Entitled "Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act".
PL 102-301 (H.R.2556), enacted 06/19/1992

106 STAT. 242 
PUBLIC LAW 102-301—JUNE 19, 1992 
Public Law 102-301 
102d Congress 
June 19, 1992 
[H.R. 2556] 
California. 
Conservation. 
Environmental 
protection. 
16 u s e 1132 
note. 
An Act 
Entitled the "Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act". 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) areas of undeveloped National Forest System lands within 
Los Padres National Forest have outstanding natural character-
istics which will, if properly preserved, contribute as an endur-
ing resource of wilderness for the benefit of the American 
people; and 
(2) it is in the national interest that certain of these areas 
be designated as components of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System and Wild and Scenic Rivers System or 
reserved from mineral entry in order to preserve such areas 
and their specific multiple values for watershed preservation, 
wildlife habitat protection, scenic and historic preservation, 
scientific research, educational use, primitive recreation, soli-
tude, physical and mental challenge, and inspiration for the 
benefit of all of the American people of present Eoid future 
generations. 
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS. 
In furtherance of the purposes of the Wilderness Act, the following 
National Forest System lands are hereby designated as wilderness 
and, therefore, as components of the National Wilderness Preserva-
tion System: 
(1) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest and the 
Angeles National Forest, California, which comprise approxi-
mately 219,700 acres, which are generally depicted on a map 
entitled "Sespe Wilderness Area—Proposed" and dated Septem-
ber 1991, which shall be known as the Sespe Wilderness. In 
recognition of the significant role that Mr. Gene Marshall 
played in the development of this Act, the Secretary of Agri-
culture is authorized and directed to name the existing trail 
between Reyes Creek and Lion Campgrounds as the Gene 
Marshall-Piedra Blanca National Recreational Trail. 
(2) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest, California, 
which comprise approximately 29,600 acres, which are gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled "Matilija Wilderness Area— 
Proposed" and dated September 1991, which shall be known 
as the Matilija Wilderness. 
(3) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest, California, 
which comprise approximately 46,400 acres, which are gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled "San Rafael Wilderness Addi-
tion—Proposed" and dated September 1991, and which lands 
are hereby incorporated in, and shall be managed as part 
of, the San Rafael Wilderness. 
PUBLIC LAW 102-301—JUNE 19, 1992 
106 STAT. 243 
(4) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest, California, 
which comprise approximately 14,100 acres, which are gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled "Garcia Wilderness Area— 
Proposed and dated September 1991, which shall be known 
as the Garcia Wilderness. 
(5) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest, California, 
which comprise approximately 38,150 acres, which are gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled "Chumash Wilderness—^Pro-
posed" and dated September 1991, which shall be known as 
the Chumash Wilderness and approximately 50 acres, which 
are generally depicted on the same map, which shall be des-
ignated as potential wilderness. The Toad Springs road corridor 
delineated as potential wilderness shall remain open to off 
road vehicle traffic until construction of an alternate route 
which bypasses this area is completed. These potential wilder-
ness lands shall be automatically incorporated in and managed 
as part of the Chumash Wilderness upon publication of a notice 
in the Federal Register. 
(6) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest, California, 
which comprise approximately 38,000 acres, which are gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled **Ventana Wilderness Addi-
tion—Proposed" and dated September 1991, and which lands 
are hereby incorporated in, and shall be managed as a part 
of, the Ventana Wilderness. 
(7) Certain lands in Los Padres National Forest, California, 
which comprise approximately 14,500 acres, which are gen-
erally depicted on a map entitled "Silver Peak Wilderness Addi-
tion—Proposed" and dated September 1991, which shall be 
known as the Silver Peak Wilderness. In recognition of Mr. 
Nathaniel Owings' efforts to preserve the Big Sur coastUne, 
the area within the Silver Peak Wilderness area depicted as 
"Redwood Gulch" shall hereafter be known as the "Nathaniel 
Owings Redwood Grove". The Secretary is directed to place 
this name on all appropriate maps depicting the Silver Peak 
Wilderness Area of the Los Padres National Forest. 
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATION OF WILDERNESS AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to vaUd existing rights, each wilderness 
area designated by this Act shall be administered by the Secretary 
of Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness 
Act. 
(b) FIRE PREVENTION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION.—In order 
to guarantee the continued viability of the watersheds of the wilder-
ness areas designated by this Act and to ensure the continued 
health and safety of the commiuiities serviced by such watersheds, 
the Secretary of Agriculture may take such measures as are nec-
essary for fire prevention and watershed protection including, but 
not limited to, acceptable fire presuppression and fire suppression 
measures and techniques. 
(c) WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.—^In furtherance of the purposes and 
principles of the Wilderness Act, management activities to maintain 
or restore fish and wildlife populations, including the California 
condor, and the habitats to support such populations may be carried 
I out within wilderness areas designated by this Act where consistent 
with relevant wilderness management plans in accordance with 
appropriate policies and guideUnes such as those set forth in Policies 
and GuideUnes for Fish and Wildlife Management in National 
106 STAT. 244 
PUBLIC LAW 102-301—JUNE 19, 1992 
Forests and Bureau of Land Management Wilderness, dated 
August 25,1986. 
