Secret Fishing Spots in OC???

[butch]

>>>Rep. John Campbell hopes to protect a string of historic offshore rocks and small islands off the California coast with a bill he has sponsored to make them part of a national monument.

The new legislation would put about 40 rocks off of Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point under the protection of the California Coastal National Monument.

During World War II, the threat of submarines lurking off the coast of Southern California were a frequent worry for many Californians. Intended to be used for the construction of lighthouses and various other civil-defense purposes, the rocks were designated to be used by the Coast Guard in 1935. Seventy-four years after the initial transfer, the rocks have never been used.

The House of Representatives passed Campbell’s bill Wednesday, and the legislation now awaits consideration in the Senate.

— Brianna Bailey <<<<

Protected from what?

Where are they?

Do they hold fish?

[NihilisticMisanthropist]

we need to protect them from seals, which may vandalize them by defacation. all seals caught defecating on said rocks should be promptly euthanized.

[Bob Ballew]

hmmm, so, they finally have found my secret rocks....

[MiguelT]

Why do they need protecting if no one knows or cares that they exist?

[So Cal Shaggy]

Call me paranoid or a conspiracy theorist but it sounds to me like the anti fishing groups are moving forward with a plan that is higher than the state MLPA. It will be interesting to see why these three areas were chosen. These three areas do not have major shipping traffic nor large commercial vessels navigating their waters. Why would it be necessary to have rocks that were designated for a lighthouse or another civil defense off of Laguna beach? What will the rocks be protected from? Will they be protected from divers, fishermen or boaters? What purpose will they serve? If they will be placed in the water who except divers could appreciate them? Maybe they would be allowed to dive around but taking of anything on or around them is prohibited? This sounds fishy to me and could be used later as an eco tourist draw in these areas that will be impacted by the loss in revenues from the fishing bans.

[halibutmike]

From Campbells web site Saturday AM.

"Campbell Successfully Passes Laguna Rocks Bill

WASHINGTON – Last evening, Representative John Campbell (CA-48) successfully passed H.R. 86, which will place numerous offshore rocks and small islands under the authority of the California Coastal National Monument for long-term maintenance and local stewardship. The legislation will affect approximately 40 rocks located off the coast of Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point.

Upon its passage Campbell said, “This legislation is long overdue. Thankfully, these rocks never had to be used for their intended civil defense purpose, but now 74 years later, it is important that they are preserved so that their aesthetic and ecological qualities are maintained. The best way to do this is through the California Coastal National Monument which will enhance and promote local involvement” Campbell went on to say, “Laguna Beach and Southern Coastal Orange County have some of the most spectacular ocean views and scenic vistas in the world, and my bill will help to preserve that.”

Prior to, and during the Second World War, submarines lurking off the coast of Southern California were a frequent worry for many Californians. Intended to be used for the construction of lighthouses and various other civil defense purposes, the rocks were designated to be used by the United States Coast Guard in 1935. 74 years after the initial transfer, the rocks have never been used. H.R. 86 will transfer authority over these rocks to the California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) for long-term maintenance and local stewardship.

Located off the 1,100 miles of California coastline, the California Coastal National Monument is comprised of more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles between Mexico and Oregon. The scenic qualities and critical habitat of this public resource are protected as part of the National Landscape Conservation System, administered by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Representative Campbell testified in favor of this legislation before the House Committee on Natural Resources on October 1, 2009, and the legislation passed the House overwhelmingly by a vote of 397-4 on December 9, 2009. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) support the passage of this legislation. The bill now awaits consideration by the United States Senate."

http://campbell.house.gov/index.php?...2696&Itemid=62

Here's full text of bill forwarded to the Senate.

"To eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by incorporating the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, into the California... (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House)

HR 86 RFS


111th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 86

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 10, 2009
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


AN ACT
To eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by incorporating the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, into the California Coastal National Monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County's rocks and small islands, and for other purposes.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PRESERVATION OF ROCKS AND SMALL ISLANDS ALONG THE COAST OF ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

(a) California Coastal National Monument- The Act of February 18, 1931, entitled `An Act to reserve for public use rocks, pinnacles, reefs, and small islands along the seacoast of Orange County, California' is amended by striking `temporarily reserved' and all that follows through `United States' and inserting `part of the California Coastal National Monument and shall be administered as such'.

(b) Repeal of Reservation- Section 31 of the Act of May 28, 1935, entitled `An Act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to dispose of certain lighthouse reservations, and for other purposes' is hereby repealed.
Passed the House of Representatives December 9, 2009.

Attest:

LORRAINE C. MILLER,

Clerk. "
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/.../~c111qbtF3e::

[JDoe]

Locations are here Page 53

wiki here

[butch]

Originally Posted by FJHIII

Locations are here Page 53

wiki here

It looks like those are existing monuments from the year 2000. These are 40 new rocks (future monuments).

[thesecretdiver]

i'm curious to see what specific "rocks" this affects and what it means for diving..

