Protect California's Wild and Scenic Rivers From Trump's Attacks

The Tuolumne, Merced, Middle Fork, Kings, and Big Sur – these are just a few of the rivers that make up California's 750 miles of federal Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Since taking office, Trump has slashed as many environmental protections as he can – now, it's only a matter of time before he comes for our rivers. In fact, Trump has already begun chipping away at important water conservation laws like the Clean Waters Rule and the Stream Protection Rule.

That's why, anticipating further setbacks, California Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) has introduced AB 2975. The bill would provide state protection for federal Wild and Scenic Rivers in California. Enacted 50 years ago, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act provides the strongest protection available for rivers nationwide.

AB 2975 directs the California Natural Resources Secretary to provide state protection for a federal Wild and Scenic River in case Congress or the president eliminates or reduces these protections. The bill would also provide state protection if either attempts to weaken the provision in the federal act that prohibits new dams, reservoirs, and diversions on a federal river.

We've already witnessed the damage this administration can do – threatening to reduce California's national monuments just like it did with Utah's Bears Ears, while proposing a significant increase in logging in our National Forests and opening up our coastal waters to oil drilling.

The Assembly must pass AB 2975 by June 1. Given the scale and rapidity these attacks are coming, passage can't come soon enough! Please encourage your Assemblymember to vote yes.
Subject: Please vote yes on AB 2975!

Dear Assemblymember:

Please vote yes on AB 2975 (Friedman). This simple bill provides state protection for federal Wild and Scenic Rivers in California if Congress or the Trump Administrations passes legislation or signs an executive order eliminating or weakening federal protection for a river. This is a reasonable and important response to the environmental protection rollbacks proposed by Congress and the Trump Administration.

AB 2975 would specifically ensure that California provide state protection for the existing Merced Wild and Scenic River. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives have voted four times to eliminate federal protection for a portion of this magnificent river to allow for expansion of the McClure Reservoir. The reservoir expansion would not only flood more than a mile of the Wild Merced, it would drown most of the known population of the state-protected Merced River limestone salamander, destroy whitewater boating and hiking opportunities along the river and within the Merced River Wilderness Study Area, and raise serious dam safety concerns.

In response to federal legislation or an executive order eliminating or weakening federal protection for any of the 750 miles of federal Wild and Scenic Rivers, AB 2975 directs the California Resources Secretary to add the federal river to the state Wild and Scenic Rivers System, after first holding a public meeting.

AB 2975 ensures that California has the back of some of the finest rivers in the state, including the Merced, Tuolumne, Middle Fork Feather, Kings, and Kern Rivers. These free-flowing rivers provide outdoor recreation for thousands of people, help support rural economies through tourism, and provide both habitat for threatened and endangered fish and a source of clean water for downstream human communities and farms.

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Please vote yes on AB 2975!

Thank you,

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