Wilderness Land Trust Protects 640 acres in California's San Gorgonio Wilderness. Addition to Wilderness Provides Critical Linkage in Proposed Sand to Snow National Monument

CARBONDALE, Colo., Oct. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A proposal to designate the Sand to Snow National Monument encompasses some of the most scenic lands and diverse ecosystems in California—coniferous forests, riparian woodlands, and low-lying desert. The Wilderness Land Trust has now protected 640 acres of new wilderness in a key piece in this complex puzzle, by transferring 640 acres of private land within the San Gorgonio Wilderness to the US Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest.  The purchase of this property protects a stretch of the North Fork of the Whitewater River, a lifeline for resident and migrating wildlife, including Desert bighorn sheep, bears, mountain lions and endangered birds, the least Bell's vireo and the willow flycatcher.

Located between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts near Palm Springs and Morongo Valley, the property offers dramatic views to some of the highest peaks in California--the 11,500-foot San Gorgonio Peak, the highest in San Bernardino Mountains, and the 10,624-foot San Bernardino Peak, the initial point from which all of Southern California was surveyed in 1852.

Two rivers, the Santa Ana and the Whitewater, two small lakes, meadows, and forests provide diverse habitats for wildlife and a beautiful sub-alpine oasis for outdoor enthusiasts.

Wilderness Land Trust worked for almost two years to secure the property and for another year to transfer the property to the US Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest, which, along with the Bureau of Land Management, oversees the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

"The land was one of only two properties within the San Bernardino Forest area of the San Gorgonio wilderness to remain in private ownership," said Aimee Rutledge, the land trust's California Program Manager. "Private uses inconsistent with wilderness would have despoiled an unbroken expanse of wilderness and potentially set back plans to connect the area to the proposed Sand to Snow National Monument."

A bill sponsored by California Senator Dianne Feinstein calls for establishing the Sand to Snow National Monument, which would encompass Joshua Tree, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monuments.

"The Wilderness Land Trust continues to be a helpful, flexible and dynamic partner in the continued protection of wilderness properties," said Norman Noyes, realty specialist for the US Forest Service.

The area includes many miles of trails including a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail, offering hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, fishing, birding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Thousands of school children already visit the area each year to learn about the natural world.

"We are proud to help complete the San Gorgonio Wilderness for future generations, ensuring that 'man is a visitor and shall not remain,' a goal of the 1964 Wilderness Act," said Reid Haughey, president of Wilderness Land Trust.

The Wilderness Land Trust
The Wilderness Land Trust is a small, highly specialized nonprofit organization established to buy and protect wilderness land. Since it was founded in 1992, the non-profit organization has preserved more than 344 parcels comprising of more than 31,000 acres of wilderness inholdings in 76 designated and proposed wilderness areas. The Wilderness Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) organization, has offices in California, Colorado and Washington State.  For more information visit our website www.wildernesslandtrust.org.

The Wilderness Land Trust is a 1% for the Planet Non-Profit Partner.  Visit www.onepercentfortheplanet.org for more information.

http://www.californiadesert.org/places/sand_to_snow_national_monument.

Contact: Karin Evans, Administrative Director 
970.963.6068, [email protected] 
www.wildernesslandtrust.org

SOURCE The Wilderness Land Trust