News
 The Sierra Echo to be distributed through the Internet
At last, we are very excited about be able to distribute a color Sierra Echo electronically, complete with website links, and here it is!
The Management Committee has taken the "green intuitive" and is following the example of the Rocky Mountain Section and other Sierra Club sections who already offer electronic newsletters.
For this issue only (Volume 52, Number 3, July –September 2008), a hard copy of the Echo will be mailed to each member as usual. Future editions will be sent via e-copy only to everyone who has a workable email address.
IMPORTANT: If you desire to continue to receive the Sierra Echo in hard copy format through the US Mail, you must, by August 15, 2008:
(1) respond to this announcement saying "Hard Copy Only" or
(2) leave a message for the Echo Editor at (818) 349-6019. If you take no action, the Sierra Echo will only be sent electronically to members with an e-mail address on file.
IN SHORT: Anyone wishing to continue to receive a hard copy of the Sierra Echo will simply respond to this announcement saying "Hard Copy Only" in the e-mail response. (06-10-2008)
SPS Leadership Training Refreshment Requirement
From: Larry Barbee Tidball
Subject: SPS Leaders Announcement - Action Required by July 1, 2008
Sierra Peaks Section Leaders: We need to have you to refresh your leadership training by July 1, 2008. Under the new Sierra Club requirements all leaders (except those who became leaders after July 1, 2004) need to "refresh" OLT101 (basic leader training) by July 1, 2008, under the requirement of the national leader standards (every four years).
It’s easy and quick to do and we have attached all the required reading material you need to this annoucement. Just review the three attached Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files  , and then send us an e-mail stating that you have completed the refresher requirements (no proof required!). Note: the self assessment test is fully optional and you do not need to do this test or report any results to anyone.
Please put a side one-hour this month to keep your leader rating current under this new Sierra Club requirement.
Note: some of you may have already completed the refresher reading, if so we apologize for this duplicate notice. Otherwise all leaders please complete this requirement by July 1, 2008. If you lead for more than one group or section, you may have already done this refresher and notified another outings chair. Please let us also know you have completed this refresher so we can put you on the list as complete and not nag you any more.
If you can't open the attachments let us know and we'll mail them to you. Methods for completing the retraining are listed at the LTC web site at the bottom of the home page: see www.angeles.sierraclub.org/ltc. If you go to the LTC web site please also look over the Angeles Chapter Supplement, found in the same spot on the LTC web site, so that they know about Angeles-specific items such as the Incident Report Form, which is modified for Angeles Chapter use.
Attachments:   
SPS Outings Chairs:
Larry & Barbee Tidball, lbtidball@earthlink.net
McKeon, Boxer Introduce Legislation to Protect California Wilderness
Bipartisan Effort Would Protect Nearly Half a Million Acres in Mono, Inyo, and Los Angeles Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) introduced legislation Thursday to protect almost half a million acres of wilderness lands in California. U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the companion bill in the Senate.
McKeon said: “I am pleased that after years of working with local leaders, wilderness activists, and recreational enthusiasts; we finally have a practical solution to preserving the wild heritage of the 25th congressional district. I also want to thank Senator Boxer for playing such a critical role in crafting legislation that meets the needs of all the key stakeholders. With this legislation, we are increasing economic development by preserving land treasured by many and enhancing recreational opportunities in the area.”
Boxer said: “I am thrilled that Congressman Buck McKeon and I, together with countless local officials and residents, were able to forge a bipartisan compromise to protect these truly spectacular lands. From the majestic High Sierra, to the stunning White Mountains and their ancient Bristlecone Pine forests, to the beautiful northern San Gabriel Mountains, Californians will be able to enjoy this striking beauty forever. We will continue to work together to make sure that this natural legacy can be left to our grandchildren and their grandchildren.”
H.R. 6156, The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act will give wilderness designations – the highest level of protection and conservation for federal lands – to 472,804 acres of federal public land in California.
Specifically, the bill designates an additional 430,671 acres of wilderness in Mono and Inyo Counties and establishes more than 45 miles of the Owens River Headwaters and Amargosa River as Wild and Scenic Rivers. The bill also designates an additional 42,000 of wilderness in Los Angeles County, and it establishes more than seven miles of Piru Creek as a Wild and Scenic River.
The land protected under the bill includes the White Mountains, America’s largest and highest desert mountain range. The second largest unprotected “roadless” area in the lower 48 states, the Whites are home to the world’s oldest living trees – the ancient Bristlecone Pines – which live almost 5,000 years. It also makes additions to the Hoover Wilderness, a classic High Sierra landscape of deeply carved glacial valleys dotted with tranquil alpine lakes and forests of lodgepole pine. The Amargosa River, which the bill also protects, is the only river flowing into Death Valley, and it sustains biologically rich wetlands and riparian forests as it makes its way through ancient, rugged canyons.
List of areas and acreage protected:
Hoover and Emigrant Wilderness Additions: 77,233 acres
Granite Mountain: 34,564 acres
Owen River Headwaters: 15,247 acres
White Mountains: 223,516 acres
John Muir Wilderness additions: 80,112 acres
Magic Mountain: 13,709 acres
Pleasant View Ridge: 28,424 acres
Owens River Headwaters: 19 miles
Wilderness Study Area Release:
51,000 acres in Masonic Mountain, Mormon Meadow, Walford Springs, and Granite Mountain Wilderness Study Areas
Please
watch this space for
announcements and news
of interest to SPS
Members.
Land
Management Agency News
The
following listing provides
internet links to the
newsroom pages of National
Forests
and Parks in the Sierra
Nevada. These links
will provide an entry
for you to find out
what
is happening at the
land management agencies
throughout the Sierra
Nevada.
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