Senator
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

RE: Support the California Wild Heritage Act of 2003

Dear Senator ,

I urge you to support the California Wild Heritage Act of 2003 (S. 1555), which will protect 22 California rivers and creeks in the National Wild and Scenic River System and 2.7 million acres of land in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Unfortunately, in the past 20 years, California has lost more than 675,000 acres of unprotected wilderness, an area nearly the size of Yosemite National Park. This bill would prevent similar losses of key wild rivers and wild lands around the state.

The Climate Stewardship Act's market-based approach would harness American technological know-how to find the most cost effective ways to cut our emissions of heat-trapping gases. Off-the-shelf reductions already available include producing more electricity from clean renewable sources, limiting carbon pollution from dirty coal-fired power plants, increasing the energy efficiency of our homes and factories, and making cars go further on a gallon of gas. By encouraging investment in these and other methods, the act would also ensure that American technology remains competitive as other countries move to reduce their own emissions.

Protecting these wild rivers and lands will help save rivers vital to local tourism-based economies and to outdoor enthusiasts who raft, kayak, canoe, and fish their waters. Such designation will also protect wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species and preserve rivers acting as sources of clean drinking water. In fact, more than 60% of California's clean drinking water comes from free-flowing rivers and wild lands.

Recent studies have shown significant economic benefits for communities located near a protected Wilderness or Wild and Scenic River. According to a 2002 regional economic study in the Eastern Sierra, California, wild lands support more than 2,800 jobs and contribute between $125 million and $171 million in local revenues.

Our wilderness and wild rivers are an important part of our American heritage that we need to protect for future generations. The California Wild Heritage Act of 2003 will not only protect treasured California rivers; it will also breathe new life into our nation’s unique system for protecting our river heritage and inspire similar community-based efforts nationwide. Please support the California Wild Heritage Act of 2003 (S. 1555).