Wilderness Bill Signed from the Sept/Oct 1984 Designates 677,600 Acres Areas Are in Southern Cali- Ers Were Released

PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS COALITION

Vol. XL Berkeley, Ca. October 22, 2016 No. 1

Wild lands saved COALITION FORMS From the Mar/Apr 1976 The California Wilder- activities; protection on to save any or all of these Wilderness Record, ness Coalition has as its which is given units of unprotected wild lands. Vol. 1, No. 1 single goal the preserva- the National or California tion of all remaining wil- (state) Wilderness Preser- The Coalition will pull California Wilderness has derness lands in Califor- vation Systems. together not only individ- just gained a new friend. nia. It estimates that nearly uals and environmental The California Wilderness 14 million acres of wild The remaining 12 mil- groups, but any scientific, Coalition has been formed land still exist (14 percent lion acres – lands which educational, or civic orga- by a group of wilderness of the state’s total area) are just as valuable and nization that is interested conservationists con- under the jurisdiction of also widely used for recre- in wilderness or a particu- cerned with the need for a federal and state agencies. ation, inspiration, scientif- lar wilderness area. In ad- stepped-up level of activi- However, only 1.9 million ic study, wildlife habitat, dition, the Coalition will ty on behalf of wilderness acres of this wild land has and other wilderness uses include those who have an in the state. Before now, legal protection against – are open to and threat- economic interest in unde- no statewide group has road-building, motorized ened by development. veloped land: manufactur- focused solely on wilder- vehicles, logging and oth- Wilderness lovers will ers and retailers of back- ness preservation. er wilderness-destroying need to be well-organized continued on p. 2 Wilderness Bill Signed From the Sept/Oct 1984 designates 677,600 acres areas are in southern Cali- ers were released. Wilderness Record of Yosemite National Park fornia, also without many and 736,980 acres of Se- commercial trees. Conservation sought There was no ceremony, quoia and Kings Canyon protection for some of the The California Wilderness Coalition has not even a press release National Park as wilder- As a result of the bill, new wilderness areas for worked for the past 40 years to preserve from the White House, but ness. Tied to the wilder- a wilderness environmen- decades. Areas like Ansel President Reagan signed ness bill was wild and sce- tal impact statement is Adams (San Joaquin), the wild spaces such as Hayfork Creek in the California Wilderness nic river classification for no longer needed before Siskiyous, Snow Moun- Northwestern California. Act into law on Septem- 83 miles of the Tuolumne timber sales or other ac- tain, and Granite Chief ber 28th. River and the establish- tivities can proceed in have had individuals and ment of a Mono Basin Na- over 3.4 million acres of groups continually work- Although the Reagan tional Scenic Area. “released” roadless lands. ing for their preservation Administration opposed since before the passage the bill the past four years, Three “planning ar- Due to this legislation, of the Wilderness Act strong bipartisan support eas” are protected for four the Forest Service will twenty years ago. apparently convinced the years while the Forest Ser- have to change their com- President to sign. The bill vice completes wilderness puter data used in devel- The new challenge for was 600,000 acres small- studies and Congress re- oping their forest plans. conservationists now is er than that previously considers the areas. About This may cause a delay in to find means of protect- passed by the House, the 1.7 million acres of land the release of draft plans ing important “released” result of effort by Senator remains in “further plan- of six to eight months. areas and participating in Pete Wilson, a fellow Re- ning areas” that will be the study of the further 2016 marks the 40th anni- the look and feel of the publican. studied during the forest The Senate compro- planning areas. Also, the versary of the founding of original edition for your planning process. Eighty mise eliminated 19 areas designation of wilderness the California Wilderness reading pleasure. We hope The legislation protects percent of the acreage of previously approved for study areas managed by Coalition. On Oct 22nd, you enjoy. 