Ventana Wilderness Alliance
NEPA & CEQA Comment Letters

Ronald L. Pugh, Program Leader
Southern California Forest Plan Revisions
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92127

RE: Wild and Scenic Rivers
Monterey Ranger District, LPNF
Southern California Forest Plan Revisions

Dear Ron,

It was a pleasure meeting you at the Forest Plan Revision Open House in Salinas on March 20, 2003. I appreciate the wealth of information you offered as well as your openness, candor and commitment to this important planning process.

Based on our conversations at the open house, and subsequent conversations with Gene Blankenbaker, it is my understanding that a Suitability Study, consistent with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, will be conducted for the Arroyo Seco River, North Fork of the Little Sur River and the San Antonio River, with the results incorporated into the draft Forest Plan Revision (Draft Plan). The Ventana Wilderness Alliance (VWA) supports this decision and believes all three of these river segments possess "outstandingly remarkable" values that warrant permanent protection by inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System. However, the VWA also believes additional river and stream segments on the Monterey Ranger District (MRD) possess equally remarkable values and that these segments should also be included in the Suitability Study.

The South Fork of the Little Sur River possesses outstandingly remarkable values that are equal to those of the North Fork and should therefore be included in the Suitability Study. The 1992 Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act, specifically identifies the entire Little Sur River for study, by quantifying the total mileage (23) of both forks of the river.

If the Arroyo Seco River possesses outstandingly remarkable values that warrant inclusion in the Suitability Study, then it makes no sense to fail to study its primary tributary, Tassajara Creek. Tassajara Creek possesses outstandingly remarkable values in accordance with the Wild and Scenic River Act, has been listed as a candidate river since the inception of the current Forest Plan in 1988, and most certainly deserves to be studied in conjunction with the Arroyo Seco River to determine its suitability for permanent protection under the Act.

The upper Carmel River, above the Forest Boundary, is also listed as a candidate river in the current Forest Plan. The upper Carmel, including its Miller Fork tributary, possesses outstandingly remarkable values as defined in the Wild and Scenic River Act. The upper Carmel River should be included in the Suitability Study.

All of the rivers discussed above, except the San Antonio, have been listed as candidates for Wild and Scenic River designation since 1988. Because these river segments were identified as candidates, they have been managed as Wild and Scenic for the past fifteen years, thus protecting those values that warranted their candidacy in the first place. This system proved appropriate because these candidate rivers will finally now be consideration for permanent protection as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System.

In light of this lengthy, but effective process, it is appropriate that future candidate rivers be identified in the Forest Plan Revision. The following river segments on the Monterey Ranger District possess outstandingly remarkable values and should be identified in the Draft Plan, as candidate Wild and Scenic Rivers for future study and consideration. Candidate designation insures that these rivers will be managed to protect these values until suitability determinations are made:

• Nacimiento River and its tributaries from their origin to the Forest boundary.
• Willow Creek (coastal) including the North Fork, Middle Fork and their tributaries from their origin to the Pacific Ocean.
• San Carpoforo Creek including its tributaries from their origin to the Forest boundary.

We would be pleased to discuss the values of these river and stream segments in greater detail with the Forest Plan Revision planning team at their convenience. We would also be pleased to hike these segments with planning team members so they can personally view these values for themselves.

Sincerely,
Ventana Wilderness Alliance

Thomas A. Hopkins, Member
Board of Directors

Enclosure
Copy: Steve Evans, Conservation Director, Friends of the River