THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE PRESIDENT GORE:
PRESERVING AMERICA'S LANDS LEGACY
August 21, 1999
Today, in his weekly radio address, President Clinton announced new protections for critical lands adjoining Yellowstone National Park - an important step to preserve the park's famed bison and geysers, including Old Faithful. The President highlighted other recent acquisitions that protect ancient petroglyphs in Bandelier National Monument also the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr., and California's Big Sur Coast. And he called on Congress to approve his Lands Legacy initiative -- $1 billion in FY2000 to protect natural treasures and local green spaces, and permanent funding of at least $1 billion a year to continue these efforts in the 21st century.
Restoring Greater Yellowstone. Last year, the Administration completed the historic acquisition of the proposed New World Mine north of Yellowstone, protecting America's first national park from the threat of acid mine runoff. Today, the President announced another major step to protect the greater Yellowstone ecosystem - an agreement to acquire lands critical to preserving the park's wildlife and world-famous geysers. Working with the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service will acquire title to -- or conservation easements on - 9,300 acres of the Royal Teton Ranch north of Yellowstone. The lands, a mosaic of forest and grassland extending from the Yellowstone River to the high peaks of the Gallatin Range, will be under the management of the Gallatin National Forest. In addition, the federal government will acquire geothermal rights to the entire 12,000-acre ranch. This $13 million agreement will:
Preserving Other Precious Lands. Protection of the Royal Teton Ranch will be accomplished with funds approved by Congress at the President's request. A total of $328 million secured last year by the Administration is being used to protect 115 natural and historic sites in 38 states and Puerto Rico. Recent acquisitions highlighted today by the President will protect ancient petroglyphs in Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico, the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr., and California's Big Sur Coast.
A Conservation Commitment for the 21st Century. In his balanced budget for FY2000, the President proposed a record $1 billion Lands Legacy initiative to protect more natural treasures, and to provide new resources to states and communities to preserve farms, urban parks, coastlands, wetlands, and working forests. Proposed acquisitions would protect 110 natural and historic sites in 40 states and territories, including the Lewis and Clark Trail, the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Pelican Island wildlife refuge in Florida, and the Georgia birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr. So far, however, Congress has cut the President's request by nearly two-thirds. In addition, the President is proposing permanent funding of at least $1 billion a year beginning in FY2001 to continue these efforts throughout the coming century. About half the funding would be reserved for states and local communities. Today, the President called on Congress to approve full funding for next year and to join him in creating a permanent fund to preserve America's lands legacy.
PRESERVING AMERICA'S LANDS LEGACY:
NATURAL AND HISTORIC SITES PROTECTED IN 1999
August 21, 1999
In his radio address today, President Clinton announced a landmark agreement to protect 9,300 acres adjoining Yellowstone National Park - a critical step to preserve the park's famed bison and geysers. Below are other natural or historic sites acquired this year by federal agencies:
CALIFORNIA
Big Sur Ecosystem - Sea Vista Ranch property. Over 200 acres on
the ocean-facing slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains adjacent to the
Los Padres National Forest. Will provide coordinated protection
of, and public access to, this significant resource area along
California's scenic Highway 1, as well as habitat for species
including the peregrine falcon and Santa Lucia fir tree.
COLORADO
Conundrum Creek - Over 400 acres of mineral and timber rights in
this popular wilderness area in the White River National Forest,
eight miles south of Aspen. Will remove the threat of quarry
operations incompatible with wilderness values.
GEORGIA
Cumberland Island National Seashore - Over 1100 acres of the
Greyfield North tract, the largest private tract on this island.
Acquisition will prevent development and ensure management in
keeping with the unspoiled nature of the island.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site - Two historic
residences on either side of Martin Luther King's birth home on
Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. The Administration also has requested $5
million in fiscal year 2000 to acquire much of the remaining
historical area, including the chapel, Freedom Hall, and the crypt
and eternal flame.
IDAHO
Salmon Wild and Scenic River - Easements for Shepp Ranch and Yellow
Pine Bar, two key riverfront properties along the Salmon River.
This will prevent development, permit continued public access, and
retain the undisturbed character necessary for bald eagle,
steelhead, and Chinook salmon habitat.
MICHIGAN
Huron-Maniatee National Forest -- Over 5000 acres offered by
Consumers Power in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Will permit
continued public access for recreation along scenic trails and wild
and scenic rivers, as well as critical wildlife habitat.
MONTANA
Royal Teton Ranch - Will protect about 8000 acres adjacent to
Yellowstone National Park through a combination of acquisition,
conservation easements and land exchanges. Land will be owned and
managed by the Gallatin National Forest, and will provide critical
migration corridors for Yellowstone bison, elk, bighorn sheep,
antelope and mule deer, as well as increased public access to these
spectacular lands. Will also protect Yellowstone's hot springs and
geysers from harm due to development of geothermal wells outside
the park.
