Omnibus Public Lands Bill Passes

Omnibus public lands bill passes

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, some of the most significant conservation legislation to come before Congress in 25 years. TU is responsible for much of the act’s landscape protection legislation, including the Wyoming Range Legacy Act, the Copper-Salmon Wilderness Act and bills in California.
»Press release »Reuters article

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Letter From Trout Unlimited March 26, 2009 - Thank you for taking action

Yesterday marked a huge victory for Trout Unlimited and our conservation allies. The House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, a landmark public lands protection bill that would ensure access and opportunity for hunters and anglers today and for generations to come. Passage of this bill does more for hunting and fishing and outdoor recreation than any other measure in the last 15 years. By a landslide vote of 285-140, the House of Representatives moved this bill over the finish line. Now the bill will go to President Obama for his signature on Monday, March 30th.

This victory would not have been possible without your help. Your continued engagement and efforts to communicate this bill’s importance to your Members of Congress paid out huge dividends. We were able to get landslide votes in both chambers which shows the hard work and perseverance you gave over the last 18 months. We thank you.

Because of your help, we have successfully protected over 2 million acres of public lands. We have protected places like Copper-Salmon in Oregon, the Wyoming Range in Wyoming, the Wild Monongahela in West Virginia, the Owyhees in Idaho, the Eastern Sierras in California and so many other special places. We have also permanently protected the National Landscape Conservation System, a network of highly valuable public lands of acute interest to anglers and hunters. Included in that system is the famed Gunnison Gorge of Colorado, one of the best trophy trout fisheries in the West, and the Steens Mountain region, an irreplaceable hunting and fishing destination in eastern Oregon.

In addition to protecting public lands, this bill will enact the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, ending years of litigation, the Secure Water Act and the Cooperative Watershed Management Act. Both of the water bills will help to restore watersheds and provide the framework for working collaboratively with diverse partners to ensure adequate flows for viable fish populations across the country.

Many of the bills in the Omnibus have tremendous fish and wildlife conservation merit, have local community support –including ranchers and farmers who are partners in watershed groups – and have been developed in a bipartisan manner. Passage of the Omnibus, which includes nearly 160 bills, is truly historic and one that will be considered an outstanding achievement for generations to come.

We sincerely thank you for making it possible.

Steve Moyer
Vice President for Government Affairs
TROUT UNLIMITED
703-284-9406
smoyer@tu.org