Conservation, big time

More than 2 million acres of American wilderness are now slated for permanent protection thanks to a final vote last week by the U.S. Congress.

The historic preservation measure comprises land in 10 states. California is by far the biggest beneficiary of the move, which covers more than 700,000 acres in areas near Riverside and Santa Clarita, including the White Mountains.

Other notable sites include 250,000 acres of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, 250,000 acres in Utah’s Zion National Park, and 517,000 acres in Idaho’s Owyhee Canyonlands, reported The Associated Press.

Other states with smaller but significant land protections include Alaska, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, West Virginia and Virginia. In addition, Bill Clinton’s childhood home in Arkansas is now listed as a historic site.