In the News
Idyllwild Town Crier
By J.P. Crumrine & Marshall Smith
December 27, 2007
Five local top stories for 2007 are recapped [Excerpt]
Wilderness
During the 2006 congressional campaign, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack introduced legislation to preserve several wilderness areas in Riverside County. Since the bill was not introduced until October and Congress adjourned shortly after the election, no action was taken on the proposal.
Several months later, after the 110th Congress began, Bono Mack asked several environmentalists and other local leaders in her district to review the proposal. The goal was to develop a wilderness bill that all stakeholders would gladly support.
This effort required negotiations and trade-offs between environmentalists, fire officials, developers and county leaders. By fall, Bono Mack felt her staff had navigated a tight canyon, yet remained ready to guide the proposal through the 110th Congress.
On September 27, H.R. 3682 was introduced. Several hundred-thousand acres in Riverside County would be designated wilderness, or wild and scenic river. Two major wilderness areas are on the Hill.
The Cahuilla Mountain between Anza and Garner Valley is estimated to be 7,131 acres. And the South Fork area traces the path of the South Fork of the San Jacinto River (21,760 acres) from its head near Lake Hemet down to Valle Vista.
In addition, several wild and scenic river designations are planned for this area. The North Fork of the San Jacinto River is the dominating proposal, but Fuller Mill and Bautista creeks are part of the package.
Sen. Barbara Boxer and her staff have been cooperating with Bono Mack to prepare for senate action.
During the planning of the bill, several of its writers came to Idyllwild to present the options to the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council (FSC). After some discussion and assurance that wilderness status would not exacerbate fire protection, FSC supported the bill, but not unanimously.
One of the dissenters was 2nd Vice President Larry Kueneman. He also is a member of the Riverside County Fire Hazard Task Force. In this forum, he offered his concerns that wilderness designation would hinder fire protection strategies and tactics. He asked the task force to review the proposal itself.
Eventually, the task force developed some tighter language to ensure the primacy of fire prevention and protection efforts. The county remained a supporter of the bill with some clarification.
Before the congressional recess in December, H.R. 3682 had a hearing, where Idyllwild resident Geary Hund testified in favor of the bill. But the Natural Resources Committee has not taken any other action in 2007.