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Click here to e-mail usThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Home News Local News Wilderness bill aims to protect millions of acres Wilderness bill aims to protect millions of acres Written by James Damschroder, The Union Democrat January 20, 2009 07:41 pm The U.S. Senate has approved a bill that would order about 160 plots of land across the nation be protected under the Wilderness Act, including large areas bordering the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Also buried in the bill was $88 million to help restore the San Joaquin River’s depleted salmon run. Of the roughly 2 million acres of land in the bill — an area about double the size of Rhode Island — about a third is in California. The land would be protected from drilling, logging and mining under the Wilderness Act of 1964. If the bill is passed by the House of Representatives — which is expected after the 73-21 vote in the Senate last Thursday — it could be the first major environment bill incoming-President Barack Obama signs. The legislation combines 160 separate wilderness bills and other environmental projects — including the $88 million to help restore the salmon run on the San Joaquin River. Included in the land to be protected are huge additions to the wilderness area in the Hoover Wilderness, which borders the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park; a small area to be protected on a section of the Pacific Crest Trail that borders and crosses into the Emigrant Wilderness; and the Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area, which borders the Stanislaus National Forest and Sonora Pass. Stanislaus National Forest spokesman Jerry Snyder said it isn’t clear how much new land is actually in the Emigrant Wilderness area. He’s made a request to the regional office to find out more about the added land but has not yet received a response. The measure would also protect large areas spanning from Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks to Joshua Tree National Park. The authorization of the $88 million to help restore the salmon run on the San Joaquin River would help end an almost two decade dispute between environmentalists, water managers and farmers about how to best regulate water flows while still giving Chinook salmon enough water to toil to their spawning grounds. The San Joaquin River’s salmon run feeds into the Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers, and all have seen drastic decreases in their salmon runs in past years. “This is a truly momentous effort because it is broadly supported and will result in restoring the flows and salmon to one of California’s largest rivers,” said Monty Schmitt, senior scientist and project manager with Natural Resources Defense Council. The wilderness designation under the 1964 Wilderness Act is the strongest protection the nation’s land can receive. Besides drilling, logging and mining being banned on lands managed under the act, motorized vehicles are also forbidden. Hiking, hunting and horseback riding are still allowed under the act, as regulated by the local Forest Service office. Democrats and Republicans both supported the bill. “Working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, we have put together legislation that protects some of California’s and the nation’s most magnificent places and ensures that they will be preserved for generations to come,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who sponsored the bill. Not all were celebrating the bill’s passing, though, including Sen. Tom Colburn, R-Okla., who angered some with his repeated attempts to block the bill’s passage. Colburn said the bill is full of special interest spending and blocks drilling in some of the nation’s riches oil and natural gas reserves at a time when the country is trying to diminish its reliance on foreign oil. The bill “would permanently ban access to an enormous natural gas field in Wyoming that would match the annual production of our two largest natural gas producing states, Alaska and Texas,” he said. Contact James Damschroder at jdamschroder@uniondemocrat.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 588-4531. Subscribe to the Baker City Herald, 5-days a week, for only $7.75 per week. Or call 1-541-523-3673. Featured Classifieds MURPHYS 492 Surrey Lane, Sat and Sun. all ... STUDDED SNOW TIRES Arctic Claw, 265/70R16 ... Put your photo ad on the Home Page of ... LEER CAMPER SHELL excellent condition! wht ... 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