Central Coast Heritage Protection Act

Wilderness Designations: Certain lands in the Bakersfield Field Office and Los Padres National Forest will be designated as wilderness areas to be managed as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System (Section 3(a)).

River Designations: Specific segments of Indian Creek, Mono Creek, Matilija Creek, Sespe Creek, Sisquoc River, and Piru Creek will be designated as wild, scenic, or recreational rivers (Section 5).

Special Management Area: The establishment of the Fox Mountain Special Management Area aims to conserve and protect ecological, scenic, wildlife, recreational, cultural, historical, natural, educational, and scientific resources (Section 6(a)).

Recreational Opportunities: The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to continue to authorize, maintain, and enhance recreational uses such as hunting, camping, hiking, and mountain bicycling within the Fox Mountain Special Management Area (Section 6(c)(3)).

Tribal Access and Privacy: The bill ensures that Tribes have access to designated areas for traditional cultural and religious purposes, and allows for temporary closures to protect the privacy of Tribal members (Section 11).

Trail Studies: The bill mandates a study to address the feasibility of connecting the northern and southern portions of the Los Padres National Forest via the Condor National Scenic Trail (Section 8).

Nonmotorized Recreation: A study will be conducted to improve nonmotorized recreation trail opportunities, including mountain bicycling, on certain lands (Section 10).

Restrictions on Entry and Industry: The designated wilderness areas, the Fox Mountain Special Management Area, and the scenic areas are withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under public land laws, as well as from mining laws and mineral or geothermal leasing (Section 3(h), Section 6(h), and Section 7(e)).

Restrictions on Motorized Use: In the Fox Mountain Special Management Area, the use of motorized vehicles is permitted only on existing roads, trails, and designated areas (Section 6(c)(4)(A)). In the designated scenic areas, the use of motorized vehicles and the establishment of temporary roads are prohibited unless necessary for administration or public health and safety (Section 7(f)).

Prohibited Uses in Scenic Areas: The use of permanent roads, permanent structures, and timber harvesting is prohibited within the designated scenic areas (Section 7(f)).