Excellent Article John!
http://www.4x4wire.com/access/columns/editor/wilderness_twp.htm
The above link contains addition links to documents and concepts
presented below.
California Wild Heritage Wilderness and The Wildlands Project
by: John Stewart
The recently introduced wilderness legislation bears the title
"California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act". Coincidence or part of a
grand plan? You see, "Heritage" is a word used to describe areas
being pulled into the Wildlands Project and areas considered "key
habitat" and in need of protection to satisfy United Nations
agreements to protect "heritage" areas; areas of culture or
environmental significance.
So, what happens when "heritage" areas are designated? The short
answer is the land area becomes wilderness with full protection as
wilderness without respect to existing or historic uses or
activities. In other words, roads (or trails), paved, gravel, or
dirt, cease to be recognized as "roads". Okay, it has happened
before. Why is this "different"?
You see, a United Nations "Heritage Area" carries a special burden.
Not only is the land WITHIN the boundary subject to protection as
wilderness, a buffer zone AROUND the area is afforded that same
status BY DEFAULT. What you see as a line on a map defining a
"California Wild Heritage Wilderness Area" becomes the core habitat
area. What happens next is an unspecified amount of land adjacent to
the "heritage area" is identified buffer zone and becomes
"wilderness" with the full level of protection afforded the core area
defined on the map.
Within the wilderness proposal is an area called Grouse Lakes in the
Tahoe National Forest. Within the current proposed bill, the area is
listed as number 58 of 73 proposed wilderness areas. The area in
question is 17,280 acres. Maps provided by Senator Boxer's office
indicate a close proximity of the proposed Grouse Lakes Wilderness
Boundary to the Fordyce Creek Trail which is the premier trail used
by California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs for their annual
Sierra Trek.
Details of the boundary are not clear as the map provided is either a
1:126,720 or 1:100,000 scale that has been modified through shrinkage
to fit on smaller paper. Using a magnifying glass and some
assumptions, it appears as if the proposed boundary averages
0.25-1.25 miles from the Fordyce Creek Trail beginning just past the
first stream crossing to Meadow Lake.
Suppose that the Grouse Lakes Wilderness moved from "proposed
wilderness" to "official wilderness". Under the auspices of the UN
mandate to protect the core wilderness area, a buffer zone now
becomes a reality. Is a quarter of a mile a sufficient "buffer zone"
to "protect" the wilderness qualities of the Grouse Lakes area? At
what point will vehicle noise and dust pollution be acceptable?
The California Wilderness Coalition (CWC) has their answer reported
in their report: MISSING LINKAGES: RESTORING CONNECTIVITY TO THE
CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE. In this document, the area around Fordyce
Creek and Meadow Lake is high priority corridor linkage area between
core habitat areas west of Donner Lake and the mountains of Northern
California.
CWC is the primary environmental group drafted the California
Heritage Wilderness Act. Language within the Act echoes language
within the Missing Linkages Report. Grouse Lake as wilderness closes
Fordyce Creek Trail and brings an end to Sierra Trek.
In other areas of the state of California, the Missing Linkages
Report is being used to affect area closures. For over 60 years,
California hunters have been building and maintaining artificial
water sources in the the Southern California Desert. These projects
have been mitigation to provide a source of water for wildlife to
replace the desert springs that became unreliable as water was
siphoned off for urban and agriculture uses to support the growing
population of Southern California.
The National Park Service recently released their General Management
Plan for the Mojave National Preserve. A key element of that plan
calls for wild burro removal from the preserve as they are a
non-native species. Of interest is that no actions are warranted to
remove another non-native species from the preserve until genetics of
the population can be studied. The non-native species involved is
the Mule Deer.
Coincidentally, the preserve and surrounding BLM lands are designated
as prime corridors to connect the southern California coastal ranges
with the Colorado River ranges for the reintroduction proposed under
the South Coast Wildlands Project of mountain lions, coyotes, and
bobcats to their historic ranges.
Again, we are back to the CWC and the Missing Linkages Report.
Remember, the Missing Linkages Report is the core document for the
California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act.
