Land Management Plan - Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy

Land Management Plan Part 2
Los Padres National Forest Strategy
September 2005
Pozo - La Panza
Theme: A vast rolling chaparral landscape including a remote motorized recreation network
supporting dispersed recreation activities, grazing areas for wild horses and livestock, and private
inholdings characterize this Place.
Setting: The low, dissected hills and mountains of the
La Panza Range dominate the Pozo/La Panza Place.
Most of the Place is readily accessible either by the
historic Pozo-La Panza Road (that passes through the
area from east to west), or by the Navajo Road that
takes off from California State Highway 58 and runs
south until it meets the Pozo-La Panza Road. The
Pozo/La Panza Road provides the only motorized
access to the north end of the Machesna Mountain
Wilderness.
This is a largely chaparral-covered landscape with
scattered blue oak woodlands, gray pines, and
occasional annual grasslands. Several threatened,
endangered and sensitive plant and animal species
reside here including the dwarf calycadenia (Calycadenia villosa), Camatta Canyon amole
(Chlorogalum purpureum reductum), Parish's checkerbloom (Sidalcea hickmanii ssp. parishii),
Santa Margarita manzanita (Arctostaphylos pilosula pilosula), peregrine falcon and the
California condor. Water is scarce except for several springs that are vital to both wildlife and
livestock.
This area is best known for its variety of OHV opportunities that require advanced skill levels.
Visitors from coastal areas, especially San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande, heavily use OHV
routes. In addition to motorized use, the area supports recreation uses such as mining, hunting,
mountain biking and the running of hounds. There are four grazing allotments and a portion of
the Black Mountain Wildhorse Territory. The Place supports special-uses, such as power lines,
apiaries, and filming
locations. Much of the area
is a historic gold mining
district as evidenced by
scattered abandoned mines.
The variety and intensities of
use in this Place create
conflicts and management
challenges for recreation and
permitted activities.
Special Interest Area:
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• Camatta (new) 55
acres