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No More Wilderness: List of California's Wilderness Study Areas
Stripped of Protection, and New WSA Inventories Canceled
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WSAs that have been stripped of their
protected status
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BLM field office (FO)
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County
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Acres
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Outstanding values
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Photo (click for
higher resolution version) |
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Agua Tibia
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Palm Springs-South Coast FO
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Riverside Co.
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344
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Adjacent to the Agua Tibia Wilderness and 0.2 miles
from State Highway 79. Development of this parcel would degrade
the visual quality of this highly scenic area. The State of California
has worked hard to maintain the ecological health of the coastal
sagebrush community and the viability of the California gnatcatcher
through the development of a habitat conservation plan (HCP). Agua
Tibia is one of only two areas in the entire National Wilderness
Preservation System that contains coastal sagebrush. In 1990, the
BLM recommended the former WSA for wilderness status in part because
of its "excellent representations" of such important habitat types.
For the Gnatcatcher HCP to succeed it is imperative that habitat
on government land remain in an undeveloped state.
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Bear Canyon
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Hollister FO
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Monterey Co.
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318
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Adjacent to the Ventana Wilderness. The former WSA
provides habitat for the California condor, a state-listed endangered
species. Potentially threatened by oil development.
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Bear Mountain
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Hollister FO
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Monterey Co.
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3,178
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Adjacent to the Ventana Wilderness. The former WSA
provides habitat for the California condor, a state-listed endangered
species, and it drains into the nearby Arroyo Seco River which hosts
steelhead trout, a federally-listed threatened species. Contains
extensive archaeological resources. Potentially threatened by oil
development.
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Big Butte
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Arcata FO
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Mendocino and Trinity counties
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2,408
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The former WSA is included in the California Wild
Heritage Act as part of the proposed Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness
Additions. In 2002 the State Assembly and the State Senate passed
resolutions expressing support for this legislation. Likewise, also
in 2002 the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, the City of Ukiah,
and the City of Point Arena passed resolutions of support. The area
provides habitat for the northern spotted owl, steelhead trout,
and coho salmon, all federally-listed threatened species, and the
peregrine falcon, a state-listed endangered species. The northern
spotted owl and Pacific fisher, two state species of special concern,
are also known to live in the area. The region could now potentially
be threatened with logging. Indeed, in 1990 the BLM failed to recommend
the area for wilderness designation in part because of its "timber
values."
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Black Mountain
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Bakersfield FO
------------
San Luis Obispo Co.
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150
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The former WSA is included in the California Wild
Heritage Act as part of the proposed Black Mountain Wilderness.
In 2002 the State Assembly and the State Senate passed resolutions
expressing support for this legislation, and in 2003 the City of
San Luis Obispo did so as well. The former WSA provides habitat
for the California condor, a state-listed endangered species. Potentially
threatened by oil development.
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Carson-Iceberg
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Carson City FO
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Alpine Co.
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550
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Adjacent to the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. The former
WSA is bisected by the proposed East Fork Carson Wild and Scenic
River Study included in the California Wild Heritage Act. In 2002
the State Assembly and the State Senate passed resolutions expressing
support for this legislation. In 1990, the BLM recommended to Congress
that this area be designated as wilderness by Congress because of
the highly scenic nature of the river canyon. The East Fork Carson
is also a state-designated "wild trout stream" and a state-designated
wild and scenic river.
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Dome Land
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Bakersfield FO
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Kern Co.
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40
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Adjacent to the Dome Land Wilderness.
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Garcia Mountain
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Bakersfield FO
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San Luis Obispo Co.
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80
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Adjacent to the Garcia Mountain Wilderness. The former
WSA provides habitat for the California condor, a state-listed endangered
species. Potentially threatened by oil development.
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Kelso Creek Valley
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Bakersfield FO
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Kern Co.
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120
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Adjacent to the Kiavah Wilderness
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Machesna Mountain
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Bakersfield FO
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San Luis Obispo Co.
