Photo courtesy Rick Hanks, USDI BLM 

The Point Arena-Stornetta
Public Lands are located along Mendocino County’s south coast, and include more
than two miles of Pacific coastline. Local Sierra Club activist, Victoria
Brandon, helped us highlight this special place recently in Lay of the
Land.  As Brandon describes, the lands
contain natural bridges, tide pools, waterfalls, sinkholes and blowholes. The
area is recognized not only for breathtaking scenic values, but also for
outstanding natural resources that provide significant wildlife habitat for
threatened and endangered species.  The
Stornetta landscape is also a perfect candidate for protection. Host to both
beautiful views and a remarkable lighthouse, the Stornetta Public Lands are the
highlight of H.R. 4969.  H.R.4969, the
“California
Coastal National Monument Expansion Act of 2012” would add 1,132 acres of
the majestic Stornetta Public Lands to the
California Coastal National Monument (established in 2000 by President Clinton).

Sponsored by longtime conservation champion, Representative Mike Thompson
(D-CA), the Sierra Club’s Redwood Chapter has endorsed H.R. 4969 and along with
staff in D.C. has strongly supported the Congressman’s recent push to get H.R.
4969 over the finish line. 

Recently the California Coastal National Monument Expansion Act had a successful
hearing in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests
and Public Lands—a rare occurrence in a committee chaired by Representative Rob
Bishop (R-UT), a vocal opponent to most public lands’ protection bills. With
Sierra Club and other supporters in the gallery for hearing, we heard two
witnesses provide positive and supportive testimony in favor of adding
protections to the lands. Carl Rountree, the Director of the National Landscape
Conservation System in the Bureau of Land Management, offered comments to
support the monument expansion, stating the addition “will promote the
continued conservation, protection, and restoration of these significant public
lands … [and] will enhance the public enjoyment and understanding of the entire
California Coastal National Monument.” A more personal account of the positive impact
the Stornetta Public Lands have on locals was provided by Merita Whatley, manager
of the local Point Arena Lighthouse, stating “our small businesses are still
thriving partly due to the large number of visitors coming to visit Point Arena
Lighthouse and to experience the natural beauty of Stornetta Public Lands.”

Following the lead of Rep. Thompson and a successful House hearing,
Senators Boxer and Feinstein (D-CA) have now introduced companion legislation
to H.R. 4969. The Senators also sent a letter to President Obama urging him to
expedite the process by utilizing his authority under the Antiquities Act to
name Stornetta Public Lands as an addition to the existing California Coastal National
Monument. The supportive letter from Senators Boxer and Feinstein points out
the advantage of having an onshore tract added to the monument (the current
monument consists of 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs and pinnacles),
including recreation opportunities and important habitat protection for local
animals such as bobcats, Chinook salmon, and the endangered Point Arena beaver.

Support for the protection
of this invaluable public land is growing; awareness of the need to preserve
this vitally important habitat has been brought to the highest levels of the
government.  We’re hopeful that Stornetta
Public Lands can be permanently protected as a national monument in short
order.  As Brandon points out in her
earlier blog post, and is made clear by the support of the California
delegation, “permanently
protecting this important segment of the California Coast, and potentially
offering the additional resources needed for more effective management, making
Stornetta a national monument provides significant conservation benefits, with
no negative consequences.” 

– By Ani Kame'enui