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Home My WebLink About02/04/2003, C10 - RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S. 2535, THE CALIFORNIA WILD HERITAGE ACT OF 2002 council _ .p3 j acEnaa Pepont "�Nu=h� CAD C I T Y OF SAN L U IS OBISPO FROM: Wendy George,Assistant City Administrative Officer VY Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager W144 , SUBJECT: RESOLUTION SUPPORTING S. 2535,THE CALIFORNIA WILD HERITAGE ACT OF 2002 CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Resolution supporting S2535,the"California Wild Heritage Act of 2002", submitted to the Congress by Senator Barbara Boxer, which designates a wide variety of public lands in California as Wilderness, including five areas in San Luis Obispo County, as requested by the nonprofit California Wild Heritage Campaign. DISCUSSION Last year Senator Barbara Boxer introduced legislation into the Congress to add nearly 2.5 million acres of existing public lands throughout the State of California to the National Wilderness System. The bill did not pass the Congress last year but remains an active bill. A statewide nonprofit group that is supporting the legislation, the California Wild Heritage Campaign, is seeking resolutions and letters of support from local government agencies throughout the state, as well as business entities such as Chambers of Commerce, private individuals, etc. Last year Mayor Settle and Supervisors Bianchi and Pinard wrote letters in support of the measure, and a resolution of support for the bill was passed by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. In San Luis Obispo County, the bill provides for the creation of two new wilderness areas, the 11,500 acre Black Mountain Wilderness and the 24,680 acre Caliente Mountain Wilderness. In addition there are two existing wilderness areas that would have additions to them: 9,050 acres would be added to the 20,000 acre Machesna Wilderness and 3,550 acres would be added to the 14,100 acre Garcia Wilderness. These areas contribute to the reputation of San Luis Obispo County as an area with outstanding recreational opportunities, and it was for that reason that the Chamber of Commerce approved a resolution of support last year. In addition, the areas designated for wilderness in Los Padres National Forest are important local water sources, (including part of the City of San Luis Obispo's water supply) and wilderness designation has the effect of giving a very high priority to quality water from the public lands. Therefore it is appropriate that the Council participate in the discussion of this measure. There are no fiscal impacts associated with the Council action. G/HavliWcouncilagendalWilderness Bill Support Resolution a(o - 1 y Council Agenda Report—Wilderness Bill Support Resolution Page 2 ALTERNATIVE The Council could choose to not take any action on the request, or could oppose it. These, however, are not recommended as the wilderness designations would contribute to the County's recreational milieu and would add protections to the quality of the water produced in Los Padres National Forest and used by the City of San Luis Obispo. Attachment: 1. Letter Request from California Wild Heritage Campaign and summary of the bill 2. Resolution 3. Map showing SLO County Wilderness Areas ego-� ATTACHMENT 1 A L I F O R N VAWild Heritage r CAM PAIGN Dave Wesunan California Wild Heritage Campaign 827 Broadway St. Suite 310 Oakland, CA 94607 Phone: (510) 622-0290 ext. 220 Fax: (510) 622 -. 0278 Neil Havlik Fax; 805-781-7109 Dear Mr. Havlilk in May,2002 the iionorable California Senator Barbara Boxer introduced legislation to designate new wilderness areas and wild rivers in California. This Legislation is the result of two years of consultation and research that has involved elected officials, recreation organizations,ranchers, Californian Indian tribes,environmentalists and federal, state and local agencies,just to name a few. The bill, when pussed, will protect more than 2.4 million acres in 75 areas and 22 wild rivers throughout California for today and for future generations. The California Wild Heritage Campaign has worked extensively with Senator Boxer on this campaign, and we would be pleased if the City Council of San Luis Obispo would join the dow,ens of cities and counties across California that have passed resolutions in Support of Senator Boxer's California Wild Heritage Act. l am enclosing a copy of the bill summary for your review and, if you need any other information, please feel free to contact me in the Sierra Club's Oaldand field Office. if the city council has already written a letter in support of individual areas, it would be appreciated if the council could consider the bill as a whole. The final bill is also