Friends of Big Bend National Park

Coming soon: E-Alerts! Send your email address to friendsdirector@yahoo.com to be added to our e-alert list. You’ll be contacted when FBBNP is working on important issues and legislation for the betterment of the park. You’ll also be informed of upcoming events and how you can help the park too!

H.R. 6177
Representative Ciro Rodriguez, whose district includes Big Bend National Park, has introduced a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to modify the boundary of the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River.  On Thursday, July 10, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands will hear testimony on this bill.  You can read the text of the bill, which would extend the Wild and Scenic River down to the Val Verde County line, by clicking here.  FBBNP is supportive of this effort, as the Wild and Scenic River is managed by BBNP staff.

H.R. 3036
The House approved the No Child Left Inside Act on September 19, 2008.  Thanks to all our members who made the case for support of this bill to their Congressman.  Please stay tuned as the bill makes it way through the Senate.  As members of the No Child Left Inside Coalition, FBBNP supports the No Child Left Inside Act of 2008.  This bill would support local and statewide efforts to expand and enhance environmental education and to provide enhanced professional development opportunities in environmental education.  Want to know more?  Click here for a fact sheet on the legislation.

Christmas Mountains:  Superintendent Wellman informed the FBBNP Board of Directors at the June 2008 meeting that there has been no recent action from the General Land Office regarding the Christmas Mountains.  In February 2008 the FBBNP Board of Directors voted to support the park’s desire to add the Christmas Mountains to Big Bend National Park.  Keep checking our website for further developments.

The Centennial Challenge:  The Centennial Challenge bill (S. 2817) is an excellent opportunity for all parks to receive the funding they need to carry out special projects before the 100th anniversary of the park system in 2016.

Senate Bill 2817 establishes the Centennial Challenge Fund, a matching donation fund in the federal treasury that will provide up to $100 million a year to the national parks in support of signature “Centennial projects and programs.” This would allow supporters of the parks to match their contributions with federal dollars to carry out a program or a project at a national park unit. These matching funds projects will be provided by groups like FBBNP. This bill is critical to getting major projects done in parks across the country and could mean new trails, an orientation film, an auditorium and new exhibits for Big Bend National Park.

What can you do? Please ask your Senators to co-sponsor the Salazar bill (S.2817). Senators Baucus, Tester, Collins and Coleman have joined him as original co-sponsors. You can also contact your Representative and ask them to sign on to the letter of support for the Centennial Challenge from the National Parks Caucus and the Travel/Tourism Caucus that is being sent to the House Natural Resources Committee.

To find out more about how you can support the Centennial Challenge bill, please contact Courtney at friendsdirector@yahoo.com or click here for a full review of S-2817.