“I don’t think there is a greater legacy you can leave than protected land,” said Peter Windrem of Kelseyville, CA. Peter should know, he’s been fortunate enough to experience wilderness all of his life and has spent decades working to protect it, even as he raised two children and built his law practice in Lake County, California, 90 miles north of San Francisco.
Today, thanks to the work of Peter and many other hardworking volunteers, the future is bright for California’s wilderness. In December 2004, in the final hours of the 108th congressional session, the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (S. 738/H.R. 1501) passed the U.S. Senate. However, the bill must pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President before it can become law. “We’ll just have to keep working to build support at the local level. We’ve got to keep the faith and demonstrate the benefits of wilderness to a broad variety of people,” said Peter.
Peter has what he calls a “family interest” in protecting wilderness. His ancestors were pioneers who homesteaded in the area in the 1800s. Like his grandparents before him, Peter had led a life filled with horsepacking, backpacking, hunting, and fishing in California’s wilderness. The Trinity Alps Wilderness and the Yolla Bolly Mountains Wilderness are two areas he enjoys exploring with family and friends.
Peter’s knowledge of wilderness is complimented by his political know-how. As a young person, he worked as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives, and later as an intern. In the 1970s, Peter joined his childhood friend, an ardent horsepacker and fellow Kelseyville resident Katie Petterson (see Wilderness Hero archive 9/03) in the effort to protect wild lands in the Mendocino National Forest, resulting in the successful creation of the Snow Mountain Wilderness Area in 1984. Just last year, Peter spent a week in this scenic wilderness with his backpack, horses, and fishing rod, enjoying this country that will remain forever wild.
In the late 1990s, the California Wilderness Coalition began a statewide effort to inventory California’s remaining wild federal lands and identify areas for future wilderness designation. Peter volunteered his time to help with the project, excited by the possibility for expansions to his beloved Yolla Bolly, Trinity Alps, and Snow Mountain Wilderness areas, along with protection for new areas in California’s North Coast region.
One of the places Peter is seeking to protect is the Cache Creek Natural Area administered by the BLM which would be designated as wilderness under Mike Thompson's North Coast wilderness legislation. Cache Creek flows through the area and is the outlet for nearby Clear Lake, where his family lived 150 years ago. Up until 1914, wild salmon and steelhead would migrate up Cache Creek through Clear Lake, and right up the creek that lined his family's property.
In September 2004, Peter traveled to Washington, DC to attend the Senate hearing on the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act. In Washington, he visited with key congressional staff and Members of Congress. His visits were very positive, but that was not by accident. “There has been so much advance work done, especially in working with local elected officials and gaining their support, that it really helped on the Hill,” said Peter.
While in Washington, Peter paid a visit to Congressman Mike Thompson, the House champion of the North Coast wilderness bill and a friend of Peter’s and his family. “He’s kind of a neighbor,” said Peter. “Our family has been raising wine grapes for 30-plus years, so we visit about wine, wilderness, and hunting.”
Although the North Coast wilderness legislation would protect these lands for all Americans, it would have very tangible benefits for Northern California residents. “These areas are readily accessible to people. Cache Creek is bounded by two state highways and is a beautiful recreation area. It’s been managed for wildlife, specifically elk. These areas aren’t just remote high spots; they’re lower elevation, rich in wildlife and near urban areas. That’s important, so folks can have a wilderness experience relatively easily,” Peter explained.
Peter, a lawyer, husband, father, and wilderness advocate, has a full plate in life. But he has advice for others with busy lives, jobs, kids, and other commitments. “When it comes to protecting wilderness, everyone can contribute. You just do the things that you do best with whatever time you have. If you just want to lick stamps, then lick stamps. If you like public speaking, give a talk to a local service organization. You can also give money. Every little bit helps.”
“We owe thanks to all of those anonymous people who have created the wilderness that we have today,” Peter said. Many thanks to Peter Windrem and all of the hard working volunteers that are doing whatever they can with the time that they have to protect Northern California’s wild lands and rivers.
Peter and his wife Kathy live in Kelseyville, California. They have two children and one grandson, appropriately named Carson, after the magnificent Carson Iceberg Wilderness in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains.
