wild rivers campaign ~ ventana wilderness alliance
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
October25,2006RevisedEdition
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALContents
I. IntroductionII. Overview MapIII. Proposed Wild & Scenic Rivers
a.Arroyo Seco River & Tributariesi. Tassajara Creek & Church Creek
b.Big Creekc.Carmel River & Miller Forkd.Little Sur Rivere.Nacimiento Riverf. San Antonio River & Tributariesg.
San Carpoforo Creek
h.Willow CreekIV. Appendices
a.Overview: Federal Wild & Scenic Designation and itsClassifications
b.Statistical Summary Proposed Wild & Scenic RiversTracing rivers to their fountains makes the most charming of travels.
As the lifeblood of the landscapes, the best of the wilderness comes to
their banks, and not one dull passage is found in all their eventful
histories.John Muir, Steep Trails
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALIntroduction
Carved by six rivers and manycreeks and streams, the Santa
Lucia Range is best described byits waterways. It is where land and
water overlap that life is the richest
and most complex. And that, too, iwhere a rivers greatest value oft
lies.
sen
Because their upper watersheds are
largely undisturbed, these riversand streams are an important
source of clean water for Monterey
County residents, farmers, andindustries. Their highly productive ecology includes rich riparian habitat, the states southernmost
redwood forests, and the rare Santa Lucia fir. They provide opportunities for popular outdoor
recreation, and they are rich in historic and pre-historic culture. They also provide the best remaininghabitat for a number of threatened and endangered species, including the Central Coast steelhead
trout, California condor, foothill yellow-legged frog, Dudleys lousewort (a rare native wildflower),
and many others.
Although much of the Santa Lucia Range is protected as Wilderness, the rivers deserve the
additional protection provided by the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. The Wildernesssystem prohibits roads, motorized use, and logging, but the Wild & Scenic system helps even more.
It requires federal managers to actively preserve the free flowing nature of the rivers and their uniquequalities. It specifically protects the rivers for future generations.
A good first step was taken toward this important goal in 1992, when the upper portions of the BigSur River were added to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System. When Congress protected the
Big Sur River, it directed the U.S. Forest Service to study additional rivers for possible protection.
In that 2005 study, the Forest Service said parts of the Arroyo Seco River, North Fork Little SurRiver, and the San Antonio River in the Los Padres National Forest were eligible for Wild & Scenic
protection. Yet it recommended that Congress protect only the Arroyo Seco. Friends of the River,
the Ventana Wilderness Alliance, and other conservationists who were heavily involved in this
process were disappointed by the scant protection proposed.
We are convinced that the following rivers and streams draining the Santa Lucia Mountains areeligible for federal protection because they are free flowing and possess outstanding values: the
Arroyo Seco River and its tributaries, Tassajara Creek and Church Creek, Big Creek, Carmel Riverand Miller Fork, the North and South Forks Little Sur River, Nacimiento River, San Antonio River
and its tributaries, San Carpoforo Creek, and Willow Creek.
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
Rivers of the Santa Lucia Mountains
Pa
cif
ic
O
c
ea
n
TassajaraC
r
Arroyo
Se
co
R.
BigCre
ek
NacimientoR
iver
Sa n
AntonioRiver
San
C
arp
ofo
ro
Creek
N.ForkL ittleSurR
iverS
.Fo r
kLittl
eSurRiver
Willow
Cre
ek
Carm
el River
Mille
rFo
rkCa
rmelRiver
B igSurRiv
er
Churc
hC
ree
k
Soledad
Greenfield
S a n L u i sO b i s p oC o u n t y
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Los
Padres
National
Forest
AndrewMoleraStatePark
Julia PfeifferBurns State Park
Landels-HillBig CreekReserve
LimekilnStatePark
HastingsNaturalHistoryReserve
PfeifferBig Sur
State Park
Palo CoronaRanch
Ventana
Wilderness
Silver PeakWilderness
Fort Hunter Liggett
0 21Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
Existing Designation:
Wild
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALArroyo Seco River
The Arroyo Seco River is the only major
tributary of the Salinas River that remains
undammed. The river flows east from the crestof the Santa Lucia Mountains, then north along
a major fault line, and then east again into theSalinas Valley near the town of Greenfield in
Monterey County. Approximately 19 miles of
the river are located on public lands in the Los
Padres National Forest.
The Forest Service completed a Wild & Scenic
study of the Arroyo Seco River in 2005. Theagency concluded that the river was eligible for
federal protection and recommended thatCongress designate more than 19 miles of theriver from its source to the Los Padres National
Forest boundary.
