Senate passes massive lands bill that expands Joshua Tree and Death Valley national parks

The Senate passed a sweeping public lands package Tuesday that would create 700,000 acres of new conservation and recreation areas, expand two of the most visited national parks in the California desert and designate nearly 80 miles of scenic rivers while providing new off-highway vehicle recreation areas in San Bernardino County for motorized trail riding.

The massive measure combines more than 100 public-lands bills that promote wilderness protection and open-space recreation opportunities, while restoring funding for maintaining parks and national monuments.

The bill permanently reauthorizes the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which supports conservation and outdoor recreation projects across the country. The program expired last fall after Congress could not agree on language to extend it.

One bill in the package withdraws 370,000 acres in Montana and Washington state from mineral development.

The Senate approved the bill, 92-8, sending it to the House.

Local impact

Closer to home, the Senate package includes passage of the Desert Protection and Recreation Act, authored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Feinstein’s bill adds 4,518 acres to Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, and 35,292 acres to Death Valley National Park, including about 1,600 acres donated by the Mojave Desert Land Trust.

“Conservation has once again proven itself to be political common ground and we’re thrilled to see Congress advancing this bill that would protect critically important public lands and waters across the country,” said Dan Smuts, pacific region director of The Wilderness Society.

During the 35-day partial government shutdown, Joshua Tree was vandalized by off-roaders tearing up sensitive habitat, dozens of pit toilets overflowing with human waste and two instances of Joshua trees being cut down.

Supporters of the park who helped keep it open by cleaning toilets and removing tons of trash, hoped the park’s resources would grow should the new bills receive full approval and become law.

Sabra Purdy, co-owner of Cliffhangers.com, a rock-climbing tour outfit, helped with the trash removal during the shutdown. She said on Tuesday she wants to see more funding for all national parks, especially if they are expanding.

“We need to pressure Congress to pass the National Parks Legacy Act that’s designed to provide adequate funding for national parks in perpetuity,” Purdy said. “so we don’t keep having this $12 billion budget shortfall.”

Key measures

One of the key measures was the addition of 200,000 acres for off-road users who ride motorized three- and four-wheelers up and down hills, rocks and gullies.

The legislation  designate six Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Areas including: Johnson Valley, north of Joshua Tree, Sprangler Hills, El Mirage, Rasor, Dumont Dunes and Stoddard Valley.

Other California provisions include:

— Eight new Bureau of Land Management wilderness areas totaling 280,360 acres;

— Expansion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness by 7,141 acres, located within the San Bernardino National Forest;

— Designating about 18,000 acres of BLM land in Inyo County as the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area;

— Adding 81,800 acres in Imperial County for wilderness protection.

The Associated Press and Staff Writer Sandra Emerson contributed to this article.