[halibutmike]

More explanation - Too long to post here - see

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquer...34&dbname=111&

The Library of Congress > THOMAS Home > Committee Reports > Search Results
89-006


111TH CONGRESS

REPORT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session

111-334
TO ELIMINATE AN UNUSED LIGHTHOUSE RESERVATION, PROVIDE MANAGEMENT CONSISTENCY BY INCORPORATING THE ROCKS AND SMALL ISLANDS ALONG THE COAST OF ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, INTO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL NATIONAL MONUMENT MANAGED BY THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND MEET THE ORIGINAL CONGRESSIONAL INTENT OF PRESERVING ORANGE COUNTY'S ROCKS AND SMALL ISLANDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES


NOVEMBER 16, 2009- Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. RAHALL, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the following

R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 86]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 86) to eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by bringing the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County's rocks and small islands, and for other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.


Amend the title so as to read:

A bill to eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by incorporating the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, into the California Coastal National Monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County's rocks and small islands, and for other purposes.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 86 is to eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by incorporating the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, into the California Coastal National Monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County's rocks and small islands, and for other purposes.


BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
H.R. 86 is intended to correct a situation in which two public laws from the 1930's are inadvertently preventing certain rocks, pinnacles, reefs, small islands and lighthouses off the coast of Orange County from being included in the California Coastal National Monument.

The California Coastal National Monument (Monument) was created by President Bill Clinton on January 11, 2000. The Monument spans the entire 1,100 miles of the California coast between Mexico and Oregon, and extends 12 nautical miles from the shoreline. The Monument encompasses more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs, and pinnacles above mean high tide. The Monument is protected as part of the National Landscape Conservation System, and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). However, the Presidential Proclamation designating the Monument only included `unreserved and unappropriated' rocks and islands. Since the areas covered by this bill were reserved they were not designated as part of the Monument.
H.R. 86 would amend the Act of February 18, 1931, entitled `An act to reserve for public use rocks, pinnacles, reefs, and small islands along the seacoast of Orange County, California.' The original intent of this Act was to temporarily reserve certain rocks, islands and pinnacles within one mile of the coast of Orange County to protect them. H.R. 86 would strike the reservation language and amend the Act to provide that these areas be administered as part of the California Coastal National Monument.

In addition, the bill would repeal Section 31 of the Act of May 28, 1935, entitled `An act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to dispose of certain lighthouse reservations, and for other purposes.' The Act reserved, for lighthouse purposes, the San Juan Lighthouse off Dana Point, the San Mateo Rocks Lighthouse off San Clemente, and the Two Rocks Lighthouse in the vicinity of Laguna Beach; the disposal authority has gone unused. Repeal of this Act would nullify the reservation and allow these historic lighthouses to be included within the Monument as well. "


There's more on the web site.

[halibutmike]

And More.......... apparently bill was previously introduced in 2007-as HR 3804---

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/blm..._12_30_07.html

HR 3804 Introduced in Congress to Add Orange County Rocks to CCNM. As the result of a grassroots effort lead by the Laguna Ocean Foundation, Congressman John Campbell introduced a bill to the U.S. Congress that would clean up existing legislation from the 1930s that inadvertently keeps the rocks and small islands off of the shoreline of the Orange County from being included in the CCNM. Introduced in the House of Representatives on October 10, 2007, as H. R. 3804, the bill stated purpose is to “eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide management consistency by bringing the rocks and small islands along the coast of Orange County, California, [into the CCNM,] and meet the original Congressional intent of preserving Orange County’s rocks and small islands, and for [park, scenic or] other purposes.” The bill would amend the Act of February 18, 1931, entitled ‘‘An act to reserve for public use rocks, pinnacles, reefs, and small islands along the seacoast of Orange County, California’’ that temporarily reserved “all rocks, pinnacles, reefs, and islands having an area, at ordinary [mean] high tide of less than two acres, and located in the Pacific Ocean within one mile of the coast of Orange County, California,…pending enactment of appropriate legislation by the Congress of the United States, in the interest of preserving the same for park, scenic, or other public purposes.” In addition, the bill would repeal Section 31 of the Act of May 28, 1935, entitled ‘‘An act to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to dispose of certain lighthouse reservations, and for other purposes’’ that reserved “for lighthouse purposes the San Juan [off Dana Point] and San Mateo [off San Clemente] Rocks and the [T]wo [R]ocks in the vicinity of Laguna Beach, off the coast of Orange County, California.” Since these two Acts “reserve” the Orange County offshore rocks, they are currently not included within the CCNM that consists of all the “unreserved and unappropriated” rocks and islands off the California coastline. The passage of H.R. 3804 would open the way for the development of a CCNM Gateway initiative for the Orange County coast, an initiative that various individuals and organizations within the Laguna Beach area have been interested in for a number of years.

[So Cal Shaggy]

Originally Posted by halibutmike

HR 3804 Introduced in Congress to Add Orange County Rocks to CCNM. As the result of a grassroots effort lead by the Laguna Ocean Foundation

What a surprise this organization asked for and is supporting the protection bill http://www.lagunaoceanfoundation.org/index.html
Makes you wonder why they want it, I would bet good money that they want to protect the rocks from "dirty fishermen"

[thesecretdiver]

at first glance, since it only affects land above the mean high tide it doesn't look like it will affect diving/fishing in any meaningful way.