UPDATE:
By Justin Bubenik, California Chapter Co-Chair
Shortly after "Expanding Wilderness on the Fringe of the Concrete Jungle" was posted in late March, Senator Harris (D-CA) and Representative Chu (D-CA-27) each reintroduced their companion legislation as S. 1109 and H.R. 2215, respectively, and collectively coined it as the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act. The bills have been read and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, chaired by Representative Grijalva (D-AZ-3), and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, chaired by Senator Murkowski (R-AK).
As discussed in the earlier write-up, the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act would expand the existing Monument, add over 30,000 acres of wilderness, designate over 45 miles of Wild & Scenic river and establish a National Recreation Area along the perimeter of the Monument. These additional protections seek to maintain the untamed nature of the West, in limiting commercial activities and motorized vehicles while retaining critical hunting, fishing and existing outdoor recreational access within close proximity to a major metropolis.
The California Chapter urges our members and other Chapters nationwide to contact their senators and representatives and express your support for these bills. The bills may be specific in nature, but the overarching message of support for wild, untouched and accessible public lands is one we can all stand behind.
For the full text of each bill and to follow the progress, please visit the following links:
About Justin Bubenik
Current Fly Fishers International Board Member; Founder of FlyCurious Fishing; Attorney by day; Former California Chapter President and Colorado Chapter volunteer.