Californians from across the state are voicing their opposition on June 27 to a revised proposal that would mandate the sale of millions of acres of public lands. Despite immense public backlash from people across the political spectrum and a ruling by the Senate Parliamentarian that his original language would not pass the Byrd Rule for inclusion in the Senate’s budget reconciliation package, Senator Mike Lee of Utah put forward new language that would mandate the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of public lands. This would apply to public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in 11 western States, including California.

Earlier this month, Senator Lee attempted to move forward a proposal that would have mandated the sale of more than 3 million acres of public lands, including places managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Senator Lee’s original effort was found to violate Senate rules, and a bipartisan outcry from Republican representatives, local elected officials, hunters, anglers, mountain bikers, and others demonstrated that there is widespread opposition to the sale of public lands. In California, Republican Representative Kevin Kiley, whose district includes Lake Tahoe and millions of acres of public lands, spoke out against the sale of public lands, warning that inclusion in the Senate package would endanger passage in the House. Local elected officials and leaders from both political parties also voiced concerns about the impact of public land sales on popular recreation sites and rural economies.  

Californians still view Sen. Lee’s revised attempt to sell off public lands as unacceptable. The new proposal focuses on Bureau of Land Management lands within 5 miles of a “population center,” but fails to define what constitutes a population center.

URGE LAWMAKERS TO OPPOSE PUBLIC LAND SALES!

Complete the form below to urge your Senators to remove public land sales from budget reconciliation legislation. Once you have completed the form, also consider calling your Senators. You can use the script below to help guide your comments.

Here are two ways for you to contact your Senators: 

• You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to connect with your Senators in Washington D.C.
• You can find your Senators’ contact information HERE.

Script to Urge Your Elected Officials to Oppose Public Land Sales

Step 1

Dial your Elected Official’s phone number.

Step 2

When the answering machine or person picks up, use the message below to guide your comments.

Hello, my name is [insert name].

I am calling to urge you to oppose the sale of public lands in the budget reconciliation process. As a constituent who values the recreational, hunting, and fishing opportunities of our nation’s public land, I have deep concerns with any proposal that would sell off these acres that I rely on.

I am against selling the public’s favorite hunting and fishing spots for tax cuts and know that many public lands close to population centers provide critical access to locals. That is why I am again asking you to oppose any efforts to sell off public land. Thank you. You can hang up.

Examples of the places that would be at risk  under this new proposal include the following: 

• Cow Mountain Recreation Area: 52,000 acres of oak and pine forest straddling Mendocino and Lake counties, with something for everyone: fishing, target shooting, 120 miles of trails for ATVs and four-wheeling, and a separate, nonmotorized area for hikers and mountain bikers.
• South Fork American River: A major tributary of the American River in El Dorado County on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento, the South Fork of the American is “the most popular recreation stream in the West” for whitewater rafting in North America. The river begins in pristine Desolation Wilderness and flows through the Sierra Nevada foothills.
• Middle Fork American River: One of three forks that form the American River, located between Lake Tahoe and Sacramento. BLM lands along the Middle Fork are extremely popular for recreationists from Auburn, Sacramento, and surrounding communities. 
• Long Valley Hot Springs: Located on BLM-managed land just south of Mammoth Lakes and near Crowley. These are some of the most well-known hot springs in the region; they are free to access, loved by locals and visitors, and offer a unique, breathtaking experience with views of the Eastern Sierra.
• Coyote Dry Lake Bed: Located near Joshua Tree, visitors to these public lands enjoy free dispersed camping and off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. These lands are used year-round and are a very popular overflow camping site for Joshua Tree National Park. 
• Centennial Flat: Located near Lone Pine, these public lands are used for camping, hiking, OHV use, and to see wildlife.
• Bodie Hills: Located near Bridgeport, visitors to these public lands come for activities like hiking, OHV use, camping, wildflower viewing, and cycling.
• Ruby Mtns and Giant Rock: These public lands near Landers and Homestead Valley are very popular for OHV use and community walking and dog walking.
• Juniper Flats: Located near Apple Valley, these public lands offer a range of recreational activities, including OHV use, camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hunting.
• Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area: Located north of Baker, visitors come to these public lands and ride All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), motorcycles, dune buggies, sand rails, Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs), and also enjoy remote camping opportunities.
• Sprangler Hills/Red Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Area: Located near Ridgecrest, the Spangler Hills Off-Highway Vehicle Area (OHV) is popular with off-road enthusiasts.
• Trona Pinnacles/Searles Valley: Located near Trona, the Trona Pinnacles are a unique geological formation in the Mojave Desert. These lands feature over 500 spires that were formed underwater between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago. Some reach over 140 feet tall.

Below are statements from key voices in opposition to this proposal: 

John Wentworth, Town Council for Mammoth Lakes and CEO of Mammoth Lakes Trail and Public Access Association: “In the coming weeks, the US Senate will consider advancing a knife to the heart of the Eastern Sierra. To the environment that defines us. To the recreation/tourism economy that makes our rural lives possible. A vote in favor of the Senate’s language, should that come to pass, would be a profound betrayal. Nothing else needs to be said.” 

Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice Foundation, and a resident of San Diego: “Chairman Lee doesn’t get it. Not one acre. And since he spends a lot more time on X than on our public lands, I hope this exercise serves as a lesson: hornets’ nests are better left undisturbed.”

John Haschak, Mendocino County Supervisor: “Mendocino County’s national public lands, like the Cow Mountain Recreation Area, are too important to be privatized. These lands are critical for tribal cultural access, recreation, watershed protection, fire resilience, wildlife habitat, and other purposes and shouldn’t be privatized. I urge Congress to oppose any public land sell-offs, especially here in California.”      

Patrick Berry, President and CEO, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers: “This fight is absolutely not over. Mike Lee has made it clear: He is going back to the drawing board to modify language that he’ll then include in this same Budget Reconciliation Bill.”