[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 50 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4527-S4528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 738. A bill to designate certain public lands in Humboldt, Del 
Norte, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Yolo Counties in the State of 
California as wilderness, to designate certain segments of the Black 
Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild or scenic river, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill that will 
protect hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness in Northern 
California. The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness 
Act would designate 295,410 acres in 14 areas as Federal wilderness and 
would protect 24.4 miles of the Black Butte Creek.
  California's natural treasures have always been one of the things 
that make California unique, drawing millions of people to them over 
the years to revel in their wild beauty. But that beauty must not be 
taken for granted. That is why I introduced the California Wild 
Heritage Act during the 107th Congress and will soon be reintroducing 
it. It was the first statewide wilderness bill for California since 
1984.
  The California Wild Heritage Act would protect more than 2.5 million 
acres of public land, as well as the free-flowing portions of 22 
rivers. Every acre of wild land is a treasure, but the areas protected 
in this bill are some of California's most precious.
  I was thrilled that the 107th Congress passed legislation to 
designate over 56,000 acres of my statewide bill, lands in the Los 
Padres National Forest, as wilderness. It was a wonderful first step. 
While I look forward to passage of the entire statewide bill, it is 
important that we move now to designate these special places as 
California wilderness areas.
  That is why today I am pleased to be joining Representative Mike 
Thompson of California in introducing legislation that contains the 
portions of my bill in five counties in California's First 
Congressional District. Let me mention a couple of examples. In 
southwestern Humboldt and northwestern Mendocino counties, 41,100 acres 
of the King Range will be protected as wilderness. This is the wildest 
portion of the California coast, boasting the longest stretch of 
undeveloped coastline in the United States outside of Alaska. This bill 
also protects 24.4 miles of the Black Butte Creek as a wild and scenic 
river. Black Butte Creek is so wild it is only crossed by one road for 
its entire length.
  This bill would also protect the precious plant and animal species 
that make their homes in these areas. Endangered and threatened species 
whose habitats will be protected by this bill

[[Page S4528]]

include the California brown pelican, steelhead trout, coho salmon, 
bald eagle, peregrine falcon, northern spotted owl, and Roosevelt elk.
  For every Californian, there is currently less than half an acre of 
wilderness set aside. This is too little. During the last 20 years, 
675,000 acres of unprotected wilderness--approximately the size of 
Yosemite National Park--lost their wilderness character due to 
activities such as logging and mining. As our population increases, and 
California becomes home to almost 50 million people by the middle of 
the century, these development pressures are going to skyrocket. If we 
fail to act now, there simply will not be any wild lands or wild rivers 
left to protect.
  Those of us who live in the United States have a very special 
responsibility to protect our natural heritage. Past generations have 
done it. They have left us with the wonderful and amazing gifts of 
Yosemite, Big Sur and Joshua Tree. These are places that Americans 
cannot imagine living without. Now it is our turn to protect this 
legacy for future generations--for our children's children, and their 
children. This bill is a start.
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