[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 116 (Friday, September 13, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate 
the Big Basin Redwoods State Park of Santa Cruz County in California on 
their 100th anniversary.
  Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's 
oldest State park. Big Basin Redwoods is the birthplace of the original 
coastal redwood conservation movement. Today the results of the 
conservation movement can be seen in the 18,000-plus acres of 
California redwood forest.
  The park has the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods 
south of San Francisco. Additionally, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is 
considered by many to be the birthplace of both the park and 
environmental movement in California.
  At the turn of the 20th century, the remaining redwood forests were 
disappearing at rate that threatened massive destruction of the ancient 
trees. The only redwood forests left in America ranged from Oregon to 
Big Sur. Concerned citizens and organizations such as the Sempervirens 
Club, persuaded then-Governor Henry T. Gage to sign legislation that 
would set aside land for a redwood park.
  Today, the ensuing generations of those environmentally concerned 
citizens are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the preservation of 
the California redwood lands. The perseverance and dedication to 
protecting primeval forest places that the founders of the Big Basin 
Redwoods State Park exemplified are recognized and celebrated today. 
Without such dedication to the environmental movement hundreds of 
forests across the country would have been destroyed.
  The Big Basin Redwoods State Park contains both cultural and 
historical sites of national importance, wildlife habitats, natural 
ecological preserves, and recreational opportunities for the public. 
The Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a unique and uncommon place of 
historical and primeval environmental importance. Therefore, special 
recognition is deserved on September 13, 2002, the 100th anniversary of 
its founding.

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