25 new wilderness areas these areas is in the Inyo wilderness designation by the Bureau of Land Man- current and former board and 14 additions to exist- and Los Padres national the House and reduced in agement, including the members, staff, and sup- Read about our honoring wilderness area total- forests, however, regions size others. Some of these King Range and the Cal- porters gathered to cele- ees on page 2. ing 1.8 million acres of with little commercial areas were remanded to ifornia Desert, has only brate the many successes national forest land. It also timber. Many of the other further planning, but oth- just begun. over that stretch and con- We are deeply grateful template what the next 40 to the generous sponsors might bring. of our 40th Anniversary CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS COALITION celebration; they are listed MAIL This special edition on page 4. 1814 Franklin Street, Suite 510 INDICIA Wilderness Record is a Oakland, CA 94612 re-printing of many of the HERE IF articles commemorating APPLICABLE major victories over that time period. The Wilder- ness Record, for much of the California Wilderness Coalition’s history, was the primary method of communicating the organization’s work. While much of our communica- tion has moved online, we thought it fitting to revive Page 2 Wilderness Record October, 2016 2016 Phil Burton Award Winner: Honoring the California Ryan Henson Wilderness Coalition’s Founders

The Phil Burton Wil- Ryan, currently Cal- Omnibus Public Land The founders of the we are also celebrating the Morrill, Phil Farrell, Bob derness Award is given Wild’s Senior Policy Di- Management Act adding California Wilderness Co- visionaries who got it all Schneider, and Jeff Bar- to someone who has sig- rector, has built a repu- 779,800 wilderness acres. alition had the vision to started. Without that first nickol for their vision of nificant accomplishments tation across the state as More recently, Ryan was create an organization to step, none of what came community-empowered in wilderness protection. a wilderness expert and instrumental in CalWild’s champion the wild lands after would have been environmental advocacy. This year’s winner is a conservationist willing major victories in the des- of California. On Cal- possible. A very special friend and colleague to and eager to meet with ert: the Mojave Trails, Wild’s 40th Anniversary, thanks to Jim Eaton, Don anyone who has worked anyone who might be in- Sand to Snow, and Castle with CalWild in the last terested in public lands Mountains National Mon- 20-plus years and abso- protection. Ryan was in- uments, and the Desert lutely deserving of such timately involved in a Renewable Energy Con- an honor: Ryan Henson. number of the greatest servation Plan (DRECP), wilderness conservation which protected 2.8 mil- achievements in the last lion acres as National 20 years including the Conservation Lands. 1997-2001 first non-gov- Jim Eaton Don Morrill Phil Farrell Bob Schneider ernmental comprehensive We are so lucky to survey of California’s have such a dedicated and ************************************* wilderness identifying 7.2 accomplishment advocate vehicle for communica- of industry and agencies million potential wilder- on our side. We raise a Coalition Forms continued from p. 1 tion. All members will will be a major responsi- ness acres, the 2006 North toast to his accomplish- be informed on the latest bility of the research pro- Coast Bill which protected ments knowing that there packing and skiing equip- events affecting wilder- grams of the CWC. Many 275,00 wilderness acres are plenty more where ment, publishers of moun- ness or proposed areas, statements given in oppo- and 21 miles of wild and those came from in the taineering and trail guides, information about specific sition to wilderness pro- scenic river, and the 2009 future. photographers, packers, areas and which groups posals are misleading or and guides. are concerned with them, completely false and need ************************************* and problems of wilder- to be exposed. Research Boring name, glorious results The main activities of ness management. Special is also needed on the sci- the CWC can be grouped alerts will also be sent out entific values of wilder- The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 into four general catego- as needed to inform inter- ness, the importance of protects vast stretches of wild California ries: organization, com- ested persons about hear- wild lands to plants and munication, education, ings, bills, and threats to animals (especially en- by Ryan Henson, Policy Director and research. Actual proj- wild lands. dangered species), and the ects may overlap these proper management pro- Condensed from the