Senator Padilla Champions Access to Nature for Communities of Color

Today, California Senator Alex Padilla announced introduction of legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Feinstein, 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 complementary to a package of bills that passed the House of Representatives in February, which were championed by Representatives Carbajal, Chu, and Huffman. 

“Our public lands are one of our state’s greatest gifts – from the San Gabriel Mountains, to the Central Coast, and through Northwestern California’s forests and rivers. It is incumbent upon us to be thoughtful stewards of these special places so that our communities can enjoy them and benefit from America’s natural resources for generations to come,” said Senator Padilla. “And we must do so in a way that reverses racial and economic disparities in access to nature and parks. Some of the protected land in this bill serves densely populated areas of the state that don’t have equal access to nature, which will help rebalance this historic disparity in access to untouched wilderness.”

The PUBLIC Lands Act will permanently safeguard public lands and rivers in Northwest California, along the Central Coast, and in the Los Angeles region. This will help achieve the goals in President Biden and Governor Newsom’s recent executive orders to protect at least 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. Protecting these landscapes will address the climate crisis by improving equitable access to nature statewide and reducing oil drilling and carbon emissions on public lands. It will also support the outdoor recreation industry as a critical part of California’s economy.

The PUBLIC Lands Act is critical to addressing the climate crisis because it will improve access to public lands and rivers near some of California’s most nature-deprived communities. For example, it safeguards places in the San Gabriel Mountains, which provide over 10 million Los Angeles County residents 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 over 295 miles of new trails, including in rural areas, which will improve access to quality outdoor recreation experiences for all.

Additionally, the legislation preserves landscapes that can capture and store carbon, thus reducing carbon emissions in the state. It will also prohibit new oil and gas development in certain places. According to the US Geological Survey, 25% of carbon emissions nationwide are due to fossil fuels extraction on public lands. The Los Padres National Forest in California’s Central Coast is the only national forest in the state with active oil development. Senator Padilla’s legislation prohibits future drilling on over 300,000 total acres of lands in the Central Coast region.

Protecting public lands and rivers is an important investment in California’s ongoing economic recovery. As it becomes safe to travel again, conserving places that are beloved for outdoor activities will help bolster our state’s outdoor recreation economy. This industry is a significant economic driver in local communities and throughout the state. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2019 California’s outdoor recreation economy contributed more than any other state to the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generating $57.4 billion and over 575,000 jobs in total.

During the last Congress, then-Senator Harris championed similar legislation that was co-sponsored by Senator Feinstein. Senator Padilla reintroducing this legislation so soon after taking office demonstrates his strong commitment to protecting California’s public lands and rivers. 

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

• In the Los Angeles area, the bill would expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by over 109,000 acres to include the western Angeles National Forest. The bill would also designate over 30,000 acres as protected Wilderness and over 45 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers throughout the San Gabriel range. Finally, the bill would also establish a National Recreation Area in the San Gabriel Valley to provide communities with increased access to nature.

• Places in the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument, located in the Central Coast region. This includes approximately 245,000 acres of Wilderness, two scenic areas encompassing 34,882 acres, and about 159 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers. This would be the first wilderness protection on the Central Coast in twenty years, and is particularly important as many of these areas are currently under threat from extractive industries. The bill also includes the designation of a 400 mile-long trail, the Condor National Scenic Trail, which would connect the northern and southern portion of the Los Padres National Forest by a single hiking route. 

• Public lands and rivers in Northwest California, including in Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Trinity counties. This includes protecting about 317,000 acres of public lands as Wilderness, designating 379 miles of new Wild and Scenic rivers, and requiring management plans for an additional 101 miles of existing Wild and Scenic rivers to help ensure these watersheds continue to safeguard endangered salmon and steelhead populations, recreational opportunities, and drinking water for downstream communities.

Photos and video of the places protected are viewable here.

Below are quotes from leaders thanking Senator Padilla and urging the Senate to pass protections for these public lands and rivers:

Statewide Voices

Luis Villa, Executive Director, Latino Outdoors

"Mil gracias to Senator Padilla for championing the PUBLIC Lands Act. Equitable access to public lands is no less important than protecting them because it helps set the table for a conservation constituency that is diverse, robust, and sustainable. People and communities are inspired to protect the places we love, and we love the places we know and are able to experience. Through the protection of more than a million acres of public lands, particularly the expansion of an existing national recreation area, and over 500 miles of newly-designated wild and scenic rivers, the PUBLIC Lands Act enhances recreational opportunities for Latino communities and countless Californians, both for today and for tomorrow."

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

“Senator Padilla is taking a critical step in addressing 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 and COVID-19 severity, higher stress levels, worse educational outcomes, lack of recreation and business opportunities and greater vulnerability to extreme heat and flooding. This legislation is crucial for bringing nature, and therefore equity and justice, closer to our underserved communities. Thank you, Senator Padilla, and we hope the Senate will pass this important legislation this year.”

Rue Mapp, Founder and CEO, Outdoor Afro:

“Our state is rich with natural treasures but not all communities can access and enjoy these places. That’s why I'm so excited that Senator Padilla has introduced the PUBLIC Lands Act. Outdoor access, representation, meaningful participation, and quality are fundamental rights for us all. I look forward to working with the Senate to help protect our lands, wildlife, and waterways.”

Kate Hoit, California State Director and OIF veteran, Vet Voice Foundation:

“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.”