Once again, connecting corridors are involved in land and wildlife
management decisions. Burros and artificial waters sources are being
removed from the Mojave Preserve and surrounding BLM lands. The
burros are direct competition with mule deer and big horn sheep for
limited water and forage. The mule deer are a primary food source
for the mountain lion. It is estimated that it takes one deer a week
to feed a mountain lion. Lions are noted for killing more than they
will eat.
An emerging issue with respect to the debate about wilderness and the
Wildlands project is water rights. To date, the subject of water has
not received much attention other than wilderness is needed to ensure
watershed protection for a "safe" drinking water source.
The pending San Diego-Imperial County water transfer proposal is
being debated. Under terms of the water transfer from the
agriculture of Imperial County to the urban needs of San Diego,
fields well be left fallow, eliminating the need for water to grow
crops. This proposal is also designed to "protect" the Salton Sea.
Again, we are back to the CWC and the Missing Linkages Report. Once
again, connecting corridors are involved in land and wildlife
management decisions. By fallowing the agriculture fields, natural
vegetation will begin to grow. The fallow fields now serve as the
wildlife corridors that will connect the coastal mountains and the
Colorado River mountains with high priority wildlife corridors as
defined in the Missing Linkages Report.
Coincidental, these corridors extend through the southern sections of
the Glamis Dunes, also know as the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation
Area. Under the South Coast Wildlands Project, these wildlife
corridors will become defacto wilderness areas which exclude
motorized recreation.
Still skeptical about the Wildlands Project? The Missing Linkages
Report states that urbanization and roads are the primary factors
that obstruct the necessary corridors. These corridors include
interstate highways as well as state highways. The Donner Lake to
Grouse Lakes corridor crosses Interstate 80. The Mojave area
corridor crosses Interstate 15 and the Imperial County area corridor
includes Interstate 8. The California Transportation Department
participated in developing the Missing Linkages Report. They have
approved plans to remove interstate exits and replace them with
wildlife crossing points.
But it will cost millions; even billions. Yes, your gas tax revenue
and your Green Sticker Funds are helping to pay the bill.
:usa:
http://www.4x4wire.com/access/columns/editor/wilderness_twp.htm
The above link contains addition links to documents and concepts
presented below.
California Wild Heritage Wilderness and The Wildlands Project
by: John Stewart
The recently introduced wilderness legislation bears the title
"California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act". Coincidence or part of a
grand plan? You see, "Heritage" is a word used to describe areas
being pulled into the Wildlands Project and areas considered "key
habitat" and in need of protection to satisfy United Nations
agreements to protect "heritage" areas; areas of culture or
environmental significance.
So, what happens when "heritage" areas are designated? The short
answer is the land area becomes wilderness with full protection as
wilderness without respect to existing or historic uses or
activities. In other words, roads (or trails), paved, gravel, or
dirt, cease to be recognized as "roads". Okay, it has happened
before. Why is this "different"?
You see, a United Nations "Heritage Area" carries a special burden.
Not only is the land WITHIN the boundary subject to protection as
wilderness, a buffer zone AROUND the area is afforded that same
status BY DEFAULT. What you see as a line on a map defining a
"California Wild Heritage Wilderness Area" becomes the core habitat
area. What happens next is an unspecified amount of land adjacent to
the "heritage area" is identified buffer zone and becomes
"wilderness" with the full level of protection afforded the core area
defined on the map.
Within the wilderness proposal is an area called Grouse Lakes in the
Tahoe National Forest. Within the current proposed bill, the area is
listed as number 58 of 73 proposed wilderness areas. The area in
question is 17,280 acres. Maps provided by Senator Boxer's office
indicate a close proximity of the proposed Grouse Lakes Wilderness
Boundary to the Fordyce Creek Trail which is the premier trail used
by California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs for their annual
Sierra Trek.
Details of the boundary are not clear as the map provided is either a
1:126,720 or 1:100,000 scale that has been modified through shrinkage
to fit on smaller paper. Using a magnifying glass and some
assumptions, it appears as if the proposed boundary averages
0.25-1.25 miles from the Fordyce Creek Trail beginning just past the
first stream crossing to Meadow Lake.
