Government Issues Update
CAWSF continues to monitor a number of issues. As readers of this update, you’ll know that the two current pressing matters that we are actively engaged and monitoring are the wildlife connectivity mitigation as a result of the Brightline Highspeed Rail Line and the upcoming release of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Sheep Plan for public review. In addition, recently an Air Shasta and CDFW helicopter tragically collided, resulting in the death of the Air Shasta pilot. Air Shasta holds the contract with CDFW for wildlife population survey work, which may now effect the sheep surveys that were scheduled for this fall.
Please stay tuned and look to our next edition of this newsletter for updates on these issues and others, including on a number of National Monument proposals, as they develop further over the course of the next few months.
Late Breaking News: WCB Funds I-8 Wildlife Crossing
At the Wildlife Conservation Board Meeting on August 24, 2023 the Board approved $5,808,000 for the I-8 Peninsular Bighorn Sheep Crossing Planning (Project) is located along the portion of Interstate-8 (I-8) where the eastbound and westbound lanes are separated, forming an isolated island of mountainous desert habitat in an area known as In-Ko-Pah Gorge in western Imperial County near the border with San Diego County.
The Project will focus on a section of I-8 that runs through the In-Ko-Pah Gorge and bisects important habitat used as a movement corridor by endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and other wildlife.
The Project was submitted by University of California, Davis with support from Wildlands Network and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