agement Act of 2009. in many states. These groups. Education will be grams of protected areas. Summer 2009 Wilderness The legislation protected measure were rolled into accomplished through Record over 743,000 acres (1,160 a single piece of biparti- A prime function of special publications and The California Wil- square miles) of Califor- san legislation in order to the Coalition is to orga- workshops. The Coalition derness Coalition is not Our success can be at- nia’s federal lands as wil- thwart filibuster attempts nize statewide effort for will see that background intended to replace local tributed to our grassroots derness in the eastern Sier- by anti-environmental wilderness preservation. materials on various as- groups fighting for wil- strength—bringing to- ra Nevada, Sequioa-Kings members of Congress. As funds become avail- pects of wilderness pres- derness. Its purpose is to gether people, organiza- Canyon National Parks able, coordinators will be ervation are prepared increase the effectiveness tions, and decision-mak- and Riverside County. It The Omnibus bill hired to travel to all cor- and distributed to those of such groups by pro- ers across our state to was the largest wilderness contained the following ners of the state to meet who need and want this viding a state-wide focus protect California’s last protection measure affect- California wilderness with members, groups, information. Evening on their particular issue. wild places. Through our ing California in 15 years. measures that had orig- and business about coop- and weekend workshops It will take a united effort unique organizing efforts inally been proposed as erating in the wilderness will also be held in com- by citizens throughout the of developing a diverse The Omnibus Public stand-alone pieces of effort. These organizers munities throughout the state to add new areas to constituency of support Land Management Act legislation: Eastern Sier- can then assist local indi- state so that wilderness the National and Cali- we spearheaded the efforts contained over 160 bills ra and Northern San Ga- viduals in forming an ad supporters can meet each fornia State Wilderness to designate over 700,000 sponsored by both Repub- briel Wild Heritage Act, hoc group for their partic- other and plan specific Preservation Systems and acres of wilderness in Cal- licans and Democrats de- Sequoia-Kings Canyon ular threatened area. programs to protect their to insure that the systems ifornia. signed to improve water National Park Wilderness favorite areas. remain intact. management, expand wil- Act, and California Desert A bimonthly newspa- On March 30, 2009, derness areas and parks, and Mountain Heritage per, the Wilderness Re- Debunking the an- President Barack Obama protect historic sites, and Act. cord, will be the major ti-wilderness arguments Wanted: The CWC signed into law the Om- accomplish other import- needs a usable IBM Se- nibus Public Land Man- ant conservation goals lectric typewriter. If you ************************************* can help, please contact Chris Morrill care of the CWC. (Adapted from the March/April 1976 Wil- derness Record.)

Board of Directors Staff Our Mission Brian Huse Rachel Kondor Doug Linney Linda Castro The California Wilder- wide organization dedi- Chair Board Member Executive Director Southern California ness Coalition (CalWild) cated solely to protecting Organizer protects and restores the and restoring the wild Steve Evans state’s wildest natural places and native biodi- Don Morrill Steve McClary Wild Rivers Director Alison Sterling landscapes and water- versity of California’s Vice Chair Board Member Northwest Organizer Ryan Henson sheds on public lands. public lands. These important wild Derek Harbaugh Lisa Myers Senior Policy Director Dup Crosson places provide clean air Treasurer Board Member Development & BUMPER Chris Morrill and water, refuges for Communications STICKERS Communications wildlife, and outstand- Rick Saez Associate “SAVE MT. SHASTA” Director ing opportunities for Secretary bumper stickers are now recreation and spiritual Wilderness Record: available. For informa- Matt Sayles renewal for people. Cal- Editor: Chris Morrill tion write Mt. Shasta Re- Conservation Director, Wild is the only state- Central Coast Layout: Jason Gohlke sources Council. October, 2016 Wilderness Record Page 3 The Fight for Passage for the 2006 North Coast Bill From the Wilderness represent the incredible tative Mike Thompson, while paid staff fended off acres (roughly 431 square From the wind-swept Record, Fall 2006 diversity to be found on who agreed to introduce a repeated