Los Padres National Forest (LPNF)

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A organizational summary by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

This page is an introduction to the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) with specific emphasis on the Central Coast of California.

Overview

In 1898, President William McKinley established the Pine Mountain and Zaca Lake Forest Reserve. The reserve was renamed the Santa Barbara Forest Reserve in 1903 and was eventually combined with the Santa Ynez, San Luis, and Monterey Forest Reserves. President Franklin D. Roosevelt renamed the area the Los Padres National Forest in 1936. [1]

Los Padres National Forest encompasses approximately 1.75 million acres of central California's scenic Coast and Transverse Ranges. The forest stretches across almost 220 miles from north to south and consists of two separate land divisions. The northern division is within Monterey County and northern San Luis Obispo County and includes the beautiful Big Sur Region and scenic interior areas. [2]

The Los Padres National Forest serves an enormous population base including the San Francisco Bay Area, the greater Los Angeles Metropolitan area, the southern San Joaquin Valley and the many communities along the south and central coast. The Forest provides the scenic backdrop for many communities and plays a significant role in the quality of life in this area. The Forest also supplies a substantial portion of the water needs of several downstream communities.[2]

Mission

Management of Los Padres National Forest focuses on the following areas:

  • Protecting and enhancing watersheds
  • Providing world-class recreation
  • Providing world-class wilderness opportunities.
  • Promoting use of the forest as a "living laboratory" for ecological diversity and scientific research.[2]

Legal Status / Authority

  • The U.S. Code and the Code of Federal Regulations: Title 16 U.S. Code CHAPTER 36—Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning.
    • Laws governing how the Forest Service manage public lands.
  • Governing Laws:
    • Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act of 1937
    • Clean Air Act of 1970
    • Clean Water Act of 1972
    • Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980
    • Endangered Species Act of 1973
    • Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960
    • National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
    • National Forest Management Act of 1976
    • National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
    • Native American Graves Repatriation Act of 1990
    • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1976
    • Weeks Act of 1911
    • Wilderness Act of 1964

Governance

LPNF is managed by the Los Padres National Forest Supervisor.

Organizational Structure

The forest is divided into five administrative units called "Ranger Districts" with district offices in King City, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Ojai and Frazier Park. [2]

Southern California and Central Coast Context

Within the LPNF, Sespe Condor Sanctuary was established in 1947 and expanded in 1951 to its current size of 53,000 acres. The Sanctuary lies within the boundary of the Sespe Wilderness and is where the Forest Service provides critical habitat, wildlife refuge, and land management for the protection of the California Condor. California condors heavily use the Sanctuary to breed, nest, roost and forage. The Sanctuary lies withing the Sespe Wilderness which was established by The Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act of 1992. The wilderness area is also regarded as the “Home of the California Condor.” The Protection Act includes controlled public access to the Sanctuary to protect condor nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat. [3] The sanctuary would fall within the proposed Range of the Condor National Heritage Area.

Example Work / Projects

  • Forest-Wide Invasive Plant Treatment Program
  • Blue Point Campground and Day Use Removal and Restoration Project

Links

Wildfires

References

  1. Los Padres Forest Watch https://lpfw.org/our-region/history/
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Los Padres National Forest https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lpnf/about-forest
  3. Protecting the Sespe Condor Sanctuary https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/home/?cid=stelprd3820413

Disclaimer

This page may contain students' work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.