Lindberg Lake - About 1800 acres offered by Plum Creek Timber
Company, including five miles of shoreline on Lindberg Lake
adjacent to Flathead National Forest. Will protect against
development and ensure water quality, continued public access and
recreation, and habitat for bald eagle and grizzly bear.
Gallatin National Forest - Over 4000 acres offered by Big Sky
Lumber Company in the Taylor Fork area in southwestern Montana.
Will protect against development between Yellowstone National Park
and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, provide backcountry recreation
opportunities, and provide habitat for elk, moose and grizzly bear.
NEW MEXICO
Bandelier National Monument - Over 80 acres of the Elk Meadows
subdivision which will be added to Bandelier to prevent
development, protect the headwaters of the Upper Alamo Watershed
which drains into the Monument, and protect the historic sites and
petroglyphs within the Monument.
OREGON
Pacific Northwest Streams - Over 900 acres in Oregon and Washington
adjacent to various national forests and important to the
protection of at-risk Northwest fish stocks including salmon and
steelhead.
TEXAS
Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge - Protection from
development of a corridor from Falcon Dam to the mouth of the Rio
Grande. Includes wetlands, barrier islands, and eleven distinct
biotic communities with habitat for 17 threatened or endangered
species including peregrine falcon, Texas tortoise, and brown
pelican.
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Wild Waterways - The Forest Lodge (Burke) property in the
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests on the shoreline of Namekagon
Lake. Part of a Forest Service effort to protect undeveloped
lakeshores in Wisconsin to enhance public recreation and protect
bald eagle habitat and sensitive plant species.
FY 2000 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND LAND ACQUISITION REQUESTS
U. S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture
Funding Requested Agency
ALASKA
Kodiak NWR $1,050,000 FWS Lake Clark NP&P $1,000,000 NPS Togiak NWR $1,000,000 FWS Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P $1,700,000 NPS
ARIZONA
Bar-T-Bar, Coconino NF $10,000,000 USFS Buenos Aires NWR $1,500,000 FWS Cerbat Foothills $500,000 BLM Saguaro NP $2,800,000 NPS Sedona Red Rock, Coconino NF $3,500,000 USFS
CALIFORNIA
Big Sur Ecosystem, Los Padres NF $5,000,000 USFS California Wilderness $1,000,000 USFS California Desert (Catellus property) $28,900,000 BLM Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR $1,678,000 FWS Golden Gate NRA $2,300,000 NPS Lake Tahoe Basin $2,500,000 USFS Mojave National Preserve (Catellus property) $7,100,000 NPS Otay Mountain/Kuchamaa HCP $500,000 BLM Pacific Crest Trail, Angeles NF $1,500,000 USFS San Bernardino Ecosystem, San Bernardino NF $2,500,000 USFS San Diego NWR $3,100,000 FWS Santa Monica Mountains NRA $5,000,000 NPS Santa Rosa Mountains NSA $500,000 BLM
COLORADO
Silver Mountain, San Juan NF $15,000,000 USFS State of Colorado, San Isabel NF $1,500,000 USFS Upper Arkansas River Basin $2,500,000 BLM
CONNECTICUT
Weir Farm NHS $2,500,000 NPS
FLORIDA
Acquisition Management for Everglades $2,000,000 NPS Archie Carr NWR $2,750,000 FWS Big Cypress NP $11,800,000 NPS Biscayne NP $600,000 NPS Everglades NP $20,000,000 NPS Grant to the State of Florida $45,600,000 NPS J. N. "Ding" Darling NWR Complex $4,000,000 FWS North Florida Wildlife Corridor, Osceola NF $2,000,000 USFS Pelican Island NWR $2,000,000 FWS
GEORGIA
Harris Neck NWR $400,000 FWS Martin Luther King, Jr., NHS $5,000,000 NPS Oconee-Ocmulgee River, Oconee NF $500,000 USFS
GUAM
War in the Pacific NHP $2,000,000 NPS
HAWAII
Hakalau Forest NWR $3,632,000 FWS Haleakala NP $500,000 NPS Hawaii Volcanoes NP $3,500,000 NPS Oahu Forest NWR (proposed) $1,000,000 FWS
IDAHO
Hells Canyon NRA, Wallowa/Whitman NF $600,000 USFS Idaho Wild & Scenic Rivers, Nezperce,
Clearwater NF $1,500,000 USFS Sawtooth NRA, Sawtooth NF $2,000,000 USFS Upper Snake/S. Fork Snake River $500,000 BLM
