PROTECTING OUR MOST VALUED STREAMS AND WILDERNESS AREAS

By Bill Reeves, Conservation Chairman

Some may doubt that anything good ever happens in Washington DC, but I just returned recently from our na-tion’s capital and can attest that our democracy survives. While there, I joined about a 120 environmentalists from all over the country, meeting, learning and sharing with fellow activists, and most importantly talking with our representatives in Congress about protecting our most valued streams and wilderness areas. I met with Senator Feinstein in person and told her how important Deep Creek is, and why it should be included in her Desert bill. I meet with staff from Senator Boxer, Rep. Becerra’s of-fices, pointing out our work with Rep. Dreier on protect-ing the San Gabriel River and mentioned Deep Creek in Senator Feinstein’s bill.

I was also expecting to make my own way to a five minute meeting in person with Rep. Lewis in his office. However, to my surprise, his staff member took us through extra security and we walked underground from his office to the Capital Building, where five minutes turned into about forty-five minutes as we talked about Deep Creek and the old days. I presented Rep. Lewis with an original wood cut print titled “Deep Creek Rainbow Trout” by Deep Creek Fly Fishers member, Curtis Bayer. Later I also met with Representatives Napolitano, Ber-man, Schiff and Drier.Congress returns back to a lame duck session in late November of this year. Please join me in urging our cur-rent legislators to use the rest of this Congress to make a lasting impression on our most treasured streams and wild lands.