Eastern Sierra

UPDATE:

More than 470,000 acres of wilderness and 52 miles of wild and scenic rivers would gain permanent protection from legislation introduced on May 22, 2008 by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Representative Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita). The Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act preserves the spectacular mountains, rivers and open spaces of California’s Eastern Sierra and San Gabriel Mountains near Santa Clarita. Below are a few of the areas protected in the legislation:

Areas included in the legislation

Hoover & Emigrant Wilderness Additions
Location: Mono County CA
Land Management Agency: U.S. Forest Service
Approximate Acreage: 77, 309

Adjacent to Yosemite National Park, the Hoover and Emigrant Additions are a
classic High Sierra landscape of majestic peaks, glacial valleys, alpine lakes and
pine forests, including 12 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and the headwaters of
the West Walker River, bighorn sheep habitat and popular hiking and fishing
destinations.

Granite Mountain
Location: Mono County CA
East of Mono Lake and Highway 120
Land Management Agency: US Bureau of Land Management
Approximate Acreage: 34,564
Granite Mountain is home to sage grouse, deer migration corridors, abundant
raptor nesting sites and wild horses. Its Great Basin sagebrush steppe habitat is
underrepresented in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Owens River Headwaters
Location: Mono County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Acreage: 15,246
The Eastern Sierra’s most important river system, this addition to the Ansel
Adams Wilderness includes the San Joaquin Ridge, Glass Creek Meadow and
region’s largest old growth red fir forest.

White Mountains
Location: Mono County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management
Approximate Acreage: 223,516
America’s largest and highest desert mountain range, the Whites contain the largest
expanse of alpine tundra in western North America and the highest peak in the Great
Basin.

John Muir Wilderness Additions
Location: Inyo County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management
Approximate Acreage: 80,112
The John Muir Wilderness Additions protect the unparalleled viewshed and troutbearing
streams which flow down into the Owens Valley, while maintaining access to
popular car camping, hunting and fishing sites.

Magic Mountain
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Acreage: 12,160
Magic Mountain’s sloping chaparral and manzanita blanketed hillsides and live oak
canyons provide a scenic vista for the rapidly urbanizing Santa Clarita Valley.

Pleasant View Ridge
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Acreage: 27,323
Pleasant View Ridge features 8,200-foot Mt. Williamson, rugged backcountry, the
headwaters of Little Rock Creek, a section of the Pacific Crest Trail and numerous
recreational opportunities.

Amargosa River
Location: Inyo & San Bernardino Counties, CA.
Land Management Agency: U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Approximate Mileage: 26
The only river flowing into Death Valley, the Amargosa is a fertile oasis in a harsh
desert setting. The Amargosa River supports a wide array of wildlife and offers
outstanding recreational opportunities.

Owens River Headwaters
Location: Mono County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Mileage: 19
The Owens Headwaters support one of America’s finest and most popular trout
fisheries. Wild and scenic protection of Glass Creek, Deadman Creek and Big
Springs enhances the area’s fishing economy.

Piru Creek
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Mileage: 7
One of the few year-round free flowing streams on National Forest lands in Southern
California, Piru Creek supports a catch-and-release trout fishery below Pyramid Dam and is a popular recreation destination.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Location: White Mountains, Mono County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Acreage: 29,000
The bill gives permanent protection to the ancient bristlecone pines while allowing for the continued scientific research conducted in the area, prohibiting the construction of additional roads and enforcing existing special management.

Bridgeport Winter Recreation Area
Location: Southwest of Bridgeport, Mono County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Acreage: 7,680
This designation creates a snowmobile recreation area in Leavitt Bowl, adjacent to Hoover West
Wilderness Additions.

John Muir Wilderness Boundary Correction
Location: Laurel Canyon, Mono County, CA
Land Management Agency: US Forest Service
Approximate Mileage: .5
This designation corrects a 30-year mapping error and adjusts the wilderness boundary to allow continued motorized access to Laurel Lakes.

For additional information, visit www.easternsierrawild.org.