More protected wilderness proposed in north San Diego...

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Wilderness area expansion near Mount Palomar introduced in congress bill

On December 14, 2009 Representative Darrell Issa (Republican, Vista), who represents northern San Diego County, introduced the "Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2009" (HR 4304). CWC and local residents strongly support this bill because it would protect two of southern California's most important areas of open space as wilderness.
The Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia Wilderness Act of 2009 would add over 7,796 acres to the existing Agua Tibia Wilderness and would expand the Beauty Mountain Wilderness by an additional 13,635 acres. Representative Issa's bill would build on successful legislation sponsored earlier this year by Senator Barbara Boxer (Democrat, California) and Representative Mary Bono Mack (Republican, Palm Springs) whose "California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act" established the Beauty Mountain Wilderness and enlarged the Agua Tibia Wilderness that was established in 1975. ...

At 14,249 acres, the Beauty Mountain Proposed Wilderness Addition is a scenic jewel draped in chaparral, fascinating rock formations and oak woodlands. The area is a transition zone between Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to the east and the endangered coastal sage scrub of the Coast Range to the west. The California Riding and Hiking Trail crosses the area. On warm spring days, visitors are greeted with the heady scents of sage, manzanita, and California lilac while hill after misty hill rises in the distance, presenting an unbroken view of wild country.

for more:

http://www.calwild.org/resources/Issa_Announcement_12_09.htm

http://www.wilderness4all.org/

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Proposed Beauty Mountain Legislation (Draft)

http://issa.house.gov/_files/BeautyMountainFinal0.pdf

Map of Agua Tibia Proposed Wilderness Additions

http://issa.house.gov/_files/AguaTibia_200905181.pdf

Map of Beauty Mountain Wilderness Additions

http://issa.house.gov/_files/BeautyMay281.pdf

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsbytes/2010/414xtra_beautymtn_cleanup.html

Beauty mountain—San Diego—cleanup of newly bought BLM property