Outstanding Values:
Scenery & Recreation The river flows through
a series of deep rocky gorges that provide arugged and scenic setting for a variety of
outdoor recreation pursuits, including camping,
hiking, backpacking, swimming, and wkayaking. About 70% of the 50,000 people who visit the Arroyo Seco River every year are
Monterey County residents.
hitewater
Fish The Arroyo Seco River supports the most persistent remnants of the threatened Central Coast
steelhead that spawn in the Salinas River watershed. It is also an important middle link for salmonmigrating from the Salinas River to Tassajara Creek and other tributaries.
Wildlife The rivers riparian habitat provides foraging and nesting sites for the California spottedowl, and its pools are home to the Southwestern pond turtle (both are listed sensitive species).
Geology The river cuts through a complex geological cross section of the Coast Range ideal forresearch into important tectonic and seismic processes.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALComments:
Most of the Arroyo Seco River flows through public lands and the Ventana Wilderness. There are
two small private inholdings that will be unaffected by designation. The rivers proposed
Recreational segments accommodate the Monterey County Sportsmans Club on the upper river, aswell as lower river campgrounds, picnic areas, and trailhead facilities. The Scenic segments are
adjacent to the closed but still existing Indians Road and would not affect its potential re-opening.
This proposal differs from the Forest Services in that includes more of the river near its source andit applies Wild classification to the segment of the river downstream of Escondido Campground
clearly within the existing Ventana Wilderness, and it applies Scenic classification to a short section
of the river between the Tassajara Creek confluence and Rocky Creek confluence, where the existingIndians Road is significantly vertically separated from the river. Virtually all of the water in the
Arroyo Seco River is used for agricultural and municipal purposes downstream. Designation would
not affect this use.
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Source to Ventana Wilderness boundary 3.68
miles
Wild
Segment 2 Ventana Wilderness boundary to the confluence with
Roosevelt Creek
.5 miles Recreational
Segment 3 Roosevelt Creek confluence to confluence with unnamed
tributary in Sec. 1, T20S, R5E
1.69
miles
Scenic
Segment 4 Unnamed tributary to the Ventana Wilderness boundary
upstream of the Tassajara Creek confluence
8.68
miles
Wild
Segment 5 Ventana Wilderness boundary upstream of the TassajaraCreek confluence to the Rocky Creek confluence
2.13miles
Scenic
Segment 6 Rocky Creek confluence to the Los Padres National Forestboundary
2.53miles
Recreational
TOTAL 19.21 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
Arroyo Seco River, Tassajara and Church Creeks
Tassaja
raC
reek
ArroyoSe
coR
iver
Los
Padres
National
Forest
Landels-HillBig Creek
Reserve
Chu
rchCre
ek
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Ventana
Wilderness
0 10.5Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Tassajara Creek &
Church Creek
Tributaries of the Arroyo
Seco
Tassajara Creek is the largesttributary of the Arroyo Seco
River. The creek flows southeast
from the slopes of South Ventana
Cone past Tassajara Hot Springsand into the Arroyo Seco River.
Most of the creeks 10.4 milesare located on public lands in theVentana Wilderness.
Church Creek is Tassajara Creeks largest tributary. It flows southwest from the Church Creekdivide that separates Church Creek from Pine Valley and the Carmel River watershed into Tassajara
Creek, about 2.5 miles upstream of Tassajara Hot Springs. Most of Church Creek is located on
public lands and the Ventana Wilderness.
The Forest Service completed a Wild & Scenic study of Tassajara Creek in 2005. The agency
concluded that the creek was free flowing but did not possess any outstanding values.
Conservationists believe that all 10.4 miles of the creek possess outstanding fish, wildlife, cultural,and recreational values. The Forest Service did not assess Church Creek for eligibility.
Outstanding Values:
Fish & Wildlife Threatened central coast steelhead migrate all the way from the Pacific Ocean up
the Salinas and Arroyo Seco Rivers to spawn in Tassajara Creeks high quality habitat. The creekalso supports one of the few Central Coast populations of the sensitive foothill yellow-legged frog.
Cultural Tassajara Creek and its mineral rich hot springs have been a destination for human use for
thousands of years, first as a sacred cultural site of the Esselen Indians, later as a historic resort site,
and now the locale of the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, which carries on the 1,000 year-oldtradition of monastic zen training.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALHands
Inside a cave in a narrow canyon near
Tassajara
The vault of rock is painted with hands,
A multitude of hands in the twilight, a
cloud of mens palms, no more,No other picture. Theres no one to say
Whether the brown shy quiet people
who are dead intended
Religion or magic, or made their tracings
In the idleness of art; but over the
division of years these careful
Signs-manual are now like a sealed
message
Saying: "Look: we also were human; we
had hands, not paws. All hail
You people with cleverer hands, oursupplanters
In the beautiful country: enjoy her a
season, her beauty, and come down
And be supplanted; for you also are
human."
Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962)
Church Creek also has outstanding Native Americancultural values. Archeological studies of rock shelters
along the creek show that the area was a refuge for
the Esselen Tribe following the arrival of Spanish
Missionaries. Church Creeks incredible sandstoneformations remnants of a seafloor formed millions
of years ago create large overhangs, many of which
were used by the Tribe as shelters. Most notably, acave overlooking Church Creek has hand rock
paintings estimated to be hundreds of years old. The
cave and its rock paintings were celebrated inRobinson Jeffers poem, Hands.
Recreation Both creeks provides popular loop trailconnections to routes leading to the Big Sur and
Carmel Rivers.
Comments:
Most of Tassajara Creek flows through public lands.
There is one small private inholding encompassingthe Tassajara Zen Center. Designation would not
affect access to or use of the Zen Center. Church
Creek has one private inholding that consists of theBruce Church Ranch. Designation would not affect access to the ranch or its operations.
Segmentation/Classification:
Tassajara Creek
Segment 1 Source in the Ventana Wilderness to Tassajara Hot
Springs boundary
6.5 miles Wild
Segment 2 Creek segment within the Tassajara Hot Springs private
property boundary
1 mile Recreational
Segment 3 Tassajara Hot Springs boundary to the Arroyo Seco
River confluence
3.5 miles Wild
Church Creek
Segment 1 Source to the confluence with the unnamed tributary
flowing in from the north in sec. 13, T19S, R3E
1.2 miles Wild
Segment 2 Unnamed tributary confluence in sec. 13 to the
confluence of the unnamed tributary flowing in from the
east in sec. 24, T19S, R3E
1 mile Recreational
Segment 3 Unnamed tributary confluence in sec. 24 to the
confluence with Tassajara Creek
2.36 miles Wild
TOTAL 15.56
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALBig Creek
Big Creek is the only watershed on the Central
California Coast dedicated to natural resources
research. The upper segments of Big Creekand Devils Canyon are pristine and located on
public lands in the Ventana Wilderness. Thelower segments of Big Creek and Devils
Canyon flow through the 4,000-acre University
of Californias Big Creek Reserve.
Downstream of the UC Reserve, the creekflows into the Big Creek State Marine Reserve
in the Pacific Ocean, which was recently
expanded from 1,200 acres to 12.35 squaremiles. Big Creek was not studied by the Forest
Service, however, conservationists believe thatit is free flowing and possesses outstandingvalues.
Native American use of Big Creek goes back aleast 6,500 years. Shell middens along the
creek can be as much as 14 feet deep,
indicating a long history of use. In addition,
the remains of historic homestead sites stillexist, like those of Gamboa and Boronda.
t
Outstanding Value(s):
Scientific - The Ventana Wilderness, UC Big Creek Reserve, and Big Creek Marine Reserve
together provide unique opportunities for natural resources research from the Coast Range crest to
the coast and offshore habitats in the Pacific Ocean. The Big Creek watershed offers diversevegetation types and habitat, including redwood forest, ponderosa pine/mixed hardwood forest,
canyon live oak/fir forest, coastal scrub, manzanita and chamise chaparral, and sycamore/riparian
forest that support numerous wildlife and plant species. One survey of Big Creek revealed 344species of plants representing 42 percent of all California plant families. Reserve research identified
four newly discovered species of moths and one new walking stick (insect) species. The creek
supports a healthy run of threatened Central Coast steelhead and is fed by more than 23 namedsprings.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Comments:
Federal designation is entirely consistent with the research mission and goals, and conservation
purposes of both the UC Big Creek Reserve and the Big Creek State Marine Reserve. Recreationalsegments accommodate existing reserve facilities and access roads. The Scenic segment
accommodates a closed road that formerly provided access to Big Creek Hot Springs. A private
inholding is located on Devils Canyon Creek. Designation will not affect this property.
Central Coast Steelhead
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Big Creek main stem from its source to .10 miles upstreamof hot springs
4.9miles
Wild
Segment 2 Big Creek main stem from .10 miles upstream of hotsprings to the Devils Canyon confluence
.87miles
Scenic
Segment 3 Big Creek main stem from the Devils Canyon confluence
to Pacific Ocean
.71
miles
Recreational
Segment 4 North Fork Big Creek from its source to the Big Creek
confluence
3.89
miles
Wild
Segment 5 North Fork Devils Canyon from its source to the private
property boundary in Sec. 30, T21S, R3E
2.89
miles
Wild
Segment 6 North Fork Devils Canyon from the private propertyboundary in Sec. 30, T21S, R3E to the Big Creek
confluence
1.56miles
Recreational
Segment 7 Middle Fork Devils Canyon from its source to North Fork
confluence
4.82
miles
Wild
Segment 8 South Fork Devils Canyon from its source to the MiddleFork confluence
3.99miles
Wild
TOTAL 23.63 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
Big Creek
P
ac
i
f
ic
O
c
ea
n
N.
