Saturday, August 19, 2006

Friends of the River Plan

A new seven point plan has been posted on their website.

An excerpt.

California’s rivers belong to everyone, and everyone should enjoy their environmental, economic, and recreational benefits.
Friends of the River advocates a long-term plan to preserve, restore, and sustain our state’s amazing rivers.
We propose an achievable, seven-point plan to benefit all Californians that can be fully realized within 20 years.

PRESERVE

Preserve 6,000 miles – or 3% – of California’s most pristine rivers through Wild & Scenic designation. California’s wild rivers provide unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, important habitat for fish and wildlife, and a critical source of clean water. Protecting our most beautiful rivers as Wild & Scenic will preserve our natural heritage for future generations.

Establish 1,700 miles of river parkways with easy public access.

River parkways offer recreational opportunities for biking, walking, school outings, and picnics. They bring nature into our urban areas, provide habitat for dozens of native species, and offer critical flood protection to our communities. Everyone has access to California’s unique coast; they should also have access to our beautiful rivers.

RESTORE

Ease the impact of existing dams & remove those that are obsolete.

Returning rivers to their natural flows allows native species and natural ecosystems to recover and creates opportunities for increased recreational tourism like fishing and rafting. While some of California’s more than 1,400 dams provide important services for our modern society, many are obsolete or fail to meet modern environmental standards.