attacks from the miles) of land as wilder- beaches of the Lost Coast, California’s North Coast. House version of Senator International Mountain ness and protected 21 to the startling peaks of The passage of H.R. 233, Inspired by the beauty of Boxer’s bill in 2002. Biking Association, Blue miles of the Black Butte the Trinity Alps, to the the Northern California these areas, conservation- Ribbon Coalition and River as a wild and scenic salmon and trout-filled Coastal Wild Heritage ists hoped to include these The struggle to pass the other interests. Senator river. H.R. 233 would not waters of the Black Butte Wilderness Act marks lands in Senator Barbara bill through Congress was Dianne Feinstein became have passed if it were not River and the dry heat of the culmination of many Boxer’s statewide wilder- monumental. The House a co-sponsor of the bill in for the deft political skills Cache Creek Wilderness years of hard work by ness bill. Local activists Resources Committee, early 2004, and she, along of Senators Boxer and chaparral, the Northern countless people. began collecting evidence under the leadership of with Senator Boxer and Feinstein and Represen- California Coastal Wild of support for wilderness Representative Richard Representative Thompson tative Thompson, and the Heritage Wilderness Act First mapped by vol- and attempting to resolve Pombo, was notorious- did an absolutely mas- outstanding passion and leaves a legacy of beauty unteers and staff of CWC potential conflicts among ly anti-environmental, terful job of navigating commitment of the many that will inspire and enrich and other groups during reanchers, loggers, pri- with a particular disdain through the rocky shoals North Coast activists who the lives of North Coast the Citizens’ Wilderness vate landowners and oth- for wilderness. Waves of of D.C. politics. By the struggled to advance the residents and visitors for Inventory (CWI) between er stakeholders. Their North Coast activists vol- time it was signed into law measure over the years. generations to come. 1997 and 2001, the ar- admirable work caught unteered to lobby for the on October 17, 2006, the eas included in this bill the attention of Represen- bill in Washington, D.C. bill designated 275,830 RARE II: Wilderness Sell-Out Forest Service Incorrigible

Condensed from the In California, 757,252 considered for wilder- areas in Southern Cali- tion between form letters public and for environ- Wilderness Record, Jan/ acres (13%) were recom- ness preservation by the fornia also are doomed to and personally written let- mentalists in particular.” Feb 1979 mended for “wilderness,” Forest Service. For ex- exploitation via non-wil- ters. If you count the letter 2,406,436 acres (43%) ample, in the critical Sis- derness designations, and from people who took the Fortunately, the Forest After 18 months of study, for “non-wilderness” and kiyou Mountain roadless remarkably small wilder- time to write in their own Service will not have the the Forest Service has 2,484,022 acres (44%) area, perhaps the wild- ness proposals were made words about areas they final word on lands under concluded its Roadless for “further planning”. est area left in the state, for areas for which public know and care for, over their jurisdiction. Con- Area Review and Eval- Over 600,000 acres were only 68,150 acres were wilderness hearings have 90% of the areas conserva- gress must act to establish uation (RARE) II. Their dropped from the RARE recommended for “wil- been held – Sheep Moun- tionists seek as wilderness wilderness areas. Although final proposal heavily II process altogether, with derness” while 140,844 tain, Snow Mountain and received a very strong ma- the Forest Service asserts favors timber and devel- no explanation from the acres were recommend- Mount Shasta. jority of public comments that all areas proposed for opment interests and is Forest Service during the ed for “non-wilderness.” for wilderness allocation.” “non-wilderness” will be totally unresponsive to public comment period. This occurred despite the Conservationists’ reac- open to development as environmental consider- The boundaries of many fact that of the 1,920 per- tions to the Forest Service ations and the thousands areas were also altered sonal letters written to proposal have been mixed, of inputs from wilderness without public notification. the Forest Service on the ranging from great disap- supporters. Siskiyous, 87% favored pointment to total disgust. Wilderness Society Ex- ecutive Director William Turnage said that “their decision can be called neither acceptable nor bal- anced.”

