S. 136, Title III - Redwood National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2005
S. 136; TITLE III--REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2005 -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 07, 2005)
* Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Senator FEINSTEIN and Chairman POMBO for their support of my legislation to adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park to include the State of California's recent Mill Creek acquisition. This legislation is included as Title III in S. 136--The Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act.
* In 1994, the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation established an historic framework for cooperative management of the four redwood parks included in the boundary of Redwood National Park. Now officially known as Redwood National and State Parks (RNSP), this partnership is viewed as a nation-wide model of interagncy cooperative management effort. Prior to the cooperative agreement, there were inefficiencies, duplication of effort, management and operational conflicts and confusion for the visitor. Now the park appears to the visitor and the traveling public as a seamless park unit. A Redwood National and State Park general management plan was adopted in 2000 that guides the future management and protection of these parks. The proposed boundary revision will enable the two park systems to extend the unique RNSP partnership to the Mill Creek acquisition.
* The Mill Creek acquisition is contiguous to the existing boundary of RNSP. It is bordered to the west by Del Norte Redwoods State Park, to the north by Jedediah Smith State Park and to the east, by Six Rivers National Forest, Smith River Recreation Area. My legislation adjusts the RNSP boundary to include the State acquisition of the Mill Creek and Rock Creek watersheds.
* The California Department of Parks and Recreation acquired the approximately 25,000 acres of redwood forest in Del Norte County in 2002. The addition of this land protected two important watersheds that link the Pacific Coast with the inland mountains. The Mill Creek and Rock Creek watersheds are important coho salmon rearing tributaries to the Smith River, California's largest remaining un-dammed river. Protecting and restoring habitat for coho salmon in these areas will help increase salmon populations along the Northern California and Southern Oregon Coasts. It will ultimately help reduce regulatory burdens on all stakeholders in the watershed. Stimson Lumber Company, who logged the area since the mid-1800s and had gradually phased out its timber operations on this property, initiated the sale of the land.
* The property was purchased by Save-the-Redwoods-League and the State of California for $60 million. The purchase price was funded by a variety of state sources, including $42.5 million from Proposition 12, Proposition 13, Salmon Habitat Funding (SB271) and the Governor's Land Conservation Matching Grants. Save-the-Redwoods League provided $15 million and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided an additional $2.5 million.
* As a result of negotiations between the State, Save-the-Redwoods-League, Stimson Lumber and Del Norte County, a mitigation payment was established to off-set the loss of local property tax revenue. Del Norte County received a one-time $5 million payment. The county has preserved the principal and hope one day to be able to invest the interest to grow the fund.
* This legislation is supported by the State of California, the National Park Service, the County of Del Norte, Save-the-Redwoods-League and many of my constituents. Passing it today will strengthen the management of these lands and benefit visitors who come from across the country and around the world to see the redwoods and it will help protect important coho habitat.
* Again, thank you for your support of this bill which will help both the National Park Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation work more efficiently and cost effectively. I urge your ``aye'' vote.
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