On Monday, September 19th, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer introduced the Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Act of 2011, which would expand two existing wilderness areas in northern San Diego County.
The bill is a Senate companion to legislation introduced in January and in the last Congress by Repersenative Darrell Issa.
Senator Boxer sees both the recreation and economic value in the permanent protection of our wild spaces.
"By permanently protecting these natural treasures, we will ensure that future generations can continue to visit these places and revel in their scenic beauty while also boosting the tourism and recreation economy of San Diego County," Boxer said in a statement.
The House and Senate bills would add more than 7,796 acres of public land to the existing Agua Tibia Wilderness and expand the Beauty Mountain Wilderness by an additional 13,635 acres; all of which are currently being managed with wilderness-level protections.
The Conservation Alliance has funded both California Wilderness Coalition and Friends of the River for their work to build local support for these protections.