Factory Butte at Sunrise, Utah                                                                                                       (Mike Painter)

 
January 17, 2016

Dear CalUWild friends-

I hope your new year is off to a good start. 2017 started well on the public lands front, which is why this Update is coming out sooner than usual after the last one. Last week, Pres. Obama designated or expanded five new national monuments, two of them in California. (See Item 1.) Since his administration ends on Friday, we have a very limited timeframe to thank him. Please do so right away! (It will likely be your last chance to thank the White House for quite some time, unfortunately.)

2017 is going to be an interesting year, to say the least, as we see what the new administration and Congress have in store on the environment (and other issues, as well). It’s almost certain that there will be very few pieces of protective legislation passed by Congress, and we’ll be mostly engaged in defensive battles instead. Already Congress has passed rule changes that make it easier to transfer land to states by saying such transfers are “budget neutral” (meaning that, by definition, the value received doesn’t have to be equal to the value of the land given over) and further, saying that their value is zero. The New York Times features a “Room for Debate” on public lands transfers today. Please add your thoughts in the comments after the various opinions (though you need a username to do so).

It is critical that people not burn out by trying to fight too many things at once. Not everyone has to be involved in every issue, every time; it will be important to conserve our mental energy and plan on being “in it” for the long haul. CalUWild will do its best to bring you information on the most important issues as they arise, without being overwhelming. As always if you have questions, suggestions or critiques, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 
Best wishes,
Mike

 
IN CALIFORNIA
1.   Pres. Obama Expands the Coastal National Monument and
          Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and Designates
          Three Other National Monuments
          (ACTION ITEM)
2.   Job Listing: Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
          Northern California Field Organizer

IN CALIFORNIA
1.   Pres. Obama Expands the Coastal National Monument and
          Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and Designates
          Three Other National Monuments
          (ACTION ITEM)

Last Thursday, Pres. Obama enlarged the California Coastal National Monument with six additions and brought Oregon’s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument into California, as well. Both of these monuments are part of the National Landscape Conservation System. He also designated three new monuments, historic sites related to the Reconstruction Era and the Civil Rights Movement.

Click on these links to read the proclamations for the historic monuments.

 
California Coastal NM
Pres. Bill Clinton established the California Coastal National Monument in 2000. It stretches the entire length of the California coast and consists of all the islands, rocks, and reefs along the coast. In 2014 Pres. Obama added the Stornetta Public Lands in Mendocino County, the first onshore section of the monument. In 2015 Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and Reps. Jared Huffman (D-2), Ann Eshoo (D-18), and Lois Capps (D-24) introduced legislation expanding the monument further. Unsurprisingly, the legislation never progressed in Congress, so Pres. Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906 to expand the monument.

Here are the descriptions of the new units from the Interior Department press release:

The Lost Coast Headlands were not included in the original legislation.

You may read the proclamation here.

A fact sheet on the California Coastal National Monument expansion can be found here.

 
Cascade-Siskiyou NM
Pres. Obama also expanded the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument by about 47,000 acres, of which 5,000 are in California (the Horseshoe Ranch and Jenny Creek areas in Siskiyou County). The expansion significantly increased the size of the monument that Pres. Bill Clinton designated in 2000. Again, the monument expansion was originally proposed in legislation introduced by Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden (D) and Jeff Merkley (D), with support from Sen. Barbara Boxer (D).

The monument was designated to protect the biodiversity of the area, which is especially rich as it lies at the intersection of the Cascade, Sikiyou, and Klamath mountains.

The presidential proclamation may be found here.

A map showing the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument expansion can be found here.

A fact sheet on the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument expansion can be found here.

 
Please thank Pres. Obama and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell for these latest designations. Phone calls are best, as it’s too late for letters to get to the White House and Interior Departments, but I’m including the addresses for future reference.

 
2.   Job Listing: Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
          Northern California Field Organizer

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is looking for a Field Organizer to work in Northern California, organizing grassroots events and other activities in support of its work to protect Utah’s wildlands. The position is for a part-time independent contractor. Click here for a full description of the position. Interested persons should submit their applications to travis [at] suwa [dot] org. Include a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three professional references. The contract is open until filled.

Please share this listing with anyone you know who might be interested or with any other relevant networks you’re part of. Thanks!

 
 
 
 
 
 
As always, if you ever have questions, suggestions, critiques, or wish to change your e-mail address or unsubscribe, all you have to do is send an email. For information on making a contribution to CalUWild, click here. “Like” and “Follow” CalUWild on Facebook.