Wilderness and river protections would benefit recreation, economy, and wildlife
The House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands today heard testimony on legislation that will conserve some of the California Central Coast’s most unique lands and rivers. The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act (H.R. 2199), introduced by Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA), would help ensure clean water for local communities, stimulate the local economy, and conserve valuable wildlife habitat.
The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act would protect forests, grasslands, and wild rivers across the region by safeguarding 244,909 acres of wilderness, creating two scenic areas encompassing 34,882 acres, and designating 159 miles of wild and scenic rivers in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument.
The widely supported bill is the product of years of discussion and negotiation involving business leaders, conservationists, elected officials, ranchers, mountain bikers, and other stakeholders interested in the use and well-being of these iconic lands.
Testifying before the committee, Graciela Cabello, director of Youth and Community Engagement with Los Padres ForestWatch, said, “I support the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act because as someone who has been influenced by a long lineage of Latin American and indigenous beliefs, protecting the natural world is a moral obligation and deeply rooted in my culture.... Many of the communities that surround the Los Padres National Forest or Carrizo Plain National Monument have a significant Latino population that relies on these natural resources to make a living, as well as on the tourism economy. They are restaurant owners, farmers, mechanics, other business owners, and the farm workers that harvest our food.”
Protected public lands enhance the quality of life for residents and attract visitors to the area. The Central Coast is a top tourist destination, home to world class restaurants and wineries, and iconic scenery, all of which yield clear benefits for the region's economy.
“Stronger protections for some of the most wild and ecologically important areas will benefit our community and economy,” said Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Ramirez, on behalf of the City of Oxnard. “Limited water resources, year round fire seasons, and population pressures all require long-term solutions, and safeguarding our vital upstream headwaters with wilderness and wild and scenic river designations will be a crucial part of our long term vision for sustainability.”
The rugged coastal mountains and ecologically rich grasslands of California’s Central Coast sustain a wide range of recreational opportunities. Visitors to the Los Padres National Forest and the adjoining Carrizo Plain National Monument enjoy backpacking, camping, bird watching, horseback riding, kayaking, and mountain biking. The legislation would designate the approximately 400-mile long Condor Trail as a National Scenic Trail, connecting the northern and southern portions of the Los Padres National Forest by a single hiking route.
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation generates $92 billion in consumer spending and 691,000 direct jobs in California.
Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA), whose district includes part of the national forest, and Reps. Jimmy Panetta, Judy Chu, Katie Hill, and Jared Huffman, all D-CA, are original co-sponsors of the bill. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) sponsors the bill in the Senate.