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70
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Adjacent to potential additions to the Machesna Mountain
Wilderness. Potentially threatened by oil development. In fact,
one of the reasons cited by the BLM in 1990 for not recommending
this area for wilderness is its oil development potential. The former
WSA provides habitat for the California condor, a state-listed endangered
species.
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Milk Ranch-Case Mountain
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Bakersfield FO
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Tulare Co.
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8,970
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Adjoins the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. This
area has now become the only government-owned giant sequoia grove
to not have any special protective designation. We are profoundly
concerned for the future management of this area given that one
of the reasons the BLM offered for not recommending the former WSA
for wilderness designation in 1990 is its "high potential for forest
products." The area provides critical winter habitat for the Mineral
King deer herd.
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Moses
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Bakersfield FO
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Tulare Co.
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558
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Adjoins the Moses Roadless Area in the Giant Sequoia
National Monument.
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San Ysidro Mountain
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El Centro FO
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San Diego Co.
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2,125
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Adjoins the Anza Borrego Desert State Park Wilderness.
Development of this area would reduce both the ecological health
and scenic value of the adjacent park. Potentially threatened by
gold mining or by being sold or exchanged to a private landowner.
Indeed, the BLM cited both of these possibilities among its reasons
for not endorsing the former WSA for wilderness designation in 1990.
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Sawtooth Mountains
A
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El Centro
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San Diego Co.
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3,883
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The former WSA is included in the California Wild
Heritage Act as part of the proposed Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness
Additions. In 2002 the State Assembly and the State Senate passed
resolutions expressing support for this legislation, and a majority
of elected officials on the San Diego City Council and the San Diego
County Board of Supervisors support the area as well. The former
WSA is 0.5 miles of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The area is
known to host peninsular bighorn sheep (a state-listed threatened
species and a federal endangered species) and the willow flycatcher
(a state-listed endangered species). The area is potentially vulnerable
to mining development.
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Sawtooth Mountains
C
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El Centro FO
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San Diego Co.
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600
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Adjoins the Sawtooth Mountains Wilderness and the
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The area is known to host peninsular
bighorn sheep (a state-listed threatened species and a federal endangered
species) and the willow flaycatcher (a state-listed endangered species).
The area is potentially vulnerable to mining development.
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Scodie
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Bakersfield FO
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Kern Co.
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420
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Adjoins the Kiavah Wilderness
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Sheep Ridge
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Bakersfield FO
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Tulare Co.
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5,102
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Adjoins Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. The former
WSA is one of only a few large parcels of government-owned land
containing Sierra Nevada foothill oak woodlands and grasslands.
This habitat type is being increasingly fragmented by development
on private lands. The North Fork Kaweah River passes through the
area and is an important ecological and economic resource for the
state. Migrating deer populations use the former WSA as essential
winter habitat when the adjacent park is under snow.
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South Warner
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Cedarville FO
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Modoc Co.
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4,330
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Adjacent to the South Warner Wilderness. The BLM
in 1990 recommended 1,161 acres of this area for wilderness designation
because of its outstanding bighorn sheep habitat. The area now may
be vulnerable to mining and geothermal development.
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Table Mountain
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Palm Springs-South Coast FO
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1,018
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Adjoins Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The area
is known to host peninsular bighorn sheep (a state-listed threatened
species and a federal endangered species). It may now be threatened
by off-road vehicle use.
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Yolla Bolly
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Redding FO
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Tehama Co.
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646
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The former WSA is included in the California Wild
Heritage Act as part of the proposed Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness
Additions. In 2002 the State Assembly and the State Senate passed
resolutions expressing support for this legislation.
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TOTALS
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34,910
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Potential new WSAs or additions
to existing WSAs that will now not be studied for WSA status*
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BLM field office (FO)
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County
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Acres
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Outstanding values
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Photo (click for
higher resolution version) |
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Berryessa Peak
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Ukiah FO
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Napa and Yolo counties
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9,120
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The potential new WSA was included in 2002 in the
California Wild Heritage Act as the proposed Berryessa Peak Wilderness.
