Wild Rivers Campaign ~ Ventana Wilderness Alliance

8/9/2019 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

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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 [email protected]

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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Arroyo Seco River, Tassajara and Church Creeks

Tassaja

raC

reek

ArroyoSe

coR

iver

Los

Padres

National

Forest

Landels-HillBig Creek

Reserve

Chu

rchCre

ek


Ventana

Wilderness

0 10.5Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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.


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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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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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


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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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


Los

Padres

National

Forest

LimekilnStatePark

Landels-Hill

Big Creek Reserve

VentanaWilderness

0 10.5Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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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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.


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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Carmel River and Miller Fork Carmel River

Mille

rF

o

r

kC

a

rm

e

lRiver

Carm

elR

ive r


Los Padres National Forest

Ventana Wilderness

HastingsNatural

HistoryReserve

BloomquistOpen Space

0 10.5Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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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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.


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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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


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



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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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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


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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Nacimiento River

P

ac

i

f

i

c

O

c

e

a

n

N

ac imientoR

iver


Los

Padres

National

Forest

Ventana

Wilderness

Silver Peak

Wilderness

Fort Hunter Liggett

0 10.5Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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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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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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


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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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



Ventana Wilderness

Limekiln

StatePark

Fort Hunter Liggett

0 10.5Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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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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


Segment 1 Source to Silver Peak Wilderness boundary 2.75 miles Wild

Segment 2 Silver Peak Wilderness boundary to the National Forest

boundary


TOTAL 4.29 MILES


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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


Silver Peak Wilderness

Fort Hunter Liggett

0 0.90.45Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




Area


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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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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.


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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Willow Creek

P

a

c

i

f

i

c

O

ce

an

N

ort h

For

k

Wi llow

Creek


Los

Padres

National

Forest

Ventana

Wilderness

Silver Peak

Wilderness

Silver Peak Wilderness

Fort Hunter Liggett

0 0.90.45Miles



Scenic

Recreational

Wild


Land Ownership:



State

Local

PrivateConservation

Boundaries


Area

County

City




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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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

Wild Rivers Campaign ~ Ventana Wilderness Alliance

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Transcript of Wild Rivers Campaign ~ Ventana Wilderness Alliance