Key Issue: Los Padres Conservation and Recreation Act
[Purpose]
[Recreation Opportunities and Effect on Existing Uses]
[Title I – Additions Wilderness Designation]
[Title II – Additions to the Wild and Scenic River System]
[Title III – Condor Ridge Scenic Area]
[Title IV – Off Highway Vehicle Use]
[Title V – Land Exchange]
The purpose of this Act is to conserve, protect, and enhance the outstanding recreational ecological, scenic, archaeological, cultural, historic, and other resources of Los Padres National Forest.
Recreation Opportunities and Effect on Existing Uses
It is the intent of this legislation, that there shall be no net loss of recreational values, including motorized recreation, in the forest. All efforts will be made to increase access within the forest for individuals with disabilities. The forest is also encouraged to fully utilize their partnership authorities with outside groups, so that they may assist in the construction, maintenance, and repair of trails throughout the forest.
Title I – Additions Wilderness Designations
Section 101 Designation of Wilderness
Approximately 63,000 acres within the Forest would become wilderness areas. These 63,000 acres would be composed of the Dick Smith, Matilija, and Sespe Wilderness areas. These locations have been selected for wilderness designation because it is undeveloped federal land affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprints of humans substantially unnoticeable.
Section 102 Administration
Hunting, fishing, hiking, backpacking, photography, rafting, canoeing, bird watching – all traditional uses that rely on non-mechanized access – are allowed in wilderness. Activities and facilities such as commercial enterprises, road building, use of motorized vehicles and equipment, power lines, and other permanent structures are prohibited in Wilderness.
Firefighters will be able to continue all pre-suppression activities within the entire Forest; this includes controlled burns, brush clearing, and the use of motorized equipment and mechanized transportation. During a fire in wilderness area, firefighters will now be allowed to use any method of modern fire suppression, including the use of mechanized heavy equipment, without waiting for approval from Forest Service officials.
The Forest Service will coordinate with Caltrans to ensure they will be able maintain and operate State Route 33 without interruption.
The grazing of livestock and the maintenance of existing structures that are used for grazing, within wilderness areas, will continue.
Title II – Additions to the Wild and Scenic River System
Section 201 Designation of Wild and Scenic Rivers
Within Los Padres National Forest, appropriate segments of the following rivers will be designated as wild and scenic: Upper Piru Creek, Upper Sespe Creek, Mono Creek, and Indian Creek.
These creeks will be designated as wild, scenic, or recreational depending on their location and amount of imprints from humans in the immediate surrounding area. These segments have been selected for designation to preserve their outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
Title III – Condor Ridge Scenic Area
Section 301 Condor Ridge Scenic Area
Creation of the approximately 18,000-acre Condor Ridge Scenic Area, to protect the viewshed of the Pacific Coast. Nothing in this designation will have any effect on current uses for the scenic area.
Section 302 Administration
Motor Vehicles will only be allowed to travel on roads and trails designated for such use. Nothing in this title will prohibit individuals from using motorized or mechanized equipment for the maintenance of trails within the scenic area.
Title IV – Off Highway Vehicle Use
Section 401 Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Use
Specific roads and trails throughout the Forest that have been closed to the public will be reopened to the appropriate vehicular traffic.
Section 402 Designation of Off Highway Vehicle Areas
To further expand the OHV system within the forest and increase recreational value of that system, the approximately 65,000-acre Ballinger Canyon and Mt. Pinos OHV Areas will be created.
If it can be demonstrated that off-highway vehicle activity has caused a decline in the California condor population, trails may be closed as needed.
There shall be no net loss of motorized recreation value within the OHV areas.
Section 403 Construction of New Trails
After a study on the feasibility and public support, the Forest will create three specific new trails in the Forest, open to specifically designated vehicles. These trails will be constructed at no cost to the forest. Funding must come from volunteer services and/or contributions from non-federal sources.
Authorizes a land exchange between the Forest Service and the United Water Conservation District around and in Lake Piru. United Water will have to comply with all regulations and will treat the land they receive in the same manner it is currently managed by the Forest Service. There will be no cost to the federal government for this exchange, all costs will be paid for by United Water.
[Text of the Los Padres Conservation and Recreation Act] [Section by section summary of the Act]
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