Date: Tue, 02/12/2019 Deep Creek_Deep Creek Fly Fishers.gif FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Strickland, California Field Coordinator, (830) 515-9917 jstrickland@tu.orgKate Miller, Director of Government Affairs, (703) 489-6411 kmiller@tu.org TU applauds Senate passage of Natural Resources Management Act Includes new protective designations for coldwater habitat in southern California (February 12, 2019) EMERYVILLE, Calif.—Trout Unlimited (TU), the nation’s oldest and largest sportsmen’s organization dedicated to conserving and restoring trout and salmon and their habitat, and the California Council of Trout Unlimited today cheered the Senate’s passage of S.47, the Natural Resources Management Act. This package of public lands bills will better protect vital coldwater habitat in Deep Creek and the Whitewater River, two rare trout streams in southern California. Cindy Noble, chair of TU’s California Council, said, “In this era of rapid resource development and warming climate, it’s vital that we protect the best remaining habitat for fish and wildlife and the people who enjoy them. The new Wild and Scenic River designations for segments of Deep Creek and the Whitewater River will help ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy fishing in two of the few trout streams in this region. TU thanks Senator Feinstein and Representative Cook for their years of work to build the California Desert Protection Act through an open and stakeholder-driven process, and for including habitat and sporting values in their considerations.” “There is no sporting opportunity without good habitat,” said Bob Blankenship, president of TU’s South Coast Chapter. “Designating worthy lands and waters as Wild and Scenic or as Wilderness helps sportsmen and women by conserving water sources, habitat and scenic values, and ensuring continued access for fishing and hunting. We applaud the efforts of Senator Feinstein and Representative Cook to conserve habitat and enhance recreational opportunities in this region, and we call on the House of Representatives to quickly pass this legislation without amendment.” S.47 also benefits sportsmen by permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Since 1964, the LWCF has leveraged a portion of royalties on offshore energy development into new outdoor recreation opportunities, improved sporting access, recreation infrastructure for communities, and conservation of important habitat areas in all fifty states. The LWCF is widely hailed as one of the most effective federal programs ever for conserving habitat and improving sporting access. ### Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, and visit us online at www.tu.org.