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 Sespe Theme: This is the most rugged, remote repository of wilderness in the southern California ranges. It is habitat for many threatened and endangered species, as well as home to the California condor and steelhead trout. This is a place of challenge and adventure within vast expanses of untouched landscapes and unique geologic features that provide opportunities for recreation, research and education, especially along the Gene Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreation Trail and Wild and Scenic Sespe Creek. Setting: The Sespe Wilderness (home of the California condor) contains some of the wildest, most rugged, and remote Back Country in southern California, yet it is still close to major urban populations. A wide variety of geologic formations are exposed in these east-west trending western mountains, leading to spectacular scenery and a great diversity of plant and animal habitats. Good accessibility via multiple entry points and an extensive trail network serve foot and equestrian travel throughout the wilderness. The nearby California Condor Sanctuary has limited public access. High mountains include the Pine Mountain Ridge, the Topa Topa Range, and other peaks over 6,000 feet, topped by Reyes Peak at 7,510 feet. Principal streams include the Wild and Scenic Sespe Creek, Agua Blanca Creek, and portions of Piru Creek. Watersheds are rugged, remote, and mostly undeveloped, except for trails and campsites. Most of the bedrock is of folded and faulted sedimentary origin, except for older basement rocks in the eastern area. Page 80 Bear Heaven view, Sespe Place
September 2005 Land Management Plan Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy Mixed conifer forests cover north-facing slopes of the highest elevations and chaparral dominates the lower elevations. Wilderness designation limits opportunities for vegetation management. A minor noxious weed problem exists in some areas, including invasion of tamarisk and yellow-star thistle. Volunteer groups are working to help control tamarisk and other invasive weed populations. There is a wide array of habitat (both riparian and upland) leading to a high biodiversity of wildlife. Cliffs and rock outcrops provide habitat for California condors, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, bats, and other species. Bear and deer are common. The anadromous southern steelhead trout can be found in a few streams during wet years, but barriers to fish passage restrict the growth of populations. With the exception of large periodic wildland fires, the natural fire regime has largely been excluded from this Place for many decades. Old-age fuels are set up for large fires, and there is a need for management-ignited fire. Since most of the Sespe Place is surrounded by other wildland Places, there is no urban interface. Access for firefighting is limited to foot travel or aerial suppression, and there is very limited potential for motorized vehicle use during emergencies and only under special authorizations. Recreation opportunities include wildlife viewing and interpretation, picnicking, camping, hiking, hunting and use of the hot springs. Waterplay and fishing are available at some locations, and opportunities for solitude exist throughout the wilderness (not in the Condor Sanctuary). Environmental education is insufficient to meet demand. Although there are multiple entry points to the wilderness, access to some key areas (like the Devils Gate on Sespe Creek) are unavailable to the public, and needs to be resolved. Unauthorized OHV and mountain bike activity is occurring in a few areas, and a few conflicts exist between recreationists and other resource values. Cultural sites need additional protection. Grazing occurs on several allotments around the eastern and northern perimeter of the wilderness, but most grazing occurs outside of the boundary. Oil and gas are pumped from beneath the wilderness via directional drilling from wells in the Sespe Field located just outside the wilderness boundary. These wells were drilled before the wilderness was designated. Hot springs occur within the wilderness, and are enjoyed by recreationists for soaking. Lead bullets, antifreeze, high voltage lines and other hazards that threaten the California condors and other species are being managed or eliminated to reduce the threats to viability. A few private inholdings exist within the wilderness. Designated Wild and Scenic Rivers: • Sespe Creek 24.3 miles Existing Wilderness: • Sespe Wilderness 218,507 acres Recommended Research Natural Area: • White Mountain 2,104 acres Total national forest acres--Sespe Place: 218,657 Page 81
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Land Management Plan Part 2 Los Pad
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Land Management Plan - Part 2 Los Padres National Forest Strategy

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