Bob Schneider (November 2006)

I took a day off on Thursday, October 19 to hike the Redbud Trail into the newly designated 27,245 acre Cache Creek Wilderness. This federal Wilderness designation became law when the President signed Congressman Mike Thompson's Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act on October 17, 2006. Did it feel any different than before it was Wilderness? Well, yes it did! It felt great.

The Federal Wilderness Act was passed in 1964. The primary author and force behind the act was Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. “Zahnie” had grown disillusioned with piecemeal attempts at preservation. He crafted a bill that protected the most important pieces of our wild heritage in a national system of land protection. It is an eloquently crafted piece of legislation. I love this definition: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man is himself a visitor who does not remain.” It is a truly humbling statement.

The key word “untrammeled” is little used, but appropriate as it means “unshackled and allowed to run free.” For, surely, that is Wilderness, particularly when contrasted by so much of our daily lives. A visit to the wilderness is rejuvenating and it embodies the spirit of who we are as Americans.

Setting aside Wilderness is a statement of values and our expectations for future generation. Cache Creek will remain a wild place for future generations and I am glad. Hiking in the Cache Creek Wilderness was very, very special.

There are other Yolo County issues that will also define our future. The Yolo County General Plan, the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and the Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Communities Conservation Plan are all currently underway. It is my belief that these key planning efforts will define the future of Yolo County over the next 50 and 100 years. Will these plans protect Yolo County as the place that you envision it in the future? Will farming stay or will it go? Will there be room for plants and animals or will the view be of roof tops? It is an important time to participate in these decisions that will impact us on a landscape scale into the future.

If you want to be involved or like more information, give me a call at 304-6215 or email bschneider@tuleyome.org