Forest Service trickery concerning the method of utilizing public input has been especially criticized. Although originally stat- ing that the “content” and Steve Evans touts the proposed Ishi “substance of comments Wilderness at the California Wilderness would bear more consid- eration than sheer num- Coalition’s 1978 conference, held in part bers, the Forest Service to strategize about the Forest Service’s gave as much weight to Roadless Area Review and Evaluation form letters, petitions and (RARE) II process. coupons as they did to original, personal letters in the decision process. The The total lack of op- of mid-April, they have total number of signatures portunity for public input solicited comments from The Forest Service released its second attempt at an analysis for or against wilderness on the final environmental state Governors and in- designation was used as statement has also been terested members of Con- of roadless areas nationwide in June of 1978. Only 13 percent a criterion in the final de- strong criticized. The For- gress. Conservationists’ of roadless acreage was recommended for wilderness des- cision, although many of est Service has made its fi- first priority will be wil- ignation. Over 600,000 acres were dropped from the RARE II these signatures appeared nal decision behind closed derness legislation for the process altogether with no explanation. on timber industry pre- doors, without soliciting most important areas that pared coupons on which public comment on the have been proposed for The North Coast area wilderness designation for the respondent merely far-ranging proposal. For- “non-wilderness” by the On January 4, the Secre- fared the worst in the the entire roadless area. checked a box that he pre- est Service critic Jim Wal- Forest Service. Commu- tary of Agriculture released RARE II recommenda- Trinity County roadless ferred “non-wilderness” ters has commented, “This nication with Senators and the RARE II Final Envi- tion, with the vast majority areas were also over- for all roadless areas in breaks with the procedures Representatives favoring ronmental Statement. This of areas recommended for whelmingly slated for a particular national for- of other federal agencies their introduction and sup- document constitutes the “non-wilderness.” These development, despite the est. According to Sierra which submit their final port of wilderness legis- Forest Service’s final pro- areas will be completely fact that the County Board Club RARE II Coordina- congressional proposals lation for these specific, posal for the fate of 62 mil- open to development on of Supervisors submitted tor John McComb, “The for public comment. The endangered areas will be lion acres of undeveloped the completion of land use a carefully considered agency went back on its Forest Service has again vital in the (campaign land, including 5,648,000 plans – “non-wilderness” wilderness proposal to promises and ignored the demonstrated its total con- to combat the disastrous acres in California. areas will never again be the Forest Service. Many very real political distinc- tempt and disdain for the RARE II). Page 4 Wilderness Record October, 2016

Thank you to the generous sponsors Wilderness comes to the desert of our 40th Anniversary Celebration by Lucy Rosenau Condensed from the Society’s Norbert Riedy Wilderness Record, said. “She was committed On October 22nd, we honored our founders and the many other November 1994 from the start and never CalWild staff, board and activists since 1976 that have helped to pre- wavered.” So big a victo- serve more than 16 million acres of wilderness. CalWild continues to The numbers alone ry in the face of an extend- protect and restore the state’s wildest natural landscapes and water- are giddying: With a few ed Republican filibuster sheds on public lands. These important wild places provide clean air strokes of the presiden- can only bolster Senator tial pen, California will Feinstein in her quest for and water, refuges for wildlife, and outstanding opportunities for recre- have 70 new wilderness re-election. for when they began their ation and spiritual renewal for people. areas and another four campaign to protect the wilderness areas will be The bill’s passage California desert in the As always, we’re indebted to a number of people and groups who enlarged, for a whopping bolstered a lot of weary 1970s. A preliminary rec- helped make this event happen, including our top sponsors: total of 7.6 million acres spirits. It has been eight ommendation for Bureau of wilderness – more than years since Sen. Alan of Land Management double the state’s existing Cranston introduced the (BLM) desert wilderness WHITNEY ($5,000+) wilderness acreage and first legislation to protect compiled by activists in Norm and Cathy Weeden more new wilderness ar- the California desert, only the early 1980s included eas than were established to be frustrated, again