Fork
B
ig
Cre
ek
Big
Cre ek
N. F
o rk
Devil
s CanyonM
. Fo rk DevilsCan
yo
n
S
.
ForkDevil
sCanyon
Big CreekState Marine
Reserve
Big CreekState Marine
Conservation Area
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Los
Padres
National
Forest
LimekilnStatePark
Landels-Hill
Big Creek Reserve
VentanaWilderness
0 10.5Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALCarmel River & Miller Fork
The Carmel River is one of the most popular
trail routes into the Ventana Wilderness. The
river flows northwest out of the Los PadresNational Forest and eventually to the Pacific
Ocean. The portion of the Carmel River andmuch of the Miller Fork considered for Wild
& Scenic status are located entirely within the
Ventana Wilderness.
The Forest Service did not find the Carmel
River and the Miller Fork to be eligible for
federal protection, due to supposed lack ofoutstanding values. However, the agencys
own study confirms outstanding values.
Outstanding Values:
Scenery & Recreation Distinctive sandstone
formations along the river, spectacular
tributary waterfalls, house-size boulders, deep
rocky gorges, and lush riparian habitat andwoodlands, complete with six foot tall ferns,
all contribute to the rivers outstanding
scenery and diverse recreational opportunities.The rivers offer one of the most popular trail routes into the Ventana Wilderness. According to the
Forest Service, the river is unique to Southern California, due to its diverse recreation uses, including
backpacking, horsepacking, fishing, bird watching, scenery viewing, camping, swimming, naturestudy, and photography.
Wildlife The Carmel River and its riparian habitat supports nesting spotted owls, endangeredCalifornia red-legged frogs, a remnant population of threatened steelhead, and sensitive
Southwestern pond turtles.
Cultural Esselen Indian archeological sites along the upper Carmel River provide unique evidence
of their conflict with Spanish missionaries and the armed Spanish garrison, late in the contact periodand just prior to the demise of the Esselen people.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALComments:
The Carmel River flows entirely through public lands. The upper segment of the Miller Fork flows
through two private inholdings. The Recreational segment accommodates these inholdings and
access roads. Designation would not affect access to or use of the properties.
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Carmel River from it source in Pine Valley to the National
Forest boundary
10.9
miles
Wild
Segment 2 The Miller Fork from its source to the western boundary of
the private inholding (Tanoak Property) in Sec. 1, T19S,R3E
1 mile Recreational
Segment 3 The Miller Fork from the western boundary of the private
inholding in Sec. 1 to its confluence with the Carmel River
6.16
miles
Wild
TOTAL 18.06 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
Carmel River and Miller Fork Carmel River
Mille
rF
o
r
kC
a
rm
e
lRiver
Carm
elR
ive r
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Los Padres National Forest
Ventana Wilderness
HastingsNatural
HistoryReserve
BloomquistOpen Space
0 10.5Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALLittle Sur River
The Little Sur River is considered by the California Deparment
of Fish and Game to be the most important steelhead spawning
stream on the Central Coast. The North and South Forks of theLittle Sur River flow northwest from the slopes of Ventana
Double Cone and are divided by the limestone buttresses ofPico Blanco, which is visible from Highway 1.
Dudleys Lousewort
The Forest Service found 8.1 miles of the North Fork to be eligible for Wild & Scenic status due to
its outstanding botanical values. In addition, conservationists believe that both forks of the Little Sur
within the Los Padres Forest boundary possess outstanding ecological, fish, wildlife, and scenicvalues.
Outstanding Values:Fish The Little Sur River is considered by the California
Department of Fish and Game to be the most important s
stream for threatened steelhead on the Central Coast. This is dueto the pristine nature of the Little Sur in comparison to other
Central Coast watersheds.
pawning
Ecological The entire drainage was identified by the Forest
Service as an area of high ecological significance due to its
pristine habitat for a diversity of fish and wildlife species andfew non-native species.
Botanical The North Fork supports the largest knownaggregation of Dudleys lousewort on public lands. Dudleys
lousewort is a rare plant endemic to redwood forests with fewer
than 10 known populations.
