Eastern Sierra Could Gain 40,000 Acres of Wilderness
Two highly regarded wilderness areas in the Eastern Sierra near Yosemite National Park will be expanded by a total of 40,000 acres if Congress passes a new bill (H.R. 5149) authored by Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-CA). The bill also would add 24 miles of the Amargosa River near Death Valley National Park to the National Wild and Scenic River System.
The Hoover Wilderness, north of Yosemite, would grow by 39,680 acres. The new portion features stunning alpine scenery, pristine mountain lakes, abundant wildlife, and the headwaters of the West Walker River. Nine miles of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail weave through this proposed addition. McKeon’s bill also would add 640 acres to the Emigrant Wilderness near Sonora Pass. This acreage contains two miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and 11,570-foot Leavitt Peak.
“Both areas are extremely popular with hikers, campers, anglers, equestrians, and others seeking a non-motorized recreational experience in a gorgeous setting,” says Sally Miller, our Sierra-based representative. “We commend Congressman McKeon for his strong leadership and for encouraging communities to forge a compromise that he is now honoring with this bill.”
An important member of the coalition that helped draft the proposal is Mono County Supervisor Duane “Hap” Hazard, a former sergeant in the Mono County sheriff’s department. “There were some challenging issues,” observes Hazard, “and my hat’s off to the snowmobilers, the off-road vehicle enthusiasts, the local conservation community, and others for working through their disagreements in a civilized manner.” Some 200 local businesses have announced their support.
The state’s Democratic Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, have introduced a Senate version (S. 2567) of the McKeon bill, which recently had a successful hearing. Pending are two other California wilderness proposals. One (H.R. 5006, S. 2432) would add 2.5 million acres, from all regions of the Golden State, to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The other (H.R. 233, S. 128) would protect 300,000 acres along the north coast.
“We hope that success with this Sierra bill will encourage more such activity from other legislators in the Golden State and elsewhere,” says Sara Barth, The Wilderness Society’s California/Nevada regional director. “There are many places that deserve permanent protection.”