(d) BUFFER ZONES.—^The Congress does not intend for the des-
ignation of wilderness areas pursuant to this Act to lead to the 
creation of protective perimeters or buffer zones around such wilder-
ness areas. The fact that nonwildemess activities or uses can be 
seen or heard from areas within a wilderness shall not, of itself, 
preclude such activities or uses up to the boundary of the wilderness 
area. 
(e) WATER RIGHTS.— 
(1) With respect to each wilderness area designated by this 
Act, Congress hereby reserves a quantity of water sufficient 
to fulfill the purposes of this Act. The priority date of such 
reserved water rights shall be the date of enactment of this 
Act. 
(2) The Secretary of Agriculture and all other officers of 
the United States shall take steps necessary to protect the 
rights reserved by this Act, including the filing by the Secretary 
of Agriculture of a claim for the quantification of such rights 
in any present or future appropriate stream adjudication in 
the courts of the State of California in which the United States 
is or may be joined and which is conducted in accordance 
with section 208 of the Act of July 10, 1952 (Ch. 651, 66 
Stat. 560; 43 U.S.C. 666) (commonly referred to as the 
"McCarran Amendment"). 
(3) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as a relinquishment 
or reduction of any water rights reserved or appropriated by 
the United States in the State of California on or before the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(4) The Federal water rights reserved by this Act are specific 
to the wilderness areas located in the State of California des-
ignated by this Act. Nothing in this Act related to the reserved 
Federal water rights shall be construed as establishing a prece-
dent with regard to any future designations, nor shall it con-
stitute an interpretation of any other Act or any designation 
made thereto. 
SEC. 4. FILING OF MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS. 
As soon as practicable after enactment of this Act, a map and 
legal description of each wilderness area designated in section 2 
shall be filed with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate and Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of 
the House of Representatives, and each sufch map and description 
shall have the same force and effect as if included in this Act. 
Correction of clerical and typographical errors in each such legal 
description and map may be made. Each such map and legal 
description shall be on file and available for public inspection in 
the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service, Department of Agri-
culture, Washington, District of Columbia and in the Office of 
the Forest Supervisor, Los Padres National Forest. 
SEC. 5. RELEASE TO NONWILDERNESS USES. 
The table contained in section 111(e) of the California Wilderness 
Act of 1984 (98 Stat. 1631) is amended by striking all lines pertain-
ing to further planning areas on the Los Padres National Forest. 
Except for those areas designated as wilderness under section 2 
of this Act, these areas shall be released to nonwildemess uses 
PUBLIC LAW 102-301—JUNE 19, 1992 
106 STAT. 245 
in accordance with section 111 (except for subsection (e)) of such 
Act. 
SEC. 6. DESIGNATION OF WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS. 
In order to preserve and protect for present and future genera-
tions the outstandingly remarkable values of Sespe Creek, the 
Big Sur River, and the Sisquoc River, all in California, section 
3(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1274(a)) is 
amended by adding the following new paragraphs at the end: 
"( ) SESPE CREEK, CALIFORNIA.—The 4-mile segment of the main 
stem of the creek from its confluence with Rock Creek and Howard 
Creek downstream to its confluence with Trout Creek, to be 
administered by the Secretary of Agriculture as a scenic river; 
and the 27.5-mile segment of the main stem of the creek extending 
from its confluence with Trout Creek downstream to where it leaves 
section 26, township 5 north, range 20 west, to be administered 
by the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river. 
"( ) SISQUOC RIVER, CALIFORNIA.—^The 33-mile segment of the 
main stem of the river extending from its origin downstream to 
the Los Padres Forest boundary, to be administered by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture as a wild river. 
"( ) BIG SUR RIVER, CALIFORNIA.—The main stems of the South 
Fork and North Fork of the Big Sur River from their headwaters 
to their confluence and the main stem of the river from the con-
fluence of the South and North Forks downstream to the boundary 
of the Ventana Wilderness in Los Padres National Forest, for a 
total distance of approximately 19.5 miles, to be administered by 
the Secretary of Agriculture as a wild river.". 
SEC. 7. STUDY RIVERS. 
(a) DESIGNATION.—Section 5(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1276(a)) is amended by adding the following new 
paragraphs at the end thereof: 
"( ) PiRU CREEK, CALIFORNIA.—The segment of the main stem 
of the creek from its source downstream to the maximum pool 
of Pyramid Lake and the segment of the main stem of the creek 
beginning 300 feet below the dam at Pjnramid Lake downstream 
to the maximum pool at Lake Piru, for a total distance of approxi-
mately 49 miles. 