Also in 2002 the State Assembly and the State Senate passed resolutions
expressing support for this legislation, as did the Napa County
Board of Supervisors. The area is threatened by road construction
and energy development.
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Blue Ridge
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Ukiah FO
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Napa and Yolo counties
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10,880
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The potential new WSA is included in the California
Wild Heritage Act as the proposed Blue Ridge Wilderness. In 2002
the State Assembly and the State Senate passed resolutions expressing
support for this legislation, as did the Napa County Board of Supervisors.
The California Department of Fish and Game has invested an enormous
amount of time and resources into promoting the recovery of the
tule elk in this region. The area hosts bald eagle (a state-listed
endangered species), Swainson’s hawk (a state-listed threatened
species), and peregrine falcon (a state-listed endangered species).
Potential threats include off-road vehicle use and energy development.
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Cache Creek WSA
expansion
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Ukiah FO
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Lake, Napa, and Yolo counties
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10,415
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The areas that could have potentially been added
to the existing WSA are included in the California Wild Heritage
Act as the proposed Cache Creek Wilderness. In 2002 the State Assembly
and the State Senate passed resolutions expressing support for this
legislation, as did the Napa County Board of Supervisors. The California
Department of Fish and Game has invested an enormous amount of time
and resources into promoting the recovery of the tule elk in this
region, and it now hosts the second largest herd in the state. The
area also shelters the second-largest wintering bald eagle (a state-listed
endangered species) population in California as well as habitat
for Swainson’s hawk (a state-listed threatened species), and peregrine
falcon (a state-listed endangered species). The area is also known
for its outstanding archaeological resources. Cache Creek itself
is a major recreational, economic, and ecological resource for the state.
Potential threats include off-road vehicle use, mining, and energy
development.
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Caliente Mountain
WSA expansion
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Bakersfield FO, Carrizo Plain National Monument
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San Luis Obispo Co.
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15,000
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Much of the area that could have potentially been
added to the existing WSA is included in the California Wild Heritage
Act as the proposed Caliente Mountain Wilderness. In 2002 the State
Assembly and the State Senate passed resolutions expressing support
for this legislation. The area is also known for its outstanding
archaeological resources. The region is known as critical habitat
for the California condor, a state-listed endangered species, and
the San Joaquin kit fox, a state-listed threatened species. The
region also contains habitat for the following state-listed species:
Bakersfield saltbush (endangered), California jewelflower (endangered),
blunt-nosed leopard lizard (endangered), bald eagle (endangered),
sandhill crane (threatened), San Joaquin antelope squirrel (threatened),
and giant kangaroo rat (endangered).
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Carrizo Plain
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Bakersfield FO, Carrizo Plain National Monument
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San Luis Obispo Co.
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38,700
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The area is also known for its outstanding archaeological
resources. The region is known as critical habitat for the California
condor, a state-listed endangered species, and the San Joaquin kit
fox, a state-listed threatened species. The region also contains
habitat for the following state-listed species: Bakersfield saltbush
(endangered), California jewelflower (endangered), blunt-nosed leopard
lizard (endangered), bald eagle (endangered), sandhill crane (threatened),
San Joaquin antelope squirrel (threatened), and giant kangaroo rat
(endangered).
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Headwaters Forest Reserve
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Arcata FO, Headwaters Forest Reserve
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Humboldt Co.
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5,885
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The State of California helped raise millions of
dollars to acquire this area in 1999, and currently co-manages the
reserve with the BLM. The area supports many important species,
including: steelhead trout (federally-listed as threatened), Chinook
salmon (federally-listed as threatened), coho salmon (a state-listing
candidate), coastal cutthroat trout (a state species of special
concern), southern torrent salamander (same status as previous),
northern red-legged frog (same status), red tree vole (same status), northern
spotted owl (same status), Pacific fisher (same status), foothill
yellow-legged frog (same status), tailed frog (same status), northwestern
pond turtle (same status), osprey (same status), bald eagle (state-listed
as endangered), peregrine falcon (same as previous), marbled murrelet
(same status), and willow flycatcher (same status).
