This week, Californians from across the state are voicing their opposition to a federal proposal that would mandate the sale of millions of acres of public lands. This proposal specifically threatens places in California, including popular mountain biking and hiking trails, camping spots, and OHV trails. Local elected officials and leaders are also concerned about the impact this proposal would have on recreation sites and rural economies.
The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee recently advanced a provision for the overall budget bill that would mandate the sale of up to three million acres of public lands. This would apply to public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in the western United States. California is one of the 11 states that would be impacted. This would be the largest single sale of national public lands in modern history. According to a map created by The Wilderness Society, more than 10 million acres in California will be eligible for sale, second only to Alaska in terms of acreage.
Examples of the places that would be eligible for sale under this proposal include the following:
Emerald Bay: US Forest Service lands that include a scenic overlook at Emerald Bay (not the state park itself). This is an extremely popular overlook of Lake Tahoe, located on the south side of the lake. It is one of the most photographed spots on the lake and features an ADA-accessible scenic viewing area.
Kiva Beach: US Forest Service lands that provide beach access to Lake Tahoe. This is a popular spot for swimming, dogs (on-leash), paddleboarding, and kayaking.
Sherwin Meadows: US Forest Service lands close to Mammoth Lakes that include Sherwin Meadows and Mammoth Rock Trail. This is a very popular year-round site for hiking, mountain biking, dog walking, skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing.
“The Sherwins” Mountains: US Forest Service lands close to Mammoth Lakes that are very popular for off-mountain winter recreation during the winter and hiking and camping during the summer. The OHV (off-highway vehicle) trails are an essential part of the “Mammoth Motocross” annual event, the oldest continuously running motocross in the country.
Holy Jim Trail: An iconic backcountry trail in the Cleveland National Forest that was only recently reopened to public access.
San Juan Trail: An iconic single-track mountain bike trail in the Cleveland National Forest with expansive views.
Coyote Dry Lake Bed: These Bureau of Land Management lands, located near Joshua Tree, offer free dispersed camping and OHV use. These lands are used year-round and are a very popular overflow camping site for Joshua Tree National Park.
Sugar Loaf Recreation Area: These Forest Service lands, located south of Big Bear, include a very popular year-round OHV spot. They are also used for dispersed camping, especially when there is no heavy snowfall. It experiences its highest seasonal use from Spring to about Thanksgiving.
“Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the lands that surround them are not bargaining chips — they are treasures vital to the state of California and home to my constituents. Any decision about the future use of these lands must be made in close partnership with state and local leaders—not through top-down mandates imposed without local input or accountability,” said California District 4 State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, whose district includes Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties. “Efforts to sideline local governments, tribal partners, and stakeholders undermine the trust and collaboration needed to protect our rural communities. This approach risks lasting harm to our region and sets a dangerous precedent for how we manage California’s most iconic landscapes.”
Katie Hawkins, California Program Director, Outdoor Alliance, added: “California’s public lands are home to some of the most iconic outdoor recreation in the country – trails, wild rivers, and backcountry terrain that support millions of human-powered experiences every year. This proposal would open the door to selling off the very places people go to hike, bike, climb, and camp. It’s a direct threat to our outdoor way of life and to the rural communities that depend on recreation tourism. These are public places, and they should stay that way – for everyone, not just those with the money to buy them.”
