SENATOR PADILLA CHAMPIONS ACCESS TO NATURE FOR CALIFORNIANS

The Senator’s PUBLIC Lands Act will improve equitable access to the outdoors, address the climate crisis, protect lands from fossil fuel development, and invest in the economy

San Gabriel Mountains. Credit Bob Wick.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, California Senator Alex Padilla reintroduced legislation that will protect and increase access to over 1 million acres of public lands and more than 500 miles of rivers throughout the state. The Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act is co-sponsored by Senator Feinstein. The legislation is complementary to a package of bills that are championed by Representatives Carbajal, Chu, and Huffman, and were recently reintroduced in the House of Representatives. 

The PUBLIC Lands Act will permanently safeguard public lands and rivers in Northwest California, along the Central Coast, and in the Los Angeles region and will improve access to nature near some of California’s most nature-deprived communities. For example, it will expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, which provides over 18 million residents in the Los Angeles region with more than 70% of their open space. It will also protect public lands and rivers near cities along the Central Coast, such as Santa Maria, and Fillmore, which have limited park access. In Northwest California, it authorizes the creation of new trails that will improve access to quality outdoor recreation experiences for all.

Additionally, the legislation will help address the climate crisis by advancing state and federal goals to conserve 30% of public lands and waters by 2030 and safeguarding certain places from development or mining. For example, on the Central Coast, the Los Padres National Forest is the only national forest in the state with active oil development, and Carrizo Plain National Monument is bordered by some of the most intensive oil development in the country. A new oil well and pipeline were proposed within the monument boundary during the former administration. Senator Padilla’s bill will prohibit oil drilling in the places proposed for protection in the Los Padres and Carrizo Plain. 

The PUBLIC Lands Act will benefit California’s economy by helping to attract visitors to these public lands and rivers. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2021 California’s outdoor recreation economy generated $54.7 billion to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supported over 517,000 jobs.

The PUBLIC Lands Act safeguards the following special wild places in California:

• In the Los Angeles area, the bill will add 109,000 acres of public lands to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, as well as designate over 31,000 acres as protected Wilderness and over 45 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers throughout the San Gabriel range. The expansion will help increase equitable access to nature and improve public health, conserve a critical drinking water source for Los Angeles County, address the climate and biodiversity crises, and honor the cultural and historical significance of the landscape.

• In the Central Coast region, the bill designates over 250,000 acres of Wilderness, creates two scenic areas encompassing 34,882 acres, and safeguards about 159 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers. These will be the first major Wilderness protections on the Central Coast in 30 years, and are particularly important as many of these areas are currently under threat from extractive industries. The bill also designates 400 miles of the Condor National Scenic Trail, which would connect the northern and southern portion of the Los Padres by a single hiking route. 

• In Northwest California, the bill would protect public lands and rivers in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties. This includes designating more than 300,000 acres of public lands as Wilderness and new Wild and Scenic rivers. These measures will help safeguard endangered salmon and steelhead populations, recreational opportunities, and drinking water for downstream communities.

Photos and videos of the places protected are viewable here.

Below are quotes from leaders throughout the state thanking Senator Padilla for his leadership:

Supervisor Matt LaVere, Ventura County District 1:

“The PUBLIC Lands Act will help permanently safeguard cherished public lands and rivers in our region, including in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument. Thank you, Senator Padilla, for your ongoing leadership to preserve these beloved treasures for our community."

Belén Bernal, Executive Director, Nature for All Coalition:

"We value and commend Senator Padilla's leadership as he commits to safeguard over 1 million acres of California public lands and over 500 miles of rivers. This action provides a myriad of community benefits, including respite and tranquility for many people who live in dense urban areas and have limited access to enjoy nature in parks or other public outdoor spaces. Protecting and increasing equitable access to public lands allows us to inspire the next generation of diverse environmental stewards. ¡Gracias Senator Padilla!

Roberto Morales, Acting Associate Director, Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All Campaign and Policy Chair of the Nature for All Coalition:

“This legislation is a huge step towards ensuring that public lands in California are protected so that everyone, especially underserved communities that have been denied equal access to nearby nature can enjoy the outdoors. Increasing access to the outdoors and protecting our remaining natural ecosystems provides immense benefits to our health, our economy and our environment. We applaud Senator Padilla for being our champion in the Senate.”

Shanna Edberg, Director of Conservation Programs, Hispanic Access Foundation:

“The PUBLIC Lands Act is necessary to address inequitable access to the outdoors in California. Latinos and other communities of color are almost twice as likely to live somewhere that is nature deprived than white communities, meaning there are far fewer parks, streams, beaches, and other natural places nearby. This leaves our communities with a legacy of poorer health outcomes, higher stress levels, worse educational outcomes, lack of recreation and business opportunities and greater vulnerability to extreme heat and flooding. The PUBLIC Lands Act is crucial for bringing nature, and therefore equity and justice, closer to our underserved communities. Thank you, Senator Padilla, for your continued leadership on this bill.”

Janessa Goldbeck, CEO, Vet Voice Foundation and Marine Corps veteran:

“Throughout California, veterans share a strong connection to our public lands. Today we celebrate Senator Padilla for introducing legislation to protect treasured landscapes across our state. This legislation affirms the importance of outdoor access for the nearly two million veterans living in California.”

Mike Young, Political and Organizing Director, California Environmental Voters:

"The PUBLIC Lands Act is a pivotal part of addressing the climate crisis, achieving our state and nation’s goals to protect at least 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, and making the outdoors more accessible to all. That's a win for all of us and an important investment in climate action. We are grateful to Senator Padilla for his continued leadership on this bill."

Katie Hawkins, California Program Manager, Outdoor Alliance

“Access to outdoor recreation on public lands and waters is part of what makes California an incredible place to live, work, and play. Outdoor Alliance and its member organizations are thrilled to see Senator Padilla's PUBLIC Lands Act is being reintroduced this week. The included protections for California's coasts, forests, and foothills will benefit Californians who love getting outside to surf, ski, hike, bike, paddle, and climb. We are grateful for Senator Padilla's leadership and look forward to having this advance through the Senate."