Mary Creasman, CEO, California League of Conservation Voters:
"The PUBLIC Lands Act will protect more than a million acres of public lands and well over 500 miles of rivers in California, help address climate change, and make the outdoors more accessible to all. That's a win for all of us and an important investment in climate action, especially as we work to meet the goal of protecting 30% of our lands and waters by 2030 - a goal set by both President Biden and Governor Newsom. We are grateful to Senator Padilla for introducing this legislation and we are eager for the Senate to pass these protections."

Katie Hawkins, California Program Manager, Outdoor Alliance:

“Outdoor Alliance is thrilled to see Senator Padilla champion this critical public lands legislation. Protecting California public lands and waters is a win-win at a time when we need it. This package will improve outdoor recreation on some of California's most incredible landscapes, support local economies, and advance the state's goal of conserving 30% of its lands and waters by 2030. We look forward to working with Senator Padilla to move this bill through the Senate."

Hans Cole, Vice President of Environmental Activism, Patagonia

“Protecting our public lands and waters is a priority for our company – in fact, it’s our reason for being in business. As a global company based in California, we know our state has an incredible natural environment, and our employees and community depend on its healthy lands and waters, clean air and protected wild places. Now more than ever, we also need to recognize that land and water protection is critical to solving the climate crisis, providing carbon storage and resilience for wildlife and humans alike. We urge the Senate to pass the PUBLIC Lands Act for the benefit of all.” 

Casey Schreiner, Founder, Modern Hiker

“What we saw over the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic is that there is an enormous demand for outdoor spaces. Across the state, Californians need more parks in more places, and this bill is a much-needed, big step in the right direction.”

Kirsten Blackburn, Advocacy Director, The Conservation Alliance

“The Conservation Alliance has long supported efforts to protect public lands and rivers across the state of California, like expanding protections for the Trinity Alps Wilderness in the Northwest, adding protections to the Los Padres National Forest in the Central Coast, and safeguarding the foothills and rivers of the San Gabriel Mountains. We applaud Senator Padilla for his leadership, and enthusiastically endorse the PUBLIC Lands Act.”

Voices from the San Gabriel Mountains

Roberto Morales, Senior Organizing Representative, Sierra Club, and Board Chair, 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 - right when we need it most. We applaud Senator Padilla for being our champion in the Senate.”

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 permanently protects critical drinking water sources and access to healthy activities in the San Gabriel Mountains that will benefit all Californians, including those in many of the state's economically disadvantaged areas and communities of color. Thank you for ensuring access to nature for all, Senator Padilla."

Thomas Wong, Board Chair, Nature for All, and Board President, San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District

“Thank you, Senator Padilla, for championing California’s public lands and rivers. Your leadership on this important bill will ensure our communities in Los Angeles and throughout the state can experience nature and its benefits for generations to come."

Vanessa Aramayo, Executive Director, Alliance for a Better Community, and Board Member, Nature for All Coalition:

"Our health outcomes should not be determined by what zip code we live in. Everyone in Los Angeles and throughout our state should have equitable access to health and wellness - and this includes access to nature. Thank you, Senator Padilla, for your support and leadership in protecting these beloved places for us all to enjoy long into the future."

Voices from the Central Coast 

Linda Parks, Ventura County Supervisor (District 2):

“I’m pleased that Senator Padilla has reintroduced legislation in the Senate that will include Representative Carbajal’s Central Coast Heritage Protection Act. This important legislation will permanently protect valuable wildlife habitat and increase habitat connectivity for imperiled species that live in the Los Padres National Forest, including the California Condor and Steelhead trout. I’m also thrilled about the prospect of having the 400-mile long Condor National Scenic Trail, that would span the length of the Los Padres National Forest, come closer to reality.”

Vitali Mostovoj, U.S. Air Force Veteran 

“Among the many values and ideals that veterans such as myself fought to defend is the protection of our unmatched outdoors for generations to come. Senator Padilla’s legislation offers an important investment to ensure continued access to public lands and rivers on the Central Coast for all. It’s a patriotic call that we cannot afford to miss.”

Rebeca Garcia, Santa Maria Policy Advocate, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE)

"With outdoor recreation often privatized, this legislation is a step in the right direction in protecting open spaces and securing everybody’s right to the outdoors. Accessible outdoor spaces are a crucial contributor to improving the overall health of our working class and immigrant families. Communities of color are also often most at risk to unsafe living conditions, and this act will ensure our communities have clean air and water from Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Thank you to Senator Padilla for fighting for equitable access to outdoor spaces and clean water for our vulnerable communities."

Voices from Northwest California 

Gregg Foster, Executive Director, Redwood Region Economic Development Commission:

“Local economies in Northwest California benefit when people come to visit our spectacular, world-renowned public lands and rivers. I greatly appreciate and am excited to celebrate the Senate introduction of this legislation that will protect and restore some of the region’s most cherished landscapes. Thank you, Senator Padilla for your leadership on this issue.”

Kent Collard, Director, Bar 717 Ranch:

“In this modern age of smartphones and social media, young people need experiences in our natural world. These opportunities are a rare and irreplaceable part of their lives. The Pattison Roadless Area, Hayfork Creek and the surrounding Wilderness are not only the backdrop for these experiences at our Camp Trinity, they are the palette with which our campers paint the canvas of their self-image and confidence for their future lives. Our alumni are spread across the country and around the world, and they carry the legacy of these wild and special places close to their hearts. I deeply appreciate Senator Padilla’s introduction of this important legislation.”