CA National Wild & Scenic River Bills Introduced Again
The Smith River, with Wild and Scenic status in California, is proposed for Wild and Scenic status expansion to protect the river in Oregon. FOR Archives.
I am pleased to report that the Congressional sponsors of California-related wild & scenic river bills show no signs of growing weary.
On April 10, Rep. Carbajol (D-Santa Barbara) reintroduced his Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, H.R. 2545. On May 10, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) reintroduced her now renamed once again San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act, H.R. 3681. On May 24, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) reintroduced the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act, H.R. 3700. On May 31, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), cosponsored by Senator Feinstein (D-CA) reintroduced his now renamed Public Lands Act, S. 1776, including the provisions of the three House bills.
Earlier, on January 31, 2023, Oregon U.S. Senator Merkley, with Oregon U.S. Senator Wyden and California U.S. Senators Feinstein, and Padilla as co-sponsors, reintroduced the Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA) Expansion Act, S. 162, a measure to expand national wild & scenic river and National Recreation Area coverage of the Smith River from California into the state of Oregon.
This is the fourth consecutive Congress in which the California bills have been introduced, and at least the second time for the Oregon bill. Obviously, endurance is a virtue here, since the 118th Congress may be equally unproductive. Fortunately, elections happen, and the next Congress or hard work and unexpected good fortune in this Congress may bring success.
