San Bernardino’s Pintos and San Jacinto get protection

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A bill to protect more than 190,000 acres in four new wilderness areas passed the U.S. House of Representatives today.

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs), it includes areas in the South Fork of the San Jacinto River Canyon and the Pinto Mountains, as well as six additions to existing wilderness areas, including part of the Joshua Tree National Park. The California Desert Mountain Heritage Act would help preserve habitat for big horn sheep, desert tortoise and other threatened species. It now goes before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Also approved by the House today: the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness Act, to protect 115,000 acres in the Sequoia-Kings National Park. Check out the photos.

-- Margot Roosevelt