[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 156 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2471-E2472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  S. 136; TITLE III--REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 
                                  2005

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 7, 2005

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Senator 
Feinstein and Chairman Pombo for their support of my legislation to 
adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park to include the State of 
California's recent Mill Creek acquisition. This legislation is 
included as Title III in S. 136--The Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden 
Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act.
  In 1994, the National Park Service and the California Department of 
Parks and Recreation established an historic framework for cooperative 
management of the four redwood parks included in the boundary of 
Redwood National Park. Now officially known as Redwood National and 
State Parks (RNSP), this partnership is viewed as a nation-wide model 
of interagncy cooperative management effort. Prior to the cooperative 
agreement, there were inefficiencies, duplication of effort, management 
and operational conflicts and confusion for the visitor. Now the park 
appears to the visitor and the traveling public as a seamless park 
unit. A Redwood National and State Park general management plan was 
adopted in 2000 that guides the future management and protection of 
these parks. The proposed boundary revision will enable the two park 
systems to extend the unique RNSP partnership to the Mill Creek 
acquisition.
  The Mill Creek acquisition is contiguous to the existing boundary of 
RNSP. It is bordered to the west by Del Norte Redwoods State Park, to 
the north by Jedediah Smith State Park and to the east, by Six Rivers 
National Forest, Smith River Recreation Area. My legislation adjusts 
the RNSP boundary to include the State acquisition of the Mill Creek 
and Rock Creek watersheds.
  The California Department of Parks and Recreation acquired the 
approximately 25,000 acres of redwood forest in Del Norte County in 
2002. The addition of this land protected two important watersheds that 
link the Pacific Coast with the inland mountains. The Mill Creek and 
Rock Creek watersheds are important coho salmon rearing tributaries to 
the Smith River, California's largest remaining un-dammed river. 
Protecting and restoring habitat for coho salmon in these areas will 
help increase salmon populations along the Northern California and 
Southern Oregon Coasts. It will

[[Page E2472]]

ultimately help reduce regulatory burdens on all stakeholders in the 
watershed. Stimson Lumber Company, who logged the area since the mid-
1800s and had gradually phased out its timber operations on this 
property, initiated the sale of the land.
  The property was purchased by Save-the-Redwoods-League and the State 
of California for $60 million. The purchase price was funded by a 
variety of state sources, including $42.5 million from Proposition 12, 
Proposition 13, Salmon Habitat Funding (SB271) and the Governor's Land 
Conservation Matching Grants. Save-the-Redwoods League provided $15 
million and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided an additional 
$2.5 million.
  As a result of negotiations between the State, Save-the-Redwoods-
League, Stimson Lumber and Del Norte County, a mitigation payment was 
established to off-set the loss of local property tax revenue. Del 
Norte County received a one-time $5 million payment. The county has 
preserved the principal and hope one day to be able to invest the 
interest to grow the fund.
  This legislation is supported by the State of California, the 
National Park Service, the County of Del Norte, Save-the-Redwoods-
League and many of my constituents. Passing it today will strengthen 
the management of these lands and benefit visitors who come from across 
the country and around the world to see the redwoods and it will help 
protect important coho habitat.
  Again, thank you for your support of this bill which will help both 
the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and 
Recreation work more efficiently and cost effectively. I urge your 
``aye'' vote.

                          ____________________