River Advocates pleased with Wild and Scenic progress!--Another Calaveras Special Meeting?

   Friends of the River and Foothill Conservancy today praised amendments approved by the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee and made to Assembly Bill 142
(Bigelow-R, O'Neals).

   The amendments move the Mokelumne River toward permanent protection as a state Wild and Scenic River.

   While the actual bill language has not yet been published, the advocates obtained a copy of the amendments when the bill passed out of the committee Monday on an 8-1 vote.

   "The amendments addressed our major concerns with AB 142 by transforming it into a legitimate, meaningful and useful Wild and Scenic study bill," said Steve Evans, Wild Rivers Consultant for Friends of the River.

River of Skulls (Calaveras River)

   "Assemblyman Bigelow accepted the strongest interim river protection measures ever included in a state Wild and Scenic River study bill.  We were also pleased to hear Mr. Bigelow say before the Committee that he could support Wild and Scenic protection for the Mokelumne if recommended by the Natural Resources Secretary following the study."

   One amendment prevents new dams or major diversions on the protected river sections.  Since this is now a different bill than the Calaveras Supervisors voted for at a Special Meeting last week, will they need to vote again and every time an amendment is added?

   In fact, since everyone knew there would be amendments, why did the Calaveras Supervisors feel it necessary to waste the money of a special meeting??  Does Edson even have a clue of what he is doing most of the time??