Recreational Realignment of Public Lands

From the Los Padres Forest Association (On April Fools Day) I read it early morning 4/2  — 4 am while 1/2 asleep — and given all the sh** this admin has done, I believed it. Now that I am awake, I realize it was a joke, Plaskett Primate finally woke me up.)

Recreational Realignment of Public LandsThe administration signed a new Order to launch a nationwide program designed to monetize public lands through an expansion of recreational opportunities. This program is called Recreational Realignment of Public Lands (RRPL). While the concept of more recreational opportunities within our public lands is certainly positive, the fineprint within the RRPL program has raised criticism from multiple national watchdog organizations. CLICK HERE to read a complete list of the proposed recreational realignment projects. Here locally, there are two proposed RRPL sites within the Los Padres.

RRPL is proposing an expansion of recreation in Ventura County by creating a year-round Golf and Ski destination set within the rugged Sespe Backcountry. ‘Halfmoon Pines’ will be a 4-season resort featuring two 18-hole golf courses, two ski mountains (Thorn Point & Little Mutau), a 25k square foot clubhouse/ski lodge located at Mutau Flat, 518 carbon-neutral villas and a natural hot spring spa resort at Sespe Hot Springs accessed by gondola leading down Johnston Ridge.

In Monterey, RRPL will be expanding recreation by building a one-of-a-kind wild animal experience called the ‘Carrizo Springs Adventure Park’. The park will be the largest in existence covering half of the Monterey Ranger District. The headquarters will be centrally located at The Indians with seven gondolas providing access to an array of ecotourism offerings including zip-lines, shark diving and programs like: Plaskett Creek Primates, Tassajara Tiger Sanctuary, Pine Valley Pachyderm Pasture, Pfeiffer Polar Bear Plunge, the aptly named Lion’s Den and the sure to be crowd favorite Crocs of the Arroyo Seco. What’s truly special about Carrizo Springs Park is that there will be no fences. All animals will be free to wander as nature intended across the vast Los Padres Backcountry.

While the RRPL program will certainly change portions of the Los Padres, it should accomplish its goal of expanding recreation. For us diehards who love the backcountry, don’t worry, we’ve been assured that all backcountry trails will remain open for those with a valid Adventure Pass.