by Victoria Brandon, Redwood Chapter Wilderness Chair
It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (“Wilderness Bill”) became law, but this momentous anniversary took place on October 17, 2016.
Sponsored by Redwood Chapter’s own Congressman Mike Thompson, the bill added 273,000 acres of federal public land in five counties to the Federal Wilderness Preservation System and designated 21 miles of Wild & Scenic River. This significant achievement was accomplished through the great work of many local, state, and national partners, including the Sierra Club. In the words of Congressman Thompson at the bill’s signing, “America's wilderness represents the things we love about being American - our free spirit, our sense of adventure and our passion for exploring the unknown. This designation marks a tremendous victory for conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts and all Americans who care for the outdoors.”
Many Redwood Chapter activists worked for the passage of this bill, none longer and more ardently than North Group activist Lynn Ryan, who led numerous outings to explore the areas proposed for inclusion. Her detailed hike reports speak of long drives on remote forest roads, searches for long-abandoned overgrown trails, adventurous bushwhacks down steep slopes, and scrambles across icy mountain streams, with long pauses to savor breathtaking views and—always!—to write some letters in support of the bill.
Lynn remembers those days: “I have been working toward wilderness for 23 years when the King Range was in jeopardy and no one seemed to be paying attention. Others came before me, some of whom are no longer on this planet. We honor them and we honor ourselves for our perseverance and valor in these troubled times. We speak for the trees and the deep ecology of place, our temperate rainforest, the bioregion we swim upstream to defend. To those who came before me, and to those who come after me, I thank you all for continuity and balance and all things wild.”
We celebrated then, and it’s time to celebrate again. To commemorate this great success, organizations, communities, and land managers throughout northern California are sponsoring a series of recreational and stewardship events this fall, with participation from students, veterans, local tribal members and many more: the objective is to hold at least one event in each of the twelve wilderness areas created or expanded by the 2006 bill.
To find out more, please visit tuleyome.org/northcoastwildernessbill/