Act now to protect the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests

Black bear sleeping in a tree, Sequoia National Forest

Right now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect the future of some of California’s most beloved public lands: the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests.

The 2.1 million acres in the Sierra and Sequoia are home to giant sequoia groves, vulnerable wildlife like bighorn sheep and the California spotted owl, and miles of wild and scenic rivers. Combined, they host over a million visitors a year. But California's public lands are under threat from sprawl, development, and pressures from climate change -- we must do all we can to protect them.

Right now, Forest Service is developing management plans that will define the Sierra and Sequoia forests for decades to come. So far the plans fall short of the protections the Forests deserve, but it's not too late! Right now they’re taking public comment on the plans -- now is our chance to speak up.

Take Action! Tell the Forest Service -- we demand the strongest possible plans for the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests!

(If you'd like some help crafting your personal message, click here for a handy fact sheet you can use)

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Re: Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RDEIS)

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Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft Revised Plans for the Sierra and Sequoia National Forests. I care deeply about the future of these forests for all Californians, and want to see final forest plans that include additional wilderness recommendations, expanded protection of rivers, streams and watersheds, additional protections for wildlife, key habitats, and roadless areas, and scientifically sound approaches to fire management that protect human communities and promote healthy forest ecosystems. I support Alternative C and urge the Forest Service to adopt it or strengthen Alternative B to include more recommended wilderness areas on both forests, with an emphasis on low-elevation areas not typically protected by the wilderness system. For the Sequoia National Forest, recommended wilderness areas should include the Golden Trout Wilderness Addition, Stormy Canyon, Oat Mountain, Cannell Peak, and the Domeland Wilderness West Addition. For the Sierra National Forest, recommended wilderness areas should include the Kings River-Monarch Wilderness Addition, Sycamore Springs, San Joaquin River-Ansel Adams Wilderness Addition, Bear Mountain, and Devil Gulch-Ferguson Ridge. All recommended wilderness areas should use boundaries developed by conservation groups to reduce conflicts with motorized and mountain bike trails. While I commend the expanded inventory of eligible rivers and streams for wild and scenic designations in the Sequoia National Forest, I am deeply concerned about the substantially reduced inventory on the Sierra National Forest. The draft plans should take a watershed approach to identifying eligible rivers and streams by identifying full streams as eligible rather than disconnected segments. For the Sequoia National Forest, the Forest Service should recognize additional eligible rivers including the North Fork, Middle Fork, Tule River, and Rattlesnake Creek (North Fork Kern tributary). For the Sierra National Forest, the Forest Service should recognize additional eligible rivers including all 30+ miles of Dinkey Creek, the lower South Fork San Joaquin, the main San Joaquin below Mammoth Pool and Redinger dams, Granite Creek, and Iron Creek (South Fork Merced tributary). Lastly, I commend the draft plans for recognizing the importance of high-quality and sustainable forest recreation, acknowledging the changes in use of recreation on the forests, and the need for partnerships to sustainability manage recreation. It is important to me that both plans provide strong direction to improve education and interpretation so that all visitors better understand how to enjoy the forest responsibly. I also hope to see the plans include strong requirements and incentives for Forest Service staff to develop more robust partnerships with local communities, conservation groups and others to help achieve desired conditions for recreation.