Senator Kamala Harris has introduced the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act today, which will protect wild lands, open space and rivers and improve recreation opportunities in Los Angeles County. Stretching from Santa Clarita to San Bernardino, these open space resources, particularly the San Gabriel Mountains, are the recreational “backyard” for more than 17 million Southern Californians. This legislation mirrors two bills previously introduced by Congresswoman Judy Chu, the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act (HR2323) and the San Gabriel Mountains Forever Act (HR3039).
This is a historic milestone in the effort to protect and restore the best remaining parts of our public lands in the Los Angeles region. The Harris bill will:
- Expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by adding approximately 109,143 acres in the upper Los Angeles River watershed; and
- Establish the San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area for the San Gabriel and San Jose Foothills and the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Rivers comprised of over 51,000 acres; and
- Expand wilderness area designations within the San Gabriel Mountains by 2,027 acres; and
- Designate 25.3 miles of wild and scenic rivers in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Senator Harris has also introduced the Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act in the Senate. The bill will restore forests and fisheries, protect wild lands and streams and improve recreation opportunities in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity counties.
Help us say thank you to Senator Harris by posting on social media: Thank you Senator @SenKamalaHarris for introducing legislation that will protect precious areas of #NorthwestCalifornia and the #SanGabrielMtns! #ProtectCAPublicLands