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King Range
WSA expansion
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Arcata FO
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Humboldt and Mendocino counties
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3,098
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The area is known as California’s "Lost Coast" because
of its roadless character. Indeed, the King Range is the longest
stretch of undeveloped coastline in the United States outside of
Alaska. The areas that could have potentially been added to the
existing WSA are included in the California Wild Heritage Act as
the proposed King Range Wilderness. In 2002 the State Assembly and
the State Senate passed resolutions expressing support for this
legislation, as did the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors. The
area supports many important species, including steelhead trout (federally-listed
as threatened), Chinook salmon (federally-listed as threatened),
coho salmon (a state-listing candidate), coastal cutthroat trout
(a state species of special concern), northern spotted owl (same
status), Pacific fisher (same status), osprey (same status), bald
eagle (state-listed as endangered), and peregrine falcon (same as
previous). There is a possibility of logging and off-road vehicle
use in this area without further protection.
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Payne Ranch
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Ukiah FO
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Colusa Co.
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8,566
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The potential new WSA is included in the California
Wild Heritage Act as the proposed Payne Ranch Potential Wilderness.
In 2002 the State Assembly and the State Senate passed resolutions
expressing support for this legislation. The California Department
of Fish and Game has invested an enormous amount of time and resources
into promoting the recovery of the tule elk in this region, and
it now hosts the second largest herd in the state. The area also
shelters the second-largest wintering bald eagle (a state-listed
endangered species) population in California as well as habitat for Swainson’s
hawk (a state-listed threatened species), and peregrine falcon (a
state-listed endangered species). The area is also known for its
outstanding archaeological resources. Cache Creek is a major recreational,
economic, and ecological resource for the state. Potential threats
include off-road vehicle use and energy development.
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Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
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Palm Springs-South Coast FO
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Riverside Co.
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4,500
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The area is known to host peninsular bighorn sheep
(a state-listed threatened species and a federal endangered species).
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Walker Ridge
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Ukiah FO
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Colusa and Lake counties
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7,000
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The area shelters the second-largest wintering bald
eagle (a state-listed endangered species) population in California
as well as habitat for Swainson’s hawk (a state-listed threatened
species), and peregrine falcon (a state-listed endangered species).
The area is seriously threatened by road construction associated
with a proposed wind energy development, and the BLM had recently
agreed to conduct a wilderness inventory for the region as part of the
environmental impact statement for the development. Now this necessary
and perfectly logical analysis is prohibited.
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TOTALS
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113,164
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* Includes only those areas that are part of ongoing planning
processes. The CWC has identified at least 689,000 additional acres
of BLM roadless areas that should have been evaluated for
WSA status by the agency, including the following regions
among many others:
Cahto Peak (Arcata FO, Mendocino Co.)
Eden Valley WSA additions (Arcata FO, Mendocino Co.)
Elkhorn Ridge (Arcata FO, Mendocino
Co.)
English Ridge (Arcata FO, Mendocino Co.)
Fort Ord (Hollister FO, Monterey Co.)
Gilham Butte (Arcata FO, Humboldt Co.)
Hat Creek (Alturas FO, Lassen Co.)
Joaquin Rocks (Hollister FO, San Benito and Fresno counties)
Middle Knob (Ridgecrest FO, Kern Co.)
Observation Peak (Eagle Lake FO, Lassen Co.)
Skedaddle WSA additions (Eagle Lake
FO, Lassen Co.)
Snowstorm Mountain (Eagle Lake FO, Lassen Co.)
Soda Mountain (Redding FO, Siskiyou Co.)
Timbered Crater WSA additions (Alturas FO, Lassen Co.)
For more information please contact:
Ryan Henson at (530) 246-3087.
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Just three miles off of Interstate 80, 
