In the News
The Desert Sun
By Benjamin Spillman
October 10, 2006
Bono reveals plan to protect wild areas in county
More than 100,000 acres of desert and mountains in Southern California would be eligible for wilderness protections under a proposal unveiled Monday.
But the sponsor of the proposal, Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, said the bill won't become law before Congressional elections next month and would need to be reintroduced when a new Congress convenes next year.
The California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act would designate 125,000 acres of public land as wilderness and identify three new "wild and scenic" rivers, as reported Monday on thedesertsun.com.
The federal land, which includes more than 78,000 acres in Joshua Tree National Park, is throughout Riverside County.
"Today begins the day when we start moving it to the president's desk," Bono told an audience of supporters that included people from the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, and city and county elected officials. "This is when we begin the dialogue."
Bono's remarks followed those of six speakers who praised her record on environmental issues and included a comparison between the congresswoman and Teddy Roosevelt, the big-game-hunting former president credited with creating America's first national park in 1902.
Bono then called her proposed legislation, "a bill that Teddy would have loved to have written himself."
Specifically the bill would:
Assign wilderness designations for 7,131 acres that include Cahuilla Mountain near Anza, 16,700 acres that include Beauty Mountain near Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and 21,760 acres at the South Fork of the San Jacinto River west of Lake Hemet.
Expand by 1,950 acres existing wilderness at Agua Tibia along Highway 79 south of Aguanga, expand by 78,150 acres existing wilderness in Joshua Tree National Park.
Extend "wild and scenic river" designations to the North Fork of the San Jacinto River, Bautista Creek and Palm Canyon.
Add 3,557 acres to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Most of that land, 3,507 acres, is in the area of Santa Rosa Peak near the Pinyon communities along Highway 74. But it would also add 50 acres to the monument near Snow Creek near Interstate 10 north of Palm Springs.
Bono challenged
David Roth, who is challenging Bono for her Congressional seat in the election next month, called the event "a Bush-like stunt designed to fool the public.
"She has done so little for our district and our nation, and is now desperate to show some action," he said in a written response.
Jason Vasquez, Bono's communication director, said the event was held in advance of the election because it is when the coalition behind it was ready to introduce the measure to the public.
He said it has been in the works more than eight months.
"It is just how the timeline worked," Vasquez said.
If the act becomes law, the bill would upgrade the conservation designation on the land in question by adding the wilderness tag. The designation has different implications depending on which government agency manages the land, but generally carries restrictions on roads, motorized or mechanized recreation and resource extraction.
"It gives a level of protection that ensures it stays completely wild and natural," said Geary Hund, project director for the Wilderness Society. "In Southern California there are very few really wild places left."
SIDEBAR: GIVE AND TAKE
Rep. Mary Bono's stance on environmental issues has received mixed reviews.
Groups such as the Wilderness Society have praised her support of the National Landscape Conservation System and people locally credit her as a driving force behind the designation of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. But she's been criticized for her votes on hot-button national issues such as voting in favor of drilling for oil in an Alaskan wildlife refuge.
That vote contributed to her 11 percent rating from the League of Conservation Voters, meaning she voted against that group's wishes about 90 percent of the time.
"Taking a larger view is a role of your representative in Washington," said Charles Porcari, a spokesman for the group.