Ursus Arctos Californicus
CALIFORNIA
GRIZZLY BEAR
RECOVERY AREA 4
an exercise in using freedom of speech for the dissemination of ideas
CGRA 4
Restoration of Tulare Lake, 100 years ago the largest expanse of water west of
the Mississippi River, would rectify an illegal breach of the public trust as
well as provide an opportunity to restore surrounding marshes, wetlands,
riparian areas, and grasslands. Reintroducing the once-dominant animal to
this ecosystem would be essential for the area's restoration. The necessary
water would come from fallowing the farmland in the Westlands Water District,
irrigation of which is currently causing intractable salinity drainage problems
due to irrigation of soils unsuitable to this abuse. Tulare Lake would be
rewatered and Grizzlies restored only after a similar project at Buena Vista
Lake in CGRA 3 is successful.
There are significant parcels of public BLM lands in the center of the area. There would be no active reintroductions (with the exception of the Tulare Lake area). Grizzly bears would be allowed to recolonize this area naturally from CGRA 3.