Center for Biological Diversity

For Immediate Release, August 17, 2018

Contact: Ileene Anderson, (323) 490-0223, ianderson@biologicaldiversity.org  

Lawsuit Forces Trump Administration to Protect Eight California Rivers

LOS ANGELES― The Trump administration agreed to a settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity today that requires two federal agencies to prepare long-overdue management plans to protect eight “wild and scenic” rivers in Southern California.

Under today’s agreement the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management must complete plans by 2024 for 100 miles of waters in the Amargosa River, Owens Headwaters, Cottonwood Creek, Piru Creek, North Fork San Jacinto River, Fuller Mill Creek, Palm Canyon Creek and Bautista Creek.

“This is a victory for some of Southern California’s most beautiful rivers. Too bad it took a lawsuit to get federal officials to do the right thing,” said Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist at the Center. “These waters and ecosystems are lifelines for imperiled plants and animals. They provide respite and recreation for all of us, and we need the government to protect these special places for our kids and grandkids.”

Designated by Congress in 2009 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the waters wind though three national forests and other public lands and provide essential habitat for imperiled fish, birds and other wildlife. In March the Center filed suit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to ensure protections for these California rivers. 

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act ensures that rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values remain in free-flowing, wild condition. It requires the federal agencies to prepare comprehensive management plans to protect the river segments within three years of their designation. The plans for these eight rivers should have been finished years ago, but the agencies didn’t agree to provide them until after the Center’s lawsuit was filed.

Wild and scenic river management plans provide important protections by ensuring that the qualities for which the river was designated — wild, scenic or recreational —remain for future generations. River management plans ensure that water flow and water quality are protected from threats such as poorly managed grazing, off-road vehicles and other harmful activities.

Background
Amargosa River: Congress designated more than 26 miles of the Amargosa River in Inyo and San Bernardino counties as scenic, wild or recreational. The Amargosa River is a spring-fed perennial desert river system, harboring a remarkable level of biodiversity in the hottest and driest part of the Mojave Desert. This includes critical habitat for the entire wild population of the endangered Amargosa vole and endangered Amargosa niterwort plant, as well as two endangered bird species, the least Bell's vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher. The designated river segments are located on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Owens Headwater: Congress designated nearly 20 miles of the Owens Headwaters in Inyo County (along the Upper Owens River, Glass Creek and Deadman Creek) as wild, scenic or recreational. Owens Headwaters and its adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for many species, including the threatened Yosemite toad and a wide diversity of butterflies. The designated segments of the Owens Headwaters are on public lands managed by the Inyo National Forest.

Cottonwood Creek: Congress designated more than 20 miles of Cottonwood Creek in Inyo County as wild or recreational. Cottonwood Creek and its adjacent riparian corridors provide habitat for threatened Paiute cutthroat trout and rare spotted bat. The designated wild segment of Cottonwood Creek is on public lands managed by the Inyo National Forest, and the recreational segment is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Piru Creek: Congress designated more than seven miles of the Piru Creek in Ventura County wild or recreational. The creek is a tributary of the Santa Clara River and contains unique geological formations, unusual gorges and riparian vegetation. The creek and adjacent riparian corridors provide critical California condor nesting and roosting sites, as well as habitat for the threatened arroyo toad and native trout. The designated segments of Piru Creek are on public lands managed by the Los Padres National Forest. 

North Fork of the San Jacinto River: Congress designated more than 10 miles of the North Fork of the San Jacinto River in Riverside County wild, scenic or recreational. The North Fork of the San Jacinto River and its adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for the critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frog, California spotted owls, the rubber boa and the San Bernardino flying squirrel. The designated segments are on public lands managed by the San Bernardino National Forest.

Fuller Mill Creek: Congress designated 3.5 miles of Fuller Mill Creek in Riverside County as scenic or recreational. Fuller Mill Creek and its adjacent riparian corridors provide habitat for critically endangered mountain yellow-legged frogs, California spotted owls, rubber boas and San Bernardino flying squirrels, among others. The designated scenic segments are managed by the San Bernardino National Forest.

Palm Canyon Creek: Congress designated eight miles of Palm Canyon Creek in Riverside County as wild and instructed that the area be managed cooperatively with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to protect and enhance river values. Palm Canyon Creek and its associated riparian corridors provide habitat for endangered southwestern willow flycatcher and endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep. The designated wild segment is on public lands managed by the San Bernardino National Forest.

Bautista Creek: Congress designated a 10-mile segment of Bautista Creek in Riverside County as recreational. Bautista Creek and its adjacent riparian areas provide habitat for threatened arroyo toads, endangered southwestern willow flycatchers, endangered Quino checkerspot butterflies and the endangered slender-horned spineflower. The designated segment is on public lands managed by the San Bernardino National Forest. 

Amargosa River

The Amargosa River, near Tecopa, Calif. Photo by Patrick Donnelly, Center for Biological Diversity. This image is available for media use.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.6 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

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