About the CWC

With towering redwood forests, pristine mountain peaks, and rugged desert landscapes, the wild lands of California encompass some of the most beautiful and diverse places on earth. These are refuges where eagles still soar across the horizon and salmon still swim from ocean to river—lands where nature thrives and the human spirit is free.
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Reps. Mike Thompson, John Garamendi and Lynn Woolsey Introduce Bill to Designate Berryessa Snow Mountain as National Conservation Area

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-1), John Garamendi (CA-10) and Lynn Woolsey (CA-6) introduced H.R. 5545, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Conservation Area Act. The legislation would designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Conservation Area (NCA). Under this designation, all currently owned federal lands within the NCA boundary would be united under one management plan, allowing the region to be managed according to the site-specific needs. The region would also be permanently protected under a NCA designation, ensuring continued recreational opportunities while safeguarding the region's natural beauty, wildlife, rare plants, and waters - which include important sources of drinking water and irrigation for nearby communities. To learn more, click here.

Zim Zim Falls and Lupine, courtesy of Yolo Hiker

Urge the Forest Service to Protect Southern California Wild Places!

Southern California contains some of the largest urban areas in the United States. Fortunately for its residents, it also has large stretches of undeveloped public land such as national forests managed by the US Forest Service (USFS) that provide wonderful scenery, recreation opportunities, fresh air and clean water, and habitat for such rare wildlife species as the California condor, San Joaquin kit fox and bighorn sheep. The Angeles National Forest (ANF), Cleveland National Forest (CNF), Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) and San Bernardino National Forest (SBNF) stretch from Mexico to Big Sur and from the desert to the sea, covering over 3,530,000 acres of land (over 5,500 square miles).

National forests are owned by the American people, just like national parks. However, unlike parks, the federal government allows logging, mining, oil drilling, road construction and other development activities to occur in them. For over a century, conservationists have fought to protect the wildest remaining parts of our national forests, lands that are often called “roadless areas.” Roadless areas provide a refuge for wildlife and source of clean water to thirsty cities. They also provide outstanding opportunities for non-motorized recreation. The most permanent and comprehensive way to protect roadless areas is to have them designated as “wilderness” by Congress where development is prohibited but low-impact recreation activities are still allowed.

In 2005, the USFS prepared management plans for the national forest lands in southern California. But unfortunately, the agency failed to recognize the importance of roadless areas in providing wildlife habitat, clean water, and recreation. The plans recommended wilderness protection for only a few of the areas. As a result, the California Wilderness Coalition appealed the plans and in response, the USFS agreed to reconsider protection of these vital areas.

The USFS is currently preparing a document called the Southern California National Forests Land Management Plan Amendment (LMP Amendment). This document will determine the future management of 39 Southern California roadless areas in the ANF, CNF, LPNF and SBNF. If the agency recommends that the 39 roadless areas be designated as wilderness by Congress, then they will essentially be managed as such by the USFS over the next decade or more. On the other hand, the agency can decide to open all of them up to development. The agency’s tentative proposal is to recommend 17% of the roadless area acreage for wilderness designation and to open 83% of the remaining roadless acreage to energy development, road construction and other activities that could destroy their wild character over time. We can’t let this happen! To take action, click here.

One Person Can Make a Difference

One person can make all the difference in the world.  One of our favorite quotes is from Margaret Meade, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has! “

The California Wilderness Coalition has been incredibly successful at protecting our State’s wild places. We have led the charge in designating over 13 million acres of wilderness throughout the state, such as the Trinity Alps Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Magic Mountain Wilderness, King Range Wilderness and Death Valley Wilderness.

Mt. Whitney, Tom Budlong

The California Wilderness Coalition has the opportunity to make a difference, but we cannot do it alone. We need the support of our friends, family, our community to succeed. The CWC has received a generous challenge grant of $75,000, wherein every dollar raised from membership will be matched dollar for dollar -- doubling the impact of your gift.   We need your support to preserve California’s natural landscape.

So far, we have raised 65% of our goal with membership gifts ranging from $35-$1,500. Our board and staff have also generously donated gifts of $250-$2,000. Please join those that have made gifts to further the mission of the California Wilderness Coalition.

 Your gift will give us the resources we need to continue doing our “ boots on the ground work” ;  outreaching to local communities, organizing support, meeting with local groups, chambers of commerce, city council members and members of Congress, advocating to protect California’s wild lands and rivers. 

Amaragosa River, John Dittli

We want to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to discover places like Milpitas Wash near the Colorado River—home to ancient Palo Verde trees, the endangered gila woodpecker and the largest Sonoran Woodland in North America;.  or to find a desert tortoise among the wildflowers in the Castle Mountains, to watch bighorn sheep scramble up rocky hillsides in the Avawatz Mountains, or to hike along the sparkling Deep Creek river with stunning views across the Mojave.

Bowling Alley, Laurel Williams

With your financial support, we can continue this great work, build on our previous successes, and make these protections a reality.

Your gift supports the current and future work of CWC.  If you've been inspired by our work, or by the places that we have protected, now is the time to give a gift.

CWC Partners with Los Padres Forest Association

The California Wilderness Coalition has partnered with the Los Padres Forest Association to host a number of VOLUNTEER trail maintenance projects in and near potential wilderness areas in Santa Barbara. On Saturday, January 14^th and Sunday,January 15^th a cadre of volunteers, camped near the Santa Ynez River and Big Caliente hot springs and learned valuable trail maintenance skills along the Blue Canyon Trail System.  A HUGE THANK YOU TO LOS PADRES FOREST ASSOCIATION for your leadership and hard work.

To see photos and learn more about the project, visit Los Padres Forest Association or Santa Barbara Outdoor Volunteers on Meet-Up.

To learn more about upcoming trips email Laurel Williams.

Land Acquisition in the Avawatz Mountains readies the area for wilderness

The Wilderness Land Trust, working with the owners of an old mining property in the Avawatz Mountains, purchased the land and donated it to the federal government. The over 2,000 acres of land lie within two wilderness study areas. Going from private ownership to public enables the land to be protected under the Wilderness Act as is proposed in the pending California Desert Protection Act. Senator Feinstein, the author of the bill stated:

"This is one more step to protect California's pristine desert, another private donation to our great public lands. I want to thank the Kerckhoff family, The Resources Legacy Fund Foundation and the Wilderness Land Trust for their generosity. This donation falls within the boundaries of land to be permanently preserved by my California Desert Protection Act, which is currently pending before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee."

The Avawatz Mountains to the south of Death Valley are a rugged mountain range chiseled with colorful canyons, home to bighorn sheep and hidden springs. The mountains rise from the Silurian Valley to over 6,000 feet and opportunities to explore abound. At times snow-covered and at other times seeming to bake in the desert sun, the area has long been visited by humans. The Timbisha Shoshone still visit the area for spiritual purposes today. To read the full article, click here.