California

Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act
Why Protect: From fog-shrouded redwood forests to crystalline turquoise pools, Northern California is home to some of the most stunning landscapes. This bill protects local wild lands, expands recreational opportunities, and restores impacted watersheds by designating 379 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers, establishing eight new wilderness areas and expanding nine existing ones.
Update: This legislation was introduced as H.R. 878 on February 5, 2021. Eight public lands bills, including this one, were consolidates as part of H.R. 803, which the House approved on February 26, 2021. On September 23, 2021 the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act (H.R. 803) was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act and was passed by the House. In the Senate, the three California river bills were packaged as S. 1459 (PUBLIC Act) and had a hearing on October 19, 2021. Advocates are pursuing reintroduction in 2023.
Contact:
André Sanchez, [email protected], with California Wilderness Coalition

Central Coast Heritage Protection Act (H.R. 2545)
Why Protect: The product of years of discussion and negotiation between business leaders, conservationists, elected officials, ranchers, mountain bikers and other stakeholders, this bill will ensure clean water for thriving communities, protect critical wildlife habitat and stimulate a vibrant local economy. It safeguards 159 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, designates nearly 250,000 acres of wilderness and creates two new scenic areas in California’s Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument.
Update: This legislation was introduced as H.R. 2545 on April 10, 2023 by Representative Carbajal.
Contact:
André Sanchez, [email protected], with California Wilderness Coalition
Ron Stork, [email protected], with Friends of the River

San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act
Why Protect: Despite nearby gorgeous rivers, forests and mountains just to the north, Los Angeles residents are some of the most park-poor in the country. This bill spurs outdoor recreation by connecting park-poor areas, especially communities of color, to open space. It establishes a National Recreation Area along the San Gabriel River, protects 45.5 miles of rivers in Southern California, designates more than 30,000 acres of wilderness and expands the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Update: This legislation was introduced as H.R. 693 on February 2, 2021. Eight public lands bills, including this one, were consolidates as part of H.R. 803, which the House approved on February 26, 2021. On September 23, 2021 the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act (H.R. 803) was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act and was passed by the House. In the Senate, the three California river bills were packaged as S. 1459 (PUBLIC Act) and had a hearing on October 19, 2021. Advocates are pursuing reintroduction in 2023.
Contact:
André Sanchez, [email protected], with California Wilderness Coalition