available and can be forwarded to you upon request. Cali fomia has many wild and unique places and we are proud to have introduced this bill with Senator Boxer to permanently protect many of the most endangered and important areas. if the board decides to support the bill,please tux its letter to the attention of Dave Westman at 510-622-0278. Senator Boxer would also appreciate it if the original copy of the letter could he sent to her i.,os Angeles office. You may mail it to the attention of Johanna Williams, 312 North Spring Street, Suite 1748, I,os Angeles, CA 90012. Thank you very much 1br your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Cave Westman Sierra Club Conservation Organizer WWW*CAuforn AWOd.org Bill Summary & Status ( -TACHMENT 1 Page 1 of I SUMMARY AS OF: 5/21/2002--introduced. Califomia Wild Heritage Act of 2002 - Designates specified national forest and Bureau of-Tand Management diatrict lands in California as wilderness and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System (System). Requires such areas to be administered by the Secretary of the Interior or Agriculture, whichever has current administrative jurisdiction over each area. Designates specified California public lands as: (1) salmon restoration areas; (2) wilderness study areas; and(3) potential wilderness areas. Designates specified Cali fomia national park lands as wilderness and components of the System, requiring such lands to be managed by the National Park Service. Designates specified California rivers as wild and scenic rivers. Requires the review of two additional California rivers to determine their suitability as wild, scenic, and recreational rivers. Establishes the Sacramento River National Conservation Area. Requires the development of a comprehensive plan for the long-range protection and management of such Area. Establishes the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest for public enjoyment and scientific study. Authorizes annual appropriations to the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, for use with respect to wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers designated by this Act, for: (1)wilderness and wild and scenic river economic development grants; (2)developing trails and other facilities that will promote and enhance the wilderness and wild and scenic river experience; (3) firefighting activities; (4) law enforcement activities; and(5)the acquisition of inholdings from willing sellers. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?dl07:SN02535: u,(a,)Ca;.&summ2=m& 1/22/2003 ATTACHMENT 2 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO SUPPORTING PASSAGE OF THE CALIFORNIA WILD HERITAGE ACT OF 2002 WHEREAS,the California wild Heritage Act of 2002 will protect a wide diversity of ecosystems covering nearly 2.5 million acres in 36 counties throughout the State of California as wilderness, including some 48,780 acres in San Luis Obispo; and WHEREAS,this bill is similar to other such bills affecting California, such as the 1992 Los Padres Condor and Wild Rivers Bill which created more than 400,000 acres of wilderness in Los Padres National Forest and created the Machesna Mountain Wilderness and Garcia Wilderness in San Luis Obispo County; and WHEREAS,Senator Boxer and her staff have worked diligently for two years to craft a bill which recognizes other uses of the public lands, and has gained support from businesses, other Forest users, landowners, and other interested parties; and WHEREAS,the Act also recognizes the need to continue certain activities such as prescribed burning, livestock grazing, and other management activities compatible with wilderness designation. NOW,THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby: 1. Urges the Congress of the United States to pass, and President Bush to sign into law, the California Wild Heritage Act of 2002; and 2. Authorizes the City Administrative Officer to transmit this resolution to Congresswoman Lois Capps and Congressman William Thomas, and to Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein. ADOPTED this 0 day of February 2003 by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Mayor David Romero ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Lee Price, City Clerk Gil rujillo, cling Attorney _ ATTACHMENT 3 • 41 4,v doft AW Mftm r#. t Tl r �' z . .�. a 40 ,9 yFox Lftulu& • H yJ, y 50 ti .,ro •1�,„ "+ x 1 �^r+a s..'A.1 �v. a ti; j' ,. "t. :.�, .. l �"""'�'.�'�✓3 gc"•P+.,r§ a' .�iw•.w.+gWgs 'Y r:. Map of existing and proposed wilderness areas in San Luis Obispo County and other areas of Los Padres National Forest. The dark color represents new wilderness or additions to existing wilderness. There are no additions proposed for the Santa Lucia Wilderness. CID - Co