Wildlife Sensitive, threatened, and endangered species that live
in and along the Little Sur include the spotted owl, Californiared-legged frog, Pacific salamander, and giant salamander.
Scenery Both forks of the Little Sur flow through deep canyons shrouded in redwood forests, and
offer attractive and popular routes into the Ventana Wilderness, complete with numerous cascadesand deep pools.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALComments:
The upper segments of both forks are publicly owned. There are private inholdings on both forks
within the Forest boundary. None of these properties would be affected by designation.
Recreational designation of the lower segment of the North Fork accommodates the Pico BlancoBoyscout Camp access road and would allow continued seasonal impoundment of the North Fork by
the Camp, as long as the impoundment did not continue to harm the outstanding steelhead fishery.
A portion of the Wild segment of the South Fork flows through an undeveloped area of AndrewMolera State Park. Wild designation of this segment is consistent with the states management of
this portion of the Park.
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Source of the North Fork to Ventana Wilderness boundary 4.6
miles
Wild
Segment 2 Ventana Wilderness boundary to National Forest boundary 3 miles RecreationalSegment 3 Source of the South Fork to the northwestern boundary ofAndrew Molera State Park
7.2miles
Wild
Segment 4 Stake Park boundary to National Forest boundary inSection 35
.75miles
Scenic
TOTAL 15.55 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
North Fork and South Fork Little Sur River
Pa
cif
ic
Oc
ea
n
NorthFo
rkL
ittleSur River
Sou
thF
o rk
Little
Su
rRiver
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Forest
Andrew
Molera
State
Park
Pfeiffer
Big SurState Park
National
Padres
Los
Palo Corona Ranch
BrazilRanch
Mill CreekRedwoodPreserve
GlenDevenRanch
Santa LuciaPreserve
Ventana
Wilderness
0 10.5Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Nacimiento River
The Nacimiento River flows east from the Santa LuciaRange crest into Fort Hunter Liggett. It is one of the
few rivers in the range easily accessible by road.
The Forest Service did not study the Nacimiento River.
Conservationists believe the river is free flowing andpossesses outstanding values.
Arroyo Toad
Outstanding Values:
Recreation The Nacimiento Fergusson
Road makes the Nacimiento River one ofthe few streams in the mountain range easily
accessible for recreation, including scenic
driving, hiking, swimming, angling, andcamping. Two roadside Forest Service
campgrounds provide good opportunities to
explore the river.
Wildlife The Forest Service identified the
Nacimiento River as supporting a highlysignificant population of endangered arroyo
toad.
Botanical The Nacimiento supports some
of the southern-most stands of rare andendemic Santa Lucia Fir in the mountain
range.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALComments:
The Recreational segment accommodates the Nacimiento Road and the two adjacent campgrounds.
Although it flows into Fort Hunter Liggett, none of the segments of the Nacimiento River proposed
for designation are located on the military reservation. The river corridor can and should beestablished by the Forest Service after designation to avoid overlap with the military reservation on
the northeast side of the river and Nacimiento Road. Designation will not affect military water rights
to the river. Virtually all of the water in the Nacimiento River is captured by the Nacimiento Damand Reservoir for agricultural and municipal use. Designation of upstream segments on the National
Forest will not affect the dam, reservoir, or water uses.
Santa Lucia Fir
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Source to Ventana Wilderness boundary 3 miles Wild
Segment 2 Ventana Wilderness boundary to National Forest boundary 6 miles Recreational
TOTAL 9 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
Nacimiento River
P
ac
i
f
i
c
O
c
e
a
n
N
ac imientoR
iver
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Los
Padres
National
Forest
Ventana
Wilderness
Silver Peak
Wilderness
Fort Hunter Liggett
0 10.5Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALSan Antonio River and tributaries
The San Antonio River flows east from the Santa Lucia Range crest into Fort Hunter Liggett. The
upper portion of the river, its North Fork, and several small tributaries flow through an area on theLos Padres National Forest unusually rich in Native American heritage.
The Forest Service identified 8.6 miles of the main stem of the San Antonio River from its source tothe National Forest boundary to be eligible for federal protection, but the agency did not recommend
its designation. Instead, the Los Padres Forest Plan established the 9,933 acre Milpitas Special
Interest Area encompassing both the main stem and North Fork and several tributaries. SIAdesignation provides inferior protection of the rivers cultural values in comparison to Wild &
Scenic status. Conservationists believe that the main stem, its North Fork, Carrizo Creek, Santa
Lucia Creek, lower Rattlesnake Creek, and several other unnamed tributaries all collectively
contribute to this areas outstanding cultural values and are therefore eligible for protection.
