California desert plan

Journal Article · · Your Public Lands; (United States)

OSTI ID:6275225

Hillier, G

Choosing comprehensive planning over chaos, Congress in late 1980 gave the Bureau of Land Management a mandate to establish, through the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the California Desert Conservation Area. Affecting one-fourth of California's land surface, this 20-year plan for 25 million acres provides for management, use, development, and protection of public lands through a 15-member advisory council and an interagency coordinating committee. The plan zones the desert into (1) Class C for controlled use, (2) Class L for limited use, (3) Class M for moderate use, and (4) Class I for intensive use. The plan, considered but a first step, further establishes Areas of Critical Environmental Concerns and provides a framework for future decisions. The plan can be easily amended, with public input, and is already addressing major issues such as motorized vehicle access, burro management, utility corridors, wilderness designations, protection of sensitive resources, and livestock grazing.

• OSTI ID: 6275225
• Journal Information: Your Public Lands; (United States), Journal Name: Your Public Lands; (United States) Vol. 33:1; ISSN YPLAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARID LANDS
CALIFORNIA
DESERTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
FEDERAL REGION IX
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAND USE
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC LANDS
USA