and about three million acres. Barbara and Mark Daugherty by all of California’s pre- again, by Republican op- Judy Anderson, one of the vious wilderness bills. position. Activists work- organizers of the environ- ing to protect wildlands mentalist campaign, said, SHASTA ($2,500+) But remarkable as they and wild rivers outside “every year the opposi- are, the numbers don’t the desert have been told, tion delayed, the bigger begin to convey the im- again and again, to wait the bill got.” portance of the Califor- until the desert bill pass- nia Desert Protection Act, es. On Friday, October 7, The desert bill marks Ben and Ruth Hammett both as a political victo- at 2:09 in the morning, a turning point for wilder- ry and as an ecological the House of Represen- ness legislation in Califor- landmark. In shepherding tatives passed the desert nia. Unlike the wilderness LASSEN ($1,000+) the largest public lands bill. Some 30 hours later bills of the past, future leg- bill since 1980’s Alaska on Saturday morning, the islation will be designed to Mary Wells and Drew Caputo Lands Act through an ex- Senate voted first to end a protect lands of ecologi- Dana and Dave Charron ceptionally intransigent filibuster and then to pass cal, rather than primarily Senate, Senator Dianne the desert bill, and cham- recreational, significance. Don Morrill and Sue Barton Feinstein impressed po- pagne corks began pop- With this bill finally be- litical observers and en- ping all over California. hind them, wilderness vironmentalists alike. activists can turn their “Senator Feinstein’s de- The celebration was attention to developing The California termination to see this leg- all the sweeter because wilderness proposals for Wilderness Coalition islation enacted was what the bill that passed is the remaining unprotected has worked for the got it through in the final considerably larger than and little-known wildlands past 40 years to pre- hours,” the Wilderness desert activists had hoped throughout the state. serve wild spaces such as these in Inyo Forest (left) and at Carrizo Plain (right). Monthly Report by Jim Eaton California Wilderness Coalition’s First Year: Condensed from the over maps and discovered In addition to the Wilderness Record, scores of desert roadless names mentioned above, November 1994 areas. But to show you there is another who how little we knew of the must be acknowledged. [Editor’s note: This is an desert, that initial invento- The Wilderness Society’s example of a monthly re- ry missed 18 of our new Nobby Riedy has dedi- port that then-Executive wilderness areas. cated the last few years of Director Jim Eaton often his life to getting this leg- placed in the Wilderness The Coalition began islation enacted. I have no Record. This was chosen organizing southern Cali- idea what more he can do to show how many years fornia wilderness activist for an encore. of dedicated effort it can in 1977, first with a week- take before a bill comes to end workshop at the Sier- I was in high school fruition.] ra Club’s Harwood Lodge when the Wilderness Act and then at a working passed, establishing the By the time the Coali- meeting at the College of first 1.3 million acres of tion formed in 1976, there the Desert. Harriet Allen California wilderness. were a number of desert provided invaluable assis- Since then, I have had supporters. Tom Jopson tance by setting up those the pleasure of working and Jim Trumbly, the first meetings and introducing on every wilderness bill editors of the Wilderness me to Judy Anderson, Jim affecting our state. But Record, were such cham- Dodson, Lyle Gaston and never have I experienced pions that we adopted a Elden Hughes. the unmitigated joy that desert mountain range and the desert bill brought, CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS COALITION sand dunes as our logo. Since then, a steady adding 7,663,069 acres of 1814 Franklin St., #510, Oakland CA 94612 They worked with the stream of Record arti- wilderness in California I wish to become a member of the California Wilderness Coalition. Desert Protective Coun- cles, training workshops, and pushing the National Enclosed is $____ for membership. cil to produce the Desert statewide conferences, Wilderness Preservation Deadline, an eight-page and congressional hear- System over 100 million NAME: ______Individual $6 Record supplement on the ings has marked the Coa- acres. Low-income $3 ADDRESS: ______Patron $500 fight to save the desert. lition’s involvement with Non-profit the desert. We are proud Thank you all for mak- ______Organization $25 We also published a to be part of the massive ing this happen. ZIP Sponsor $25 map of potential wilder- alliance that pulled to- (Note: one dollar of annual dues (business) supports the Wilderness Record; also, *not tax-deductible ness areas through Cali- gether to make this desert 1976 rates no longer apply in 2016) fornia. Phil Farrell pored bill possible.