Outstanding Values:
Cultural The river flows through an area with
unusually dense and varied concentration of historic
and pre-historic cultural values, probably spanningthousands of years, and offering a unique interpretive
potential. The river and tributaries record the ancient
uses of the native Salinan people as well as theearliest contact between the Salinan and the Mission-
era explorers. It also offers insights into the post-
secular history of the Indians who withdrew to theupper river and its tributaries to live after the closure
of the Mission San Antonio de Padua downstream.Low rock walls along Santa Lucia Creek outline theSalinans milpitas or small gardens. First
established by the Salinans, the Carrizo Trail along
Carrizo Creek was used by early homesteaders totransport supplies to and from the coast. The entire
watershed is dominated by the peak sacred to the
Salinans that is known today as Junipero Serra. Laterexpanded into a hunting resort, the historic Indians
adobe, vineyard, and family cemetery provide a
glimpse of rustic life in the backcountry.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Historic Indians Adobe
Scenery The North Fork originates from and flows through a spectacular setting of oak savannahand massive sandstone rock outcrops formed under an ancient sea.
Wildlife The upper river supports nesting spotted owls, a sensitive species. The lower river in FortHunter Liggett supports the northern most population of endangered arroyo toad in California.
Ecological The valley oaks along the banks of the river and its tributaries are the only valley oaks
in the National Forest system and have been proposed as a Research Natural Area.
Wagon Cave
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Comments:
There are a few private inholdings adjacent to the main stem, North Fork and Santa Lucia Creek.
These private parcels will not be affected by designation. Although the San Antonio River flows
into Fort Hunter Liggett, none of the river or tributary segments proposed for designation are locatedon the military reservation. Designation will not affect military water rights to the river. Virtually
all of the water in the San Antonio River is captured by the San Antonio Dam and Reservoir for
agricultural and municipal use. Designation of upstream segments on the National Forest will notaffect the dam, reservoir, or water uses.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALSegmentation/Classification:
San Antonio River
Segment 1 Source to Wilderness boundary 7.6 miles Wild
Segment 2 Wilderness boundary to National Forest boundary 1 mile ScenicNorth Fork San Antonio River
Segment 1 Source to Wilderness boundary 1.15 miles Wild
Segment 2 From the Wilderness boundary west of the Indians Roadto where the North Fork leaves the Indians Road
1.32 miles Recreational
Segment 3 Indians Road to the main stem confluence 4.26 miles Scenic
Carrizo Creek
Segment 1 Source to the North Fork confluence 2.55 miles Wild
Rattlesnake Creek
Segment 1 From the Fort Hunter Liggett boundary to the confluence
with the North Fork
.31 miles Scenic
Santa Lucia CreekSegment 1 Source to the Wilderness boundary .75 miles Wild
Segment 2 Wilderness boundary to confluence with the North Fork
San Antonio River
2.88 miles Recreational
Unnamed creek near Indians Ranch
Segment 1 Pond dam to the North Fork confluence 1.25 miles Recreational
Unnamed creek flowing from Junipero Serra Peak
Segment 1 Source south of Junipero Serra Peak in Sec. 34, T20S,
R5E to confluence with unnamed western tributary inSec. 17, T21S, R5E
2.96 miles Wild
Segment 2 Source west of Junipero Serra Peak in Sec. 33, T20S,
R5E to confluence with unnamed eastern tributary inSec. 17, T21S, R5E
1.38 miles Wild
Segment 3 From the confluence of unnamed creeks in Sec. 17,T21S, R5E to the confluence with the North Fork San
Antonio River
.89 miles Scenic
Segment 4 Source of unnamed tributary in Sec. 4, T21S, R5E to the
confluence with unnamed creek in Sec. 17, T21S, R5E
2.39 miles Scenic
TOTAL 30.69 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
San Antonio River and Tributaries
San
Ant
onio River
No
r th Fork
Sant
aLu
ci
aC
ree
k
Ca
rrizo Creek
Serra
Cre
ek
SanAnton
ioR
iver
Pa
cif
i
c
Oc
e
a
n
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Los Padres National Forest
Ventana Wilderness
Limekiln
StatePark
Fort Hunter Liggett
0 10.5Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALSan Carporforo Creek
San Carpoforo Creek flows south out of the Santa
Lucia Range in the northern Los Padres NationalForest, onto lands owned by the Hearst
Corporation and then to the Pacific Ocean. The
creek was the route of the historic PortolaExpedition and it was identified as an area of high
ecological significance by the Forest Service.
San Carpoforo Creek was not studied by the
Forest Service. Conservationists believe that it is
free flowing and possesses outstanding values.
