It’s been more than 20 years since land protections in Los Padres National Forest last expanded under the federal Wilderness Act. Now, several Central Coast legislators are proposing another round.
The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act (H.R. 4685) would expand all eight of southern Los Padres’ wilderness areas and formalize the 400-mile Condor National Recreation Trail.
From Bottcher’s Gap Trailhead south of Carmel, the trail traverses coastal mountains, wilderness areas and the backcountries of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties.
The bill, introduced May 15 by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, would recognize almost 246,000 acres of new and expanded wilderness and designate 158 “wild and scenic” river miles.
“Every land bill is in reality a jobs bill,” says Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, a bill co-sponsor. “California has shown there is an economic value in protecting land.”
He hopes the trail inspires hikers to view endangered condors in the wild. “Hopefully the trail will help raise awareness of the bird’s plight,” he states by email.
The bill is in the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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