In the News

Record Searchlight
October 2, 2007

Letter to the Editor: Help preserve wilderness

Last week in Congress, Republican Rep. Mary Bono introduced the California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act that will protect over 202,000 acres of public land and designate four new wilderness areas. The act will also add 31.5 miles of streams to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Local elected officials, tribes, water districts, fire safe councils, active outdoor recreationists and others worked with conservation groups including the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society and the California Wilderness Coalition to make our state's newest wilderness bill a reality. Active outdoor recreation (hiking, fishing, hunting, climbing, paddling, wildlife viewing, skiing, etc.) contributes $46 billion dollars to California's economy each year and supports 408,000 jobs in the state's economy. Preserving California's wild heritage through congressional legislation is good for rural economic development.

Contact our Rep. Wally Herger and tell him to vote for Rep. Mary Bono's California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act.

Bob Musgrove
Mount Shasta