Parks Group Supports Efforts to Protect Point Reyes National Seashore and Drakes Estero Wilderness
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | October 6, 2011 |
| Contact: | Neal Desai: (510) 368-0845 |
Parks Group Supports Efforts to Protect Point Reyes National Seashore and Drakes Estero Wilderness
Statement by NPCA Pacific Region Associate Director Neal Desai
Background: Following is a statement about the National Park Service’s recently released draft Environmental Impact Statement on the fate of Drakes Estero Wilderness within Point Reyes National Seashore.
"Drakes Estero is one of the few remaining undeveloped estuaries, but it has been awaiting full wilderness protection for nearly 40 years. It’s time to follow the law of Congress, return this estuary to its natural condition, and preserve Point Reyes National Seashore for all Americans to enjoy.”
“The Park Service’s environmental review makes clear that permitting commercial oyster operations within the West Coast’s only marine wilderness area would be highly inconsistent with the policies that the National Park Service is mandated to follow.”
“Nature - not millions of non-native oysters, noisy motorboats, and thousands of plastic mesh oyster bags on wildlife habitat - should be the heartbeat of the estuary.”
“We urge Secretary Salazar to seize this unprecedented opportunity for significant marine conservation that would fulfill the vision set more than three decades ago. There are other places in California to commercially grow oysters, but no replacement for Drakes Estero.”
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For more information, visit: http://savedrakesbay.org/
