MAY 6, 2005 Bush forest plan blasted by SoCal environmentalists

DAVE DOWNEY from opening up areas designated as wil- STAFF WRITER derness, such as San Mateo Canyon west of Murrieta, Agua Tibia southeast of Temecula, the San Jacinto Peak area near An environmental group with a large Idyllwild and San Gorgonio Mountain east Southern California presence blasted of San Bernardino. Thursday’s decision by the Bush However, Bond suggested the rule could administration to open 58.5 million acres pave the way for roads in other areas, of roadless lands in national forests such as the Santa Ana Mountains north across the country to potential road- of Ortega Highway (Highway 74) in building, logging, mining and motor- Riverside County and on Palomar vehicle recreation. Mountain in northern San Diego County. The new rules, repealing protections As well, the Cedar Creek Falls and San provided by former President Clinton in Diego River Gorge area near Ramona, the waning days of his administration, targeted by conservation groups for cover some of the most pristine lands wilderness designation, potentially could managed by the U.S. Forest Service in be opened. 38 states, including California. Under the new rule, individual states “It’s a giant step backward for forest could request that roads be built and other protection,” said Monica Bond, a biologist activities be permitted. with the Arizona-based Center for However, in California the rule may have Biological Diversity, which has a regional little effect. That’s because Gov. Arnold office in the Riverside County mountain Schwarzenegger vowed Thursday to town of Idyllwild. block any new activity. Bond said the rule could result in the “California’s forests are one of our loss of 17,000 acres of 88,000 acres of state’s most treasured and valued roadless areas in the Cleveland National resources,” Schwarzenegger said in a Forest, which sprawls across Riverside, statement. “I am committed to protecting San Diego and Orange counties. She said the vibrant health and sustainable future the change could trigger road-building of our forests. In keeping with that across two-thirds of 172,000 acres of commitment and the assurances we have mostly undisturbed areas within the San from the U.S. Forest Service, roadless Bernardino National Forest in Riverside areas in California will remain roadless.” and San Bernardino counties. The Bush administration rule overturns “There are a lot of areas that could be an action Clinton took eight days before opened because of this,” Bond said. leaving office in January 2001. “Those areas are really important for biodiversity and for people who are trying to get away and enjoy a back-country experience.” Current law prevents forest managers