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 Amargosa River
Legislation is in the works to add approximately 40,000 acres of wildlands to the existing Hoover and Emigrant Wilderness areas and designate 24 miles of the Amargosa River as Wild and Scenic. - Southern California Wilderness Bill Introduced
Rep. Mary Bono (R-CA) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) recently 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.
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