INDIANA
Hoosier NF Unique Areas, Hoosier NF $800,000 USFS
KENTUCKY
Daniel Boone/Redbird PU, Daniel Boone NF $750,000 USFS
MAINE
Petit Manan NWR $250,000 FWS Rachel Carson NWR $3,000,000 FWS
MARYLAND
Antietam NB $2,000,000 NPS Blackwater NWR $1,500,000 FWS Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP $800,000 NPS Monocacy NB $1,500,000 NPS
MASSACHUSETTS
Cape Cod NS $2,850,000 NPS Great Meadows NWR Complex $2,700,000 FWS
MICHIGAN
Keweenaw NHP $2,450,000 NPS Michigan Lakes & Streams, Ottawa NF $1,500,000 USFS
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Gateways, Superior/Chippewa NF $1,200,000 USFS Northern Tallgrass Prairie Project $700,000 FWS
MISSISSIPPI
University of Mississippi, Desoto NF $8,000,000 USFS
MISSOURI
Ozark Mountain Streams & Rivers, Mark Twain NF $2,000,000 USFS
MONTANA
Lindberg Lake, Flathead NF $3,000,000 USFS Rye Creek, Bitterroot NF $3,500,000 USFS Upper Missouri National Wild and Scenic River $5,000,000 BLM Western Montana Complex $1,000,000 FWS
NEVADA
Moapa Valley NWR $1,000,000 FWS
NEW HAMPSHIRE
White Mountain Scenic Areas, White Mountain NF $1,000,000 USFS
NEW MEXICO
Jernez River Corridor, Santa Fe NF $1,000,000 USFS La Cienega ACEC $1,000,000 BLM Pecos NHP $1,800,000 NPS
NORTH CAROLINA
Lake Logan Balsam Mountain, Nantahala/Pisgah NF $4,000,000 USFS
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota Prairie Project $2,500,000 FWS
OHIO
Cuyahoga Valley NRA $2,543,000 NPS
OREGON
Columbia River Gorge $1,000,000 USFS Oregon Coastal NWR $800,000 FWS West Eugene Wetlands $500,000 BLM
PENNSYLVANIA
Gettysburg NMP $5,700,000 NPS
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island NWR Complex $500,000 FWS
SOUTH CAROLINA
North Tibwin Plantation, Francis Marion NF $4,000,000 USFS
TENNESSEE
Stones River NB $4,300,000 NPS Tennessee Mountains, Cherokee NF $3,500,000 USFS
TEXAS
Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR $1,000,000 FWS Austin's Woods Units, Brazoria NWR $2,000,000 FWS Balcones Canyonlands NWR $4,000,000 FWS Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR $2,000,000 FWS Trinity River NWR $1,000,000 FWS
UTAH
Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Unita
Wasatch-Cache NF $1,000,000 USFS Golden Spike NHS $400,000 NPS
VERMONT
Vermont Mountains, Green Mountain NF $3,000,000 USFS
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Virgin Islands NP $4,050,000 NPS
VIRGINIA
Fredericksburg-Spotsylvania NMP $6,300,000 NPS Manassas NBP $400,000 NPS Prince William Forest Park $1,000,000 NPS Rappahannock River Valley NWR $1,100,000 FWS Virginia Mountains, GW Jefferson NF $1,000,000 USFS
WASHINGTON
Eagle Creek Ranch, Wenatchee NF $1,150,000 USFS Ebey's Landing NH Res $1,000,000 NPS Mountains to Sound (I-90), Wenatchee/Mt. Baker $5,000,000 USFS North Cascades Complex $1,000,000 NPS Olympic NP $2,500,000 NPS
WEST VIRGINIA
Canaan Valley NWR $500,000 FWS
WISCONSIN
Apostle Islands NL $250,000 NPS
Wisconsin Wild Waterways,
Chequamegon-Nicolet NF $1,500,000 USFS
WYOMING
Spring Gulch $5,000,000 BLM
MULTIPLE STATE PROJECTS
Blue Ridge Parkway (NC, VA) $225,000 NPS Chattooga W&SR Ecosystem (NC, SC, GA) $1,000,000 USFS Pacific Northwest Streams $6,000,000 USFS Silvio O. Conte NWR $3,200,000 FWS Other NWR Acquisitions in Northeast $10,000,000 FWS
AGENCIES
BLM Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Department of the
Interior
FWS Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of the
Interior
NPS National Park Service, U. S. Department of the
Interior
USFS U. S. Forest Service, U. S. Department of
Agriculture
LEGEND
ACEC Area of Critical Environmental Concern
HCP Habitat Conservation Plan
NB National Battlefield
NBP National Battlefield Park
NF National Forest
NHP National Historical Park
NHS National Historical Site
NL National Lakeshore
NMP National Military Park
NP National Park
NP&P National Park and Preservation
NRA National Recreation Area
NS National Seashore
NSA National Scenic Area
NWR National Wildlife Refuge
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