CA Vets on a Mission to Protect "Beauty"
Thursday, July 19, 2012
California has more veterans than any other state in the nation, and many of them now are fighting to protect the state's open spaces.
U.S. Army veteran Keith Jefferys has made it his mission to protect Beauty Mountain in southern California. He says the public lands offer the tranquility and recreational opportunities to help returning military members adjust to civilian life.
"They and their families need places where they can go and recreate to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and to assist them in their transition from military to civilian life. Beauty Mountain offers that kind of respite."
Jeffreys recently traveled to Washington to meet with Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has introduced legislation to protect as wilderness more than 21,000 acres of Beauty Mountain and Agua Tibia in northern San Diego County. The area is part of an essential biological corridor linking the Palomar, San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains.
Jeffreys says the fragile land needs protection.
"Our concern for places like this and other places in California is that they will be misused, that roads will be put in, that development will occur in places where roads aren't necessary and development shouldn't be."
Jeffreys was part of a group of veterans and representatives from the Vet Voice Foundation that recently toured the region.
"It is really fantastic. It's a beautiful high-chaparral area with wetlands down in the canyons that provide places for wildlife and just true tranquility."
The legislation is also being praised by conservationists who agree that protecting these public lands boosts local tourism and the recreation-based economy.
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