California's 43 million acres of public land enfold some of the most remarkable diversity in America: Mt. Whitney, highest point in the lower 48 states, Death Valley National Park, the lowest. Bristlecone Pines are the oldest living trees, redwoods the tallest. Amid all this are 14 million acres of protected wilderness and more to come.
Wilderness
- Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Mountains
Legislation is in the works to permanently protect more than 470,000 acres of Wilderness and 52 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers. From the glacial valleys and alpine lakes of the High Sierra to the stunning desert oasis of the Amargosa River, the Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act would protect some of the most spectacular wild places in California.
- Southern California Wilderness Bill Introduced
In September 2007, Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced legislation that would permanently protect four new wilderness areas, six additions to existing wilderness areas, four wild and scenic rivers and additions to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
This National Monument is located in Riverside County adjacent to the rapidly growing population center around Palm Springs. In 2000, working with local conservationists and community leaders, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack and Senator Dianne Feinstein championed legislation that established the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument "as both a national treasure and a scenic landscape." This 272,000-acre landscape spans a dramatic array of ecosystems, rising from the desert floor to alpine forests at altitudes of over 10,500 feet.
Monument Brochure and Trails Map
We developed a brochure and trails map in conjunction with local community leaders and other key partners including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, City of Palm Desert, Southern California Edison, Palm Springs Life, Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Tahquitz Group of the Sierra Club, Friends of the Desert Mountains, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and California State Parks. This unique and diverse partnership demonstrates the broad range of support for the Monument.
The brochure and trails map will be distributed at tourism centers, chambers of commerce, retail stores, and other businesses in the area to help highlight the beauty and recreational features of the Monument for residents and visitors alike. Contact Alice Bond for more information.
Carrizo Plain National Monument
Designated as a National Monument in 2001, Carrizo is a diverse and unique landscape of worldwide significance. Its species, communities and ecosystems are extremely rare and imperiled. Protection of Carrizo's resources is the last best hope for many of them.
Off-Road Vehicles (ORV)
- Reducing the threat of motor vehicle use on public lands
Unmanaged motor vehicle use has resulted in unplanned roads, trails and areas that cause erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, as well as impacts to wildlife and cultural resources. Dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and other off-road vehicles are major sources of air, water and noise pollution nationwide and rank among the most serious human-made threats to safety and health on public lands and waters. - ORV Route Designation Tracking in California
To address the threat posed by unregulated ORV use on the national forests, the U.S. Forest Service issued new travel management regulations that prohibit motorized cross-country travel and requires each national forest to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use.
Forests
- The Sierra Nevada, California's Range of Light
Legendary rivers, forests or red fir, Giant Sequoia and Jeffrey pine that are home to spotted owls, bighorn sheep, golden trout and more. Recent Forest Service actions put the future of the Sierra Nevada in doubt.
Deserts