Outstanding Values:
Cultural San Carpoforo Creek was the route ofthe historic Portola Expedition of 1769, which led
to the establishment of the California Missions
and ultimately the European colonization ofnorthern California. According to journal entries
by Portola members, contact between Portola and
native people took place on the banks of the San Carpoforo and therefore, the area is considered tobe one of the last primal remnants of the original encounter between indigenous and European
consciousness anywhere on the Pacific coast. In addition, a venerable grove of olive trees near the
confluence of San Carpoforo and Dutra Creeks marks the location where an outpost of the MissionSan Antonio de Padua once stood.
Wildlife The creek supports one of the few remaining populations of sensitive foothill yellow-
legged frogs on the Central Coast, as well as endangered California red-legged frogs.
Fish The California Department of Fish and Game considers the creek to be one of two of the mostimportant spawning streams for threatened steelhead in San Luis Obispo County (the upper section
of the creek on National Forest lands is in Monterey County).
Ecological The creek was identified as an area of high ecological significance by the Forest
Service due to the presence of sensitive and rare frogs and the threatened steelhead.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALComments:
There is a private inholding on the lower segment encompassing the Baldwin Ranch and its access
road. The Recreational segment accommodates the ranch and its access road. Designation would
not affect access to the property or ranch operations. The lower portion of the creek downstream ofthe forest boundary is not proposed for designation. The lower creek flows through Hearst lands
protected by conservation easements.
California Red-legged Frog
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Source to Silver Peak Wilderness boundary 2.75 miles Wild
Segment 2 Silver Peak Wilderness boundary to the National Forest
boundary
1.54 miles Recreational
TOTAL 4.29 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
San Carpoforo Creek
P
a
c
i
f
i
c
O
c
e
a
n
San
Carpofo
ro
Cr ee
k
S a n L u i s O b i s p oC o u n t y
M o n t e r e y C o u n t y
Los Padres National Forest
Silver Peak Wilderness
Fort Hunter Liggett
0 0.90.45Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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Ventana Wild Rivers CampaignHannah Schoenthal-Muse, Organizer
Friends of the River99 Pacific St., Suite 555A, Monterey, CA 93940831/535-8304 hannah@friendsoftheriver.org
10/26/200610/26/2006VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALWillow Creek
Willow Creek flows west from the Santa Lucia
Range crest to the Pacific Ocean. It represents
one of the few opportunities on the Central Coastto protect a stream from its source to the ocean as
a Wild & Scenic River. It is located entirely onpublic lands and mostly within the Silver Peak
Wilderness.
Willow Creek was not studied by the ForestService for its Wild & Scenic River attributes.
Conservationists believe that the creek is free
flowing and possesses outstanding values.
Outstanding Values:
Hydrological Willow Creek represents one of
the few opportunities to protect an entire Central
Coast stream from its source to the Pacific Oceanin the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System.
Fish The California Department of Fish and
Game considers Willow Creek to be one of themost productive spawning streams for threatened
steelhead in southern Monterey County.
Botanical Lower Willow Creek supports the only know occurrence of the La Graciosa thistle on
National Forest land. The plant is proposed for federal listing as endangered. It is found inserpentine seeps surrounded by chaparral that receives exposure to coastal fog near Willow Creek.
The upper Willow Creek drainage supports the largest of the most southerly know coastal stands of
Douglas fir.
Wildlife Willow Creek supports one of the few populations of sensitive foothill yellow-legged frog
in the Santa Lucia Range of the Los Padres Forest.
Cultural Historic remnants of 1880s gold mining occur along Willow Creek including an extensive
dry laid stone retaining wall believed to have been built by a crew of Chinese miners over onehundred years ago.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Comments:
There are no private inholdings on Willow Creek or its North Fork. The Recreational segment
accommodates the lower portion of the creek flowing under the Highway 1 bridge and the adjacentday use area. A cherry-stemmed road in the Silver Peak Wilderness approaches the proposed Wild
River corridor in sec. 28, T23S, R5E, but does not reach the creek. This is permissible for Wild
Rivers under federal guidelines.
Segmentation/Classification:
Segment 1 Source of the main stem to the Silver Peak Wildernessboundary
5.1miles
Wild
Segment 2 Silver Peak Wilderness boundary to the Pacific Ocean .5 miles Recreational
Segment 3 The North Fork from its source to its confluence with the
main stem
4 miles Wild
TOTAL 9.6 MILES
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Map created byGreenInfo Networkwww.greeninfo.org
Proposed Wild & Scenic River Segments
Willow Creek
P
a
c
i
f
i
c
O
ce
an
N
ort h
For
k
Wi llow
Creek
M o n t e r e yC o u n t y
Los
Padres
National
Forest
Ventana
Wilderness
Silver Peak
Wilderness
Silver Peak Wilderness
Fort Hunter Liggett
0 0.90.45Miles
VentanaWild RiversCampaign
Note: River corridor boundaries are provisional and are finalized after designation in a comprehensive river management plan.
