the BLM should manage the Carrizo Plain
National Monument differently than other BLM lands. The BLM should prioritize
resource preservation.
4 The
Natural Area Plan and the preferred alternative in the February 2004 draft of
the Environmental Assessment provided a solid foundation for future management.
The BLM should build upon these recommendations.
The valuable and fragile evidence of pre-historic and historic peoples should
be protected:
5 Painted
Rock and other archaeological and historic sites within the Monument preserve
an important span of history. The BLM should ensure that it manages the
Monument to provide for their preservation and restoration.
The road system on the ground should support transportation needs around the
Monument, but must also support protection of the Monument's natural values:
6 The
natural splendor of the Monument is best protected by limiting the number of
roads. The BLM should limit the roads in the Monument to those that support the
mission of protecting the Monument's values.
7 The
BLM should consider the road network and fencing across the Monument in the
context of the connectivity of the landscape.
8 The
BLM should consider removing fences which inhibit the movement of pronghorn.
9 The
BLM should consider closing and rehabilitating redundant roads, roads that
serve no visitor or administrative purpose, and roads in sensitive resources
areas.
10 There
are a number of locations where off-road vehicle use is occurring contrary to
the Monument proclamation and the current management plan. The BLM should
document off-road vehicle use, analyze its impacts and develop a plan to
address the impacts including signage, law enforcement and restoration.
Grazing/invasive species
need to be managed to protect the natural environment:
11 The
BLM should analyze the impacts of livestock grazing to plant and animal species
and ecosystems. The BLM should permit livestock grazing only if it can be
demonstrated to benefit native species and ecosystems.
12 The
BLM should consider phasing out the remaining long-term grazing leases and
replacing them with annual free use permits if grazing is used as a resource
management tool.
13 To
control exotic plant species, the BLM should analyze and consider the use of
prescribed fire in conjunction with or as an alternative to livestock grazing
and other methods.
14 The
BLM should develop fire management policies and prescriptions for the Monument which
provide for the use of naturally occurring fire to restore and maintain the
Monument's species and ecosystems.
Oil and gas drilling can
impact the natural landscape, plants and animals:
15 The
BLM needs to address the potential impacts of oil and gas drilling on split
estate lands.
Only responsible hunting
and firearm use should be permitted:
16 Hunting
is one of many ways that visitors use and enjoy the monument. However, the BLM
should consider the impacts of non-game hunting to the Monument's ecosystems
and to threatened and endangered species found on the Carrizo Plain including
the San Joaquin kit fox and the San Joaquin antelope squirrel. The BLM should
consider limiting hunting to game species in season.
17 The
BLM should consider prohibiting the use of lead bullets, because lead poisoning
from those bullets can kill the California condor, an endangered species,
golden eagles, and other raptors.
18 Target
shooting can result in the accumulation of litter, soil contamination by lead
and wildfires. It can also impact the safety and experience of visitors. The
BLM should maintain its current policy of directing target shooters to
facilities outside the Monument.
Now is the time to
develop a smart approach to managing visitors to the Monument:
19 Visitor
use is expected to increase and the BLM should identify ways to accommodate
current and future visitor use in a way which will prevent or lessen the
potential impacts of visitor use.
Please submit your comments before June 12 to:
Ms.
Johna Hurl, Manager
Carrizo
Plain National Monument
BLM
Bakersfield Field Office
3801
Pegasus Drive
Bakersfield,
CA 93308
We don't have an email address available for submitting comments. For further
information, please call the Monument at 661-391-6000.
IN
GENERAL
4. Job Announcement
Defenders of
Wildlife
California
Representative
California Representative
Supervisor: Director, California Program
This professional-level
position is responsible for representing Defenders of Wildlife's legislative
and administrative interests before state and federal government agencies,
Congress, the State Legislature, and the media. It also involves a wide variety
of responsibilities promoting and expanding the program and operations of the
California Program Office.
The position will involve
working in areas involving governmental affairs, habitat conservation, media,
fund raising and legal affairs. Must possess excellent communication, research,
and writing/editing skills. The position will be responsible for starting up
specific campaigns on a number of water, habitat and species issues. Must be
extremely well-organized and capable of juggling many different projects and
tasks.
Assignments are results-
or goal-oriented, requiring substantial discretion on the part of the position
in determining how to meet the assigned goal (e.g., putting together a new
conservation campaign or producing a research report).
Duties:
Qualifications:
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants, please
reference California Representative
and send resume, cover letter, and salary history (must be included to be
considered) to HR@defenders.org; Fax to
(202) 682-1331 or mail to:
Attn: HR
Defenders of Wildlife
1130 - 17th Street,
NW
Washington, DC 20036-4604
It is the policy of Defenders of Wildlife to provide equal employment
opportunity to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or any other characteristic
protected by law, in all personnel actions.