New San Gabriel Mountains Campaign Group Forms In Claremont Area, Needs Your Support

Our local San Gabriel Mountains have a new team of champions working to protect them--the San Gabriel Mountains Campaign East Group-comprised of local residents and Sierra Club members from Claremont and other nearby foothill cities.

Mary Ann Ruiz with her daughter.

Stellar volunteers Mary Ann Ruiz (Chino Hills) and Bruce Schutte (Glendora) have been working hard since May to build a core group of community members who will carry forward the goals of the one year-old San Gabriel Mountains Campaign. The group has already grown to 12 active volunteers.

The twin goals of the new campaign are to improve the health of our mountains and rivers as we expand the opportunities for kids, families, and everyone to improve their own physical and spiritual health. Key campaign priorities will be to add wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers to the Angeles and the western San Bernardino National Forests while enhancing water quality and recreational opportunities along the San Gabriel River.

Bruce Schutte and Juanna Torres

The campaign's first priority will be to build community support for federal legislation in 2009 that would add 20,000 acres to the existing Cucamonga and Sheep Mountain wilderness areas in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Claremont. The Forest Service recommended these areas for wilderness designation in 2005 but legislation is required to make it official.

You can help out by joining the San Gabriel Mountains Campaign East Group and attending their upcoming hikes, restoration events, and programs. The East Group's next organizational meeting will be in late September. Let group Co-Chair Mary Ann Ruiz know of your interest in this meeting or any of the campaign's other activities at ruizmaryann@gmail.com.

The East Group is planning conservation hikes on September 13th and 21st into the recommended Cucamonga wilderness additions. See our hikes page for details. During the hikes you will also have the chance to write a postcard to an elected official or community leader asking them to support the Cucamonga Wilderness additions.

On October 11th, the East Group has planned a San Antonio Creek clean-up project that is located near one of the Sheep Mountain recommended wilderness additions. And in November, the group will host an entertaining evening program for the public to come learn more about the San Gabriels. Watch for more details coming soon.