BCHC's Public Lands Committee - Working for California
The Public Lands Committee (PLC) continues its efforts to keep our mission in plain view for both federal and state public land managers.
In July 2003, the Committee responded to the Sierra and Inyo National Forests request for comments on the “Trail Management Plan Proposed Action” for the John Muir, Ansel Adams and Dinkey Lakes Wildernesses. See our submission below. We have also filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for additional information not provided in the Proposed Action document. We continue to work with both the Sierra and Inyo National Forests on the development of a trail transportation plan for these wildernesses.
Comments on the DEIS and RLMPs for the Angeles, Cleveland, San Bernardino, and Los Padres Forests were submitted on August 11, 2004.
The second Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIR was distributed by California State Parks and we submitted our comments on September 13, 2004. See below for comments from BCHC Vice President and Marcy Watton, Antelope Valley Unit.
The National Parks has published the Draft General Management Plan and EIS for the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. The High Sierra Unit and Vice President Barbara Ferguson are working on comments which are due by October.
In August 2004, The High Sierra Hikers Association and Wilderness Watch filed suit against the Stanislaus National Forest and Region 5 requesting that the court rule the Forest Service in violation of the Wilderness Act in allowing the retention and maintenance of eleven dams in the Emigrant Wilderness. Bruce DeMott, Mid Valley Unit, is coordinating efforts with a local sportsmen’s club to request intervener status on the law suit. The BCHC is concerned about this suit because of our concerns about the “purity” issue regarding wilderness areas.
Along with the BCHA, we are continuing our efforts to have congress enact the "Right to Ride" legislation. This legislation would solidify the historical importance of our western culture by preserving and facilitating the continued use of pack and saddle stock in wilderness areas.
The Committee will also continue working with state legislative representatives on California's state park issues.
Barbara J. Ferguson,
Vice President, Public Lands
Recent Commentary and Ongoing Efforts
September 21, 2004:
Comments from Steve Didier, BCHA Chairman, on Trail Management Plan
Proposed Action for the John Muir, Ansel Adams and Dinkey Lakes
Wildernesses.
September 13, 2004:
PLC comments by Barbara Ferguson, Vice President Public Lands and Marcy Watton, Antelope Valley Unit on Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Preliminary General Plan and Draft EIS.
August 17, 2004:
High Sierra Hikers and Wilderness Watch suit against Stanislaus National Forest, Emigrant Wilderness Plan Dam Retention
August 11, 2004:
PLC comments on the Southern Forest Revised Land Management Plans and Draft EIS.
July 23, 2004:
PLC comments on the “Trail Management Plan Proposed Action” for the John Muir, Ansel Adams and Dinkey Lakes Wildernesses.
April, 2004:
BCHC Lands Group Seeks Support for Special State Legislation.
October, 2003:
Contributions Acknowledgement:
THANKS! to all who have contributed to the Wild Horse Fund.
September, 2003:
Coyote Canyon Wild Horse Herd Subterfuge:
Guest Article from CETLC for Grange Newsletter.
Where Are Your Proposition 12 and 40 Park Bond Dollars Going?
Comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS for the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment submitted to Forest Service.
Sierra Nevada Access, Multiple-Use and Stewardship Coalition (SAMS) requests Congressional Hearing on Draft Supplemental EIS.
August, 2003:
Recent analysis shows a clear direction by California Department of Parks and Recreation toward “Preserves” that threaten our ability to recreate on the hundreds of thousands of acres of California public lands.
July, 2003:
On July 25, 2003, Congressman Radanovich and Congressman Nunes, with six other Congressional Co-Sponsors,
introduced H.R. 2966, the Right-to-Ride on Federal Lands.
Now is the time for BCHC members and friends to contact your congressional and/or senate representatives
to express your support for this legislation.
May, 2003:
BCHC's Barbara Ferguson: Update on BCHC's Lawsuit Against State Parks 156K PDF file
Download Update PHOTOS - 840K file
April, 2003:
WILD HORSE FUND Established by BCHC and CSHA
BCHC and the California State Horsemen's Association (CSHA) have jointly filed suit
against the State of California regarding the removal of the wild horse herd
from Coyote Canyon.
On March 26, BCHC attorney David Hubbard sent a letter
to Mary Nichols, Secretary of State Resources Agency, Ruth Coleman, Action
Director, Department of Parks and Recreation and Dave Van Cleve,
Superintendent, Colorado Desert District, describing BCHC's concerns about the
removal of the wild horse herd and requested that the removal be rescinded.
After receiving no response, BCHC then filed a complaint in the San Diego
County Superior Court of California on April 4, 2003.
A copy of the BCHC Complaint is posted here, as filed with the Court on April 4, 2003.
We have established a Wild Horse Fund to pay the legal fees for this action.
Contribution checks, made out to "Wild Horse Fund", should be mailed to BCHC, PO Box 40007, Bakersfield CA 93384-0007.
April, 2003:
Coyote Canyon Horses Gone, by Dick Bergeron.
Mr. Bergeron writes on the precipitous action taken by State Park in removing wild horses from
Coyote Canyon. BCHC and the California State Horsemen Association are perusing legal action to get the park to
come to the table and consider other options for this wild horse herd.
Congressmen Radanovich and Nunes letter re: Wolverton Pack Station.
Congressional Representatives step in to help keep pack and
saddle stock in Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks.
Right to Ride
The PLC, with the BCHC Board of Directors, developed and
approved language (below) for the Right to Ride legislation that will be sponsored
by Congressman Radanovich and Co-Sponsored by Congressman Nunes.
“The land managers of Federal lands controlled or operated by the National Park Service, United States Forest Service,
and the Bureau of Land Management shall manage and operate those lands in such a way as to preserve and facilitate
the continued use of such lands for recreational pack and saddle stock use on such lands where there is a historical
tradition of such use.”
March, 2003:
PLC Comments on the Giant Sequoia National Monument Plan Draft EIS
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - PLC response to General Plan/Draft EIR
BCHC Attorney Letter to Mary Nichols - Secretary of State Resource Agency
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