[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 139 (Monday, September 19, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5727-S5728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 1574. A bill to designate certain Federal lands in San Diego 
County, California, as wilderness, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I am proud to introduce the Beauty 
Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2011. I am pleased to have 
worked with Representative Darrell Issa on this legislation.
  My bill would add 13,635 acres to the Beauty Mountain Wilderness and 
7,796 acres to the Agua Tibia Wilderness in northern San Diego County, 
preserving thousands of acres of natural habitat that are home to 
golden eagles, mountain lions, and other iconic species. The bill 
complements the Riverside County wilderness designations in the 
California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act, which I authored with 
Representative Mary Bono Mack and which was signed into law in 2009.
  In addition to designating new wilderness, my bill would require the 
Bureau of Land Management to work

[[Page S5728]]

with The Conservation Fund to construct new recreational facilities at 
the Beauty Mountain Wilderness, promoting increased visitor access and 
enjoyment of this wonderful resource.
  The proposed Beauty Mountain Wilderness additions in northern San 
Diego County serve as a vital biological corridor connecting the 
Palomar, San Jacinto, and Santa Rosa Mountains. With its captivating 
rock formations, rich chaparral, oak woodlands, and rolling hills, the 
name ``Beauty Mountain'' is only fitting to describe this area. These 
lands afford visitors many opportunities for recreation. The California 
Riding and Hiking Trail crosses the area, and during spring, aromas of 
sage, manzanita, and California lilac delight visitors.
  The proposed Agua Tibia Wilderness additions span much of the scenic 
northern portion of the Palomar Mountain Range in the Cleveland 
National Forest. The landscape in this area is marked by deep canyons 
blanketed in coastal sage and chaparral. Seasonal streams wind through 
canyon valleys lined with willow, oak, and cottonwood trees, providing 
a cool haven for native species. Stately big cone Douglas firs and 
other conifers stand tall against the north-facing slopes of the area. 
The Cutca Trail passes through the wilderness for visitors to enjoy 
outdoor activities.
  Protecting these areas is not only good for the environment, but also 
good for the economy. The Outdoor Industry Association estimates that 
outdoor recreation supports more than 400,000 jobs and contributes $46 
billion annually to California's economy. Based on the models of 
Colorado State University resource economists John Loomis and Robert 
Richardson, the relatively modest wilderness additions in my bill could 
generate nearly $330,000 per year in local revenue.
  That is why my bill has earned support from a diverse group of 
stakeholders, including the Cities of Oceanside, Perris and Vista; 
Chambers of Commerce in Canyon Lakes, Lake Elsinore, Murrieta, 
Oceanside, Temecula, Vista and Wildomar; Off-Road Business Association; 
American Motorcycle Association District 37 Dual Sport; California 
Wilderness Coalition; The Wilderness Society; The Conservation 
Alliance; San Diego Audubon Society; San Diego River Coalition; Friends 
of the Santa Margarita River; and Sierra Club Santa Margarita Group.
  By permanently protecting these natural treasures, we can preserve 
important habitat and migratory corridors, ensure that future 
generations can come to visit these places to recreate and revel in 
their scenic beauty, and help stimulate the local tourism and 
recreation economy in San Diego County. I look forward to working with 
my colleagues to enact this legislation.

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