THE COSUMNES RIVER PRESERVE Visitor Center, destroyed by fire in December along
with its popular wildlife exhibits, will be rebuilt this year by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), the state Wildlife Conservation Board, and The Nature Conservancy. Above, Ed Hastey,
state director of the BLM, announces plans at a news conference Feb. 8. A new Visitor Center
and exhibits are expected to be open early in 1997. Behind Hastey, from left, are Fred Balderston
of The Nature Conservancy Board of Directors, John Schmidt, executive director of the Wildlife
Conservation Board, state Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton, and Secretary for Resources
Douglas P. Wheeler.