Eagle Peak Proposed Wilderness
 Managing
agency: Cleveland National Forest.
Size: Approximately 24,488 acres.
Location: North of highway 8 and east of highway 15, about an hour's drive from San Diego.
Description:
- Watershed of the San
Diego River : source of clean drinking
water
- Federal species of
concern : two-striped
garter snake and
southwestern pond turtle
- Remote, rugged region with
dramatic canyons:
waterfalls, pools, and lush
streamside habitat
 Located
within an hour's drive of over two million people, this wild area consists of
four distinct units (from north to south): San Diego River Gorge, Eagle Peak,
Sill Hill, and No Name.
In addition, two Wild and
Scenic River segments will
complete the protection of
this unique natural area: San
Diego River and Cedar Creek.
The region is rugged,
seldom-visited and undisturbed,
providing a breathtaking
variety of geology and
plant and animal life at the
eastern edge of San Diego's
growing communities.
 The
eastern edge of the wilderness complex touches Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, increasing
the area's preservation potential. From the western face of Cuyamaca Peak at
over 6,000 feet, the land falls quickly to a 10-mile wide, west-sloping bench
carved by isolated, nearly inaccessible canyons.
Cedar Creek is so remote
that visitors have the
feeling they are truly the
first ones there, reporting
"no trails, no trash, no footprints,
"not even the signs of
broken branches from previous
passersby."
 Two
federal species of concern, the two-striped garter snake and the southwestern
pond turtle, live in the area's creeks. Once common in California, these species
have fallen victim to development in their wetlands habitat; protecting this
area will ensure that it remains a good home for them in perpetuity.
High species diversity in
the Eagle Peak area is likely
due to the lack of development
nearby, the inaccessibility of
the chaparral-clad slopes and
steep gorges, and the presence
of water year-round, a
rarity in southern California.
Preserving this de-
facto wildlife refuge should be
the highest priority for the
U.S. Forest Service, and for
San Diegans.
The Eagle Peak Complex
protects the headwaters
of the San Diego
River, one source of San
Diego's local water supply.
Indeed, the Cleveland
National Forest was created
originally to assure
watershed protection, and
wilderness status will give
this protection forever.
The four units of the
wilderness complex are
separated only by maintained
dirt roads, and
these will remain open to
provide access for low-impact
recreation in the
wilderness areas themselves.
Illegal entry of off-highway
vehicles is a major
threat to this fragile and
biologically vital landscape. Wilderness protection
will allow present and
future generations to experience
these last remnants
of San Diego's remarkable
and beautiful wild
river gorges and rugged
mountain slopes in their
natural condition.
For more information, please contact:
Geoffrey Smith
Phone: (858) 566-5676
Email: gsmith@thecomputersmith.com
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Just three miles off of Interstate 80, 
