Land Management Plan - Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy

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Land Management Plan Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy September 2005 The predominately south-facing slopes of the Ojai-Piru Front Country Place are dominated by chaparral with areas of grassland and oak woodland at lower elevations. Conifers grow in patches along the ridges and on peaks. Narrow riparian corridors contrast sharply with chaparralcovered uplands. Wildland fires historically have threatened national forest resources, private land, and communities along the extensive Wildland/Urban Interface. Wildlife species in the Ojai-Piru Front Country Place are typical of those in southern California chaparral communities. Sensitive species found within the Ojai-Piru Front Country Place most often live in riparian habitat. The national forest manages potential impacts to wildlife species from oil and gas development, grazing, concentrated recreation use, and other national forest activities. Unique wildlife species include the arroyo toad, southwestern willow flycatcher, California condor and southern California steelhead. Invasive and exotic species can cause problems for native wildlife and have spread through many of the riparian areas in this Place. As urbanization spreads towards the national forest, human-caused fire ignitions have increased. Thus, there are more requests for fuelbreaks and community defense zones. Fire suppression is hampered by poor access to private land on both sides of the national forest boundary. Mountain biker on Pratt Trail, Ojai Piru Front Country Place Various dispersed recreation opportunities are available to the public including mountain biking, equestrian use, hiking, hang-gliding/ paragliding, rock climbing, camping, waterplay, fishing, and limited OHV use. Opportunities for developed and dispersed recreation are limited by public access to national forest land. Existing trails and trailheads are not meeting demands of nearby urban populations, and they are not being maintained to standard. Certain areas receive heavy day-use and there are conflicts between hunters, OHV enthusiasts, private landowners, and oil field developments. Graffiti and sanitation problems affect water quality and aesthetics in Santa Paula. A small number of livestock grazing allotments are found within the Place. The Sespe Oil Field has produced oil and gas since the late 1800s, and other areas along the Ojai-Piru Front Country Place have moderate to high potential for exploration and development. Competing uses include multiple demands for limited water resources, the need for access to recreation opportunities, and oil and gas developments. These lands produce surface and groundwater for adjacent agricultural areas and communities and provide many domestic and agricultural water needs along the entire front. There is limited access to the national forest from this Place. Land encroachment is a problem from adjacent private lands. There are no special designations. Total national forest acres--Ojai-Piru Front Country Place: 59,454 Page 68
September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy Desired Condition: The Ojai-Piru Front Country Place is expected to continue to serve as a high-quality recreation playground and scenic backdrop to nearby communities. The Ojai-Piru Front Country Place is maintained as a natural appearing landscape that functions as a scenic backdrop for urban communities and continues to provide recreation opportunities while protecting natural resources. The valued landscape attributes to be preserved over time are visibility of rock outcrops and cliffs, and the natural skyline ridge as a backdrop to urban areas. The historic Sespe Oil Field and associated opportunities continue to contribute to the national energy demand. Program Emphasis: Management focus is expected to continue on reducing risk from wildland fire, improving trail access to national forest lands, maintaining scenic quality, improving recreation facilities, domestic water, oil and gas, and increasing public environmental education. Establish community defense zones. Continue to reduce conflicts between recreationists, private landowners, sensitive species, and minimize illegal activities (e.g., marijuana cultivation). Emphasize acquiring land to improve public trail access, to promote ecological stability, and to reduce or eliminate use conflicts. Continue to work with the United Water District to complete a land exchange that resolves land ownership problems at Lake Piru. Continue active participation in the Santa Felicia Hydroelectric Power relicensing project. The historic Sespe Oil Field continues to contribute to the national energy supply. If new oil or gas developments occur, they will proceed only as specified by the decision pending from the Oil and Gas EIS. Permits for exploration, development, and operation of additional facilities will be subject to further environmental study and the stipulations and geographic restrictions specified. Idle oil wells and ancillary facilities will be abandoned and restored to natural conditions. Page 69
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Land Management Plan Part 2 Los Pad
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APPENDIX A - SPECIAL DESIGNATION OV
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LM 1 - Landscape Aesthetics........
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