Eastern Sierra Wilderness - A Dozen Questions and Answers
Prepared by Friends of the Inyo & The Wilderness Society
What is Wilderness?
The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines wilderness as: "an area of undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation." The purpose of the Act is clear: "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of Wilderness."
How is Wilderness designated?
Wilderness can only be designated by an Act of Congress. Recommendations for Wilderness can come from the land management agencies (Bureau of Land Management (BLM), United States Forest Service, National Park Service) or directly from the people.
How much potential Wilderness is there in the Eastern Sierra?
How much is currently proposed for Wilderness? The Eastern Sierra contains nearly 1.5 million acres of potential wilderness on publicly-owned lands managed by the Forest Service and the BLM. Just over half of the region¹s Wilderness acreage is currently being proposed for Wilderness.
Why do we need Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra?
Wilderness is the best means to ensure that our unspoiled views of the west slope of the White Mountains or the steep eastern scarp of the Sierra, our clean trout-bearing streams, spring wildflower shows, herds of deer and pronghorn antelope, petroglyph murals and remaining wild landscapes are protected for future generations of residents and Eastern Sierra visitors. As California¹s population and development pressures continue to increase, Wilderness designation will ensure that our area¹s most vital economic resource, our unparalleled wild lands, will remain as they are today.
What activities are allowed in Wilderness?
You can hunt, fish, walk, backpack, climb, ride a horse, hire a mountain guide or packer, photograph, ski, snow board and camp in Wilderness. One of the express purposes of the Wilderness Act is to ensure that current and future generations will continue to have wild lands to do just these things.
Does Wilderness benefit our local economy?
Yes. Wilderness Areas, like the current John Muir Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness and the Yosemite National Park Wilderness attract tourists from around the world to the Eastern Sierra. These visitors come to hike, backpack, fish, hunt, horseback ride, climb, camp, back country ski, photograph or simply view the beautiful scenery. Wilderness preserves what draws people to the Eastern Sierra and provides many other benefits to local communities, including: preservation of our scenic view shed, a continuing supply of clean water from protected watersheds, undisturbed ecosystems for scientific research, healthy fish and wildlife populations, as well as the value of just knowing that wild places are there.
Will Wilderness designation shut off access to public lands?
No. The Citizens¹ Wilderness Proposals preserve motorized access to all proposed Wilderness areas. Numerous boundary adjustments ensure continued vehicular access to popular camping areas and destinations. While the proposals will close a few little-used or redundant routes to protect wildlife habitat, archaeological resources and other natural values, these minimal closures will effect less than _ of 1% of the 8300 miles of routes crossing Eastern Sierra public lands. With thousands of miles of off-highway routes available for travel in the Eastern Sierra, the closure of a few such routes is a small price to pay to protect our dwindling resource of Wilderness.
What are the threats to potential Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra?
The greatest threat to California's remaining wild lands is our rapidly increasing population. With the state's population projected to exceed 50 million people in less than 20 years, we need to plan and act now to ensure these lands are remain as wild as they are today. There are also specific threats to specific areas, such as off-road vehicle damage in the White Mountains and potential alpine ski area development and groundwater extraction in the headwaters of the Owens River. Wilderness designation is the only way to guarantee that we will be able to leave a Wilderness legacy for future generations of Americans.
Will Wilderness designation affect grazing?
No. Wilderness designation will not affect current grazing. As stated in the Act itself: "The grazing of livestock, where established prior to the effective date of this Act, shall be permitted to continue."
Will Wilderness negatively affect hunting and fishing?
No. Wilderness designation has no effect on current hunting and fishing rules and regulations. Wilderness will ensure clean water from intact watersheds for healthy local trout populations and preserve critical fawning and wintering grounds for local deer herds.
What about mining?
Once an area is designated Wilderness it is closed to new mining claims. Work on valid claims established prior to Wilderness designation may continue.
Will Wilderness designation affect private property?
No. Only federal lands may be designated as Wilderness. Private land may be surrounded by wilderness, but Wilderness area regulations - such as prohibitions on logging and road construction - do not apply to private land. The Wilderness Act directs federal land management agencies to "assure adequate access" to parcels of private property (inholdings) within Wilderness areas.
If you would like more information on Wilderness in the Eastern Sierra, the Wilderness Act or the Eastern Sierra Citizen's Wilderness Proposals, please contact Sally Miller at 647-1614, Paul McFarland at 760-873-6400