Suppose that the Grouse Lakes Wilderness moved from "proposed
wilderness" to "official wilderness". Under the auspices of the UN
mandate to protect the core wilderness area, a buffer zone now
becomes a reality. Is a quarter of a mile a sufficient "buffer zone"
to "protect" the wilderness qualities of the Grouse Lakes area? At
what point will vehicle noise and dust pollution be acceptable?
The California Wilderness Coalition (CWC) has their answer reported
in their report: MISSING LINKAGES: RESTORING CONNECTIVITY TO THE
CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE. In this document, the area around Fordyce
Creek and Meadow Lake is high priority corridor linkage area between
core habitat areas west of Donner Lake and the mountains of Northern
California.
CWC is the primary environmental group drafted the California
Heritage Wilderness Act. Language within the Act echoes language
within the Missing Linkages Report. Grouse Lake as wilderness closes
Fordyce Creek Trail and brings an end to Sierra Trek.
In other areas of the state of California, the Missing Linkages
Report is being used to affect area closures. For over 60 years,
California hunters have been building and maintaining artificial
water sources in the the Southern California Desert. These projects
have been mitigation to provide a source of water for wildlife to
replace the desert springs that became unreliable as water was
siphoned off for urban and agriculture uses to support the growing
population of Southern California.
The National Park Service recently released their General Management
Plan for the Mojave National Preserve. A key element of that plan
calls for wild burro removal from the preserve as they are a
non-native species. Of interest is that no actions are warranted to
remove another non-native species from the preserve until genetics of
the population can be studied. The non-native species involved is
the Mule Deer.
Coincidentally, the preserve and surrounding BLM lands are designated
as prime corridors to connect the southern California coastal ranges
with the Colorado River ranges for the reintroduction proposed under
the South Coast Wildlands Project of mountain lions, coyotes, and
bobcats to their historic ranges.
Again, we are back to the CWC and the Missing Linkages Report.
Remember, the Missing Linkages Report is the core document for the
California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act.
Once again, connecting corridors are involved in land and wildlife
management decisions. Burros and artificial waters sources are being
removed from the Mojave Preserve and surrounding BLM lands. The
burros are direct competition with mule deer and big horn sheep for
limited water and forage. The mule deer are a primary food source
for the mountain lion. It is estimated that it takes one deer a week
to feed a mountain lion. Lions are noted for killing more than they
will eat.
An emerging issue with respect to the debate about wilderness and the
Wildlands project is water rights. To date, the subject of water has
not received much attention other than wilderness is needed to ensure
watershed protection for a "safe" drinking water source.
The pending San Diego-Imperial County water transfer proposal is
being debated. Under terms of the water transfer from the
agriculture of Imperial County to the urban needs of San Diego,
fields well be left fallow, eliminating the need for water to grow
crops. This proposal is also designed to "protect" the Salton Sea.
Again, we are back to the CWC and the Missing Linkages Report. Once
again, connecting corridors are involved in land and wildlife
management decisions. By fallowing the agriculture fields, natural
vegetation will begin to grow. The fallow fields now serve as the
wildlife corridors that will connect the coastal mountains and the
Colorado River mountains with high priority wildlife corridors as
defined in the Missing Linkages Report.
Coincidental, these corridors extend through the southern sections of
the Glamis Dunes, also know as the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation
Area. Under the South Coast Wildlands Project, these wildlife
corridors will become defacto wilderness areas which exclude
motorized recreation.
Still skeptical about the Wildlands Project? The Missing Linkages
Report states that urbanization and roads are the primary factors
that obstruct the necessary corridors. These corridors include
interstate highways as well as state highways. The Donner Lake to
Grouse Lakes corridor crosses Interstate 80. The Mojave area
corridor crosses Interstate 15 and the Imperial County area corridor
includes Interstate 8. The California Transportation Department
participated in developing the Missing Linkages Report. They have
approved plans to remove interstate exits and replace them with
wildlife crossing points.
But it will cost millions; even billions. Yes, your gas tax revenue
and your Green Sticker Funds are helping to pay the bill.
:usa: