In March 2003 Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA 1) and Senator Barbara Boxer introduced the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2003. The bills HR1501 and S738 are winding their way through Congress during the 2004 session with the added support of Senator Feinstein. Your help is needed now to encourage Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to support this legislation. With our Governor and both our Senators supporting this legislation, it will be easier to obtain the remaining Congressional votes needed to pass the Act this year.

The Act will protect nearly 300,000 acres and 21 river miles in Rep. Thompson's North Coast district including some of the state's most spectacular scenery and important fish and wildlife habitat. Included in this bill are areas like the King Range, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48 states. Also, Cache Creek in Lake County, home to the second largest wintering bald eagle population will also be protected.

This Federal Wilderness legislation will ensure these areas are preserved for future generations by preventing any further road constructions or logging. Wild and Scenic River designation precludes any new dams being constructed on designated rivers. The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2003 will also promote opportunities for compatible recreation such as horse back riding, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and whitewater rafting.

California North Coast BLM and National Forest

S738 and HR1501, the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2003, include additions to the Siskiyou and Trinity Alps Wilderness Areas, Underwood, Mad River Buttes, King Range and Cache Creek. Areas in the Eel River Basin include Mount Lassic, Sanhedrin, South Fork Eel, Elkhorn Ridge, Yuki and additions to the existing Yolla Bolly-Middle Fork Eel and Snow Mountain Wilderness Areas. Black Butte Creek, a tributary of the Middle Fork Eel River, is the only North Coast Wild & Scenic River candidate named in the bill. More information about the areas and the campaign can be found at California Wild Heritage Campaign. Please name these places in your letter to Governor Schwarzenegger, especially areas near and dear to you.

What You Can Do:

Write to

The Governor and carbon copy Rep. Thompson; help convince the Governor to join Senators Boxer and Feinstein and Representative Mike Thompson in supporting the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2003.

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Contact Information:

Honorable Mike Thompson
317 3rd St. Suite 1
Eureka, CA 95501
707-269-9595
Fax: (202) 225-4335
www.house.gov/mthompson/

How to Contribute a Most Effective Letter

Letterhead will catch the Governor's attention; use or create as needed. Hand-written personal letters are effective. Emphasize your ties other than environment such as civic committees, business, spiritual group, familiarity with any of the named places, etc. See the sample letter below. Substitute your own thoughts for the suggested wording.

Alternately, you may contact the Governor via:

• Phone: 916-445-2841
• Fax: 916-445-4633
• To send an Electronic Mail please visit: http://www.govmail.ca.gov

The Governor's Office does not accept e-mail attachments. A form is provided at the above website within which your letter can be pasted or typed.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

As a citizen of the North Coast of California, I am hoping you will support Congressman Mike Thompson's wilderness bill, the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (H.R. 1501/S. 738). The bill will only protect areas within the Congressman's district, where there is broad based local support.

[If you have a personal story, insert here]

The Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Act will protect some of the North Coast's most scenic areas including the King Range, the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the lower 48. Your support will add a valuable voice to the growing number of people supporting this bill.

I look forward to hearing from you on the matter.

Sincerely,
[single or multiple signatures]