Scenic
Recreational
Wild
Proposed Designation:
Land Ownership:
United StatesForest Service
Bureau of LandManagement
State
Local
PrivateConservation
Boundaries
Forest ServiceWilderness
Area
County
City
Forest ServiceAdministrativeArea
U.S. Departmentof Defense
State MarineReserve orConservation
Area
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALOverview: Federal Wild & Scenic Designation and its
Classifications
The National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act was passed by Congress in 1968 specifically to complementour existing national policy of developing rivers for their water and power resources, with a new
federal policy to protect the free flowing
conditions, water quality, and outstandingscenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife,
historic, and cultural values. The intent of
Congress was to protect certain selected riversand their immediate environments to fulfill vital
national conservation purposes.
Federal protection ensures that no new dams or
large diversions will be constructed ondesignated rivers, which are to be protected in
perpetuity for future generations. In addition,the federal public lands through which
designated rivers flow are managed to protect
the rivers free flowing character andoutstanding values.
Federal permits required for water resourceprojects (defined as any project that touches the
water, such as bridges, bank protection, etc)
must ensure that such projects do not have adirect and adverse effect on the values of
designated rivers. Water resource projects upstream or downstream of protected rivers may notinvade or unreasonably diminish the rivers outstanding values.
Wild Rivers are vestiges of
primitive America, where access is
primarily by trail and is non-
motorized.
Scenic Rivers have largely
undeveloped shorelines, but may
have occasional road or bridgecrossings and structures adjacent to
but unseen from the shoreline.
Access may be motorized or non-
motorized.
Recreational Rivers may have
parallel roads and adjacent
structures and other development
visible from the shoreline. Access is
primarily motorized.
Upon designation, a protected river corridor averaging 320 acres per mile (approximately mile on
each side of the river) is established. The river corridor is classified as Wild, Scenic, or Recreationalbased on the level of existing development at the time of designation. Wild Rivers are vestiges of
primitive America, where access is primarily by trail and is non-motorized. Scenic Rivers have
largely undeveloped shorelines, but may have occasional road or bridge crossings and structuresadjacent to but unseen from the shoreline. Access may be motorized or non-motorized. Recreational
Rivers may have parallel roads and adjacent structures and other development visible from the
shoreline. Access is primarily motorized.
A comprehensive river management plan is developed and adopted by the appropriate federal
management agency within three years after designation by Congress. The final river corridor
boundaries, classifications, specific management standards to ensure protection of outstanding rivervalues, and determination of the rivers recreational use carrying capacity are all key components of
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSALthe management plan. The process for developing comprehensive river management plans includesextensive public input.
Many protected rivers have private lands or inholdings within their corridors. Federal designation
confers no additional authority over private lands or local land use, except to prohibit or limit federalpermits or support for dams, diversions, and other water resource projects. Local zoning and land
use regulations still apply to all private lands on protected rivers. Local governments may but are
not required to adopt zoning and land use regulations that are complementary to the purposes offederal designation.
Federal agencies may pay fair market value to acquire private property from willing sellers alongdesignated rivers. No private lands have ever been condemned on a Wild & Scenic River in
California. Federal condemnation authority on designated rivers is actually limited in comparison to
pre-designation authority. Fee title condemnation is prohibited if 50 percent or more of thedesignated river corridor is already public land. Scenic easements may be condemned to prevent
inappropriate development along protected rivers. All of the rivers proposed for designation in theVentana Wild Rivers Campaign are more than 50 percent public. But as a practical matter, the use
of condemnation is limited because it is politically unpopular and most federal agencies do not havefunding to condemn private property.
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VENTANA WILD RIVERS PROPOSAL
Statistical Summary
Wild Scenic Recreational Total
Miles
Arroyo Seco
River
12.36 3.82 3.03 19.21
Tributaries:
Tassajara &
Church Creeks
13.56 --- 2 15.56
Big Creek 20.49 .87 2.27 23.63
Carmel River
&
Miller Fork
17.06 --- 1 18.06
Little Sur
River
11.8 .75 3 15.55
NacimientoRiver
3 --- 6 9
San Antonio
River &
Tributaries
16.39 8.85 5.45 30.69
San Carpoforo
Creek
2.75 --- 1.54 4.29
Willow Creek 9.1 --- .5 9.6
Total
Miles
106.51 14.29 24.79 145.59
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