President Obama Signs Bill Creating Pinnacles National Park

President Obama signed legislation today to elevate Pinnacles National Monument to become the country?s 59^th?national park.

The Wilderness Society (TWS) released this statement today from TWS President Jamie Williams:

?President Theodore Roosevelt first recognized the unique beauty of Pinnacles needed to be preserved when he established it as a national monument in 1908. And now Congress and President Obama have elevated this outdoor American treasure to a national park, further highlighting its volcanic rocky spires and tremendous biological diversity, including endangered species like the California condor.

The Wilderness Society applauds President Obama on the signing of this legislation to create the nation?s newest national park at Pinnacles in northern California. We also want to recognize?Senator Barbara Boxer?(D-CA) and?Rep. Sam Farr (D, CA-17)?for their years of dedicated efforts to introduce legislation and build support for it. Millions more Americans will now climb its volcanic pinnacles and enjoy the beautiful views from its oak savannas and chaparral hills.

Pinnacles National Park will also add another gem to California?s tourism economy and give local communities an economic boost.?

Rep. Farr introduced The Pinnacles National Park Act, or?H.R.? 3641, in 2011 and it was co-sponsored by?Rep. Jeff Denham (R, CA-19).?Senator Boxer introduced her Pinnacles bill in 2011 co-sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).

Pinnacles?is located near Soledad in central California. Named for its volcanic spires - the remnants of an ancient volcano ? Pinnacles? 26,000 acres are popular with rock climbers and hikers. It is home to many threatened species including the California red-legged frog and the condors that are a popular tourist sight with their 10-foot wingspans. Since 2003, Pinnacles has been part of the California Condor Recovery Program and it manages about 30 of the birds which are tagged but fly freely.

To learn more about Pinnacles:??http://wilderness.org/article/top-place-pinnacles

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The Wilderness Society is the leading public-lands conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than 500,000 members and supporters, TWS has led the effort to permanently protect 110 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands.

www.wilderness.org

Source: http://wilderness.org/press-release/president-obama-signs-bill-creating-pinnacles-national-park-0

donnie mcclurkin