"( ) LITTLE SUR RIVER, CALIFORNIA.—The segment of the main 
stem of the river from its headwaters downstream to the Pacific 
Ocean, a distance of approximately 23 miles. The Secretary of 
Agriculture shall consult with the Big Sur Multiagency Advisory 
Council during the study of the river. 
"( ) MATILIJA CREEK, CALIFORNIA.—^The segment from its head-
waters to its junction with Murietta Canyon, a distance of approxi-
mately 16 miles. 
"( ) LOPEZ CREEK, CALIFORNIA.—The segments from its head-
waters to Lopez Reservoir, a distance of approximately 11 miles. 
"( ) SESPE CREEK, CALIFORNIA.—The segment from Chorro 
Grande Canyon downstream to its confluence with Rock Creek 
and Howard Creek, a distance of about 10.5 miles.". 
(b) CONSULTATION.—^Each study shall be conducted by the Sec-
retary of Agriculture. The studies of the rivers and creeks named 
in subsection (a) shall be made in consultation with local authorities 
and appropriate local and State agencies. 
106 STAT. 246 
PUBLIC LAW 102-301—JUNE 19, 1992 
SEC. 8. MINERAL WITHDRAWAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights, federally owned 
lands and interests therein that are depicted on a map entitled 
"Mineral Withdrawal Area, California Coastal Zone, Big Sur—Pro-
posed" and dated September 1991 are withdrawn from entry, loca-
tion, appropriation, leasing, sale, or disposition under the mining 
laws, mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws of the United 
States, 
(b) MINING CLAIMS.—Subject to valid existing rights, all mining 
claims located within the withdrawal area depicted on the map 
described in subsection (a) shall be subject to such regulations 
as the Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe to ensure that mining 
will, to the greatest practicable extent, be consistent with the protec-
tion of scenic, scientific, cultural, and other resources of the area. 
The Secretary of Agriculture shall not approve any plan of operation 
prior to a determination that the unpatented mining claim was 
valid prior to the mineral withdrawal created by this Act and 
remains valid. A patent for land within the withdrawal area that 
is issued after the date of enactment of this Act shall convey 
title only to the minerals together with the right to use the suiface 
of lands for mining purposes subject to such regulations. 
SEC. 9. ADDITIONAL USES OF CERTAIN LANDS IN CALIFORNIA. 
(a) REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS.—Notwithstanding the restrictions 
otherwise applicable under the terms of conveyance by the United 
States of any of the lands described in subsection (b) to either 
the city of Pittsburg, California, or Merced Coiuity, California, 
or under any agreement concerning any part of such lands between 
either such city or such county and the Secretary of the Interior 
or any other officer or agent of the United States, the lands 
described in subsection (b) may be used for the purposes specified 
in subsection (c) of this section. 
(b) LANDS AFFECTED.—^The lands referred to in subsection (a) 
( 
of this section are— 
(1) any portion not exceeding 1.5 acres of the lands described 
in that certain Quitclaim Deed of the United States to the 
city of Pittsburg, California, bearing the date of March 25, 
1960, and recorded in Record of Deeds of the County of Contra 
Costa, State of California, as document No. 79015, in Book 
3759 at page 1 of Records; and 
(2) the south 15 acres of the 40 acres located in the northwest 
quarter of the southwest quarter of section 20, township 7 
south, range 13 east. Mount Diablo base line and Meridisui 
in Merced County, California, conveyed to such county by deed 
recorded in volume 1941 at page 441 of the official records 
in Merced County, California. 
(c) AUTHORIZED USES.—(1) The city of Pittsburg, California, may 
use the lands described in subsection (b)(1) of this section for 
a fire station or other public purpose, or may transfer such lands 
to another governmental entity on condition that such entity retain 
and use such lands for such purpose. 
(2) Merced County, California, may authorize the use of the 
lands described in subsection (b)(2) of this section for an elementary 
school serving children without regard to their race, creed, color, 
national origin, physical or mental disability, or sex, operated by 
a nonsectarian organization on a nonprofit basis and in compliance 
with all applicable requirements of the laws of the United States 
PUBLIC LAW 102-301—JUNE 19, 1992 
106 STAT. 247 
and the State of California. If Merced County permits such lands 
to be used for such purposes, the county shall include information 
concerning such use in the periodic reports to the Secretary of 
the Interior required under tne terms of the conveyance of such 
lands to the county by the United States. Any violation of the 
provisions of this paragraph shall be deemed to be a breach of 
the conditions and covenants under which such lands were conveyed 
to Merced County by the United States, and shall have the same 
effect as provided in the deed whereby the United States conveyed 
the lands to the coimty. Except as specified in this subsection, 
nothing in this Act shall increase or diminish the authority or 
responsibiUty of the county with respect to the lands. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this Act and amendments made by this Act. 
Approved June 19, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2556: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-290, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-291 (Ctomm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 137 (1991): Nov. 12, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 138 (1992): June 4, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 28 (1992): 
June 19, Presidential statement.