Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002

The Big Sur Wilderness and Conservation Act of 2002 officially designated approximately 56,000 acres of federal land in California’s Monterey and San Benito counties as protected wilderness. By adding these lands to the Ventana, Silver Peak, and Pinnacles Wilderness areas, the law ensures they remain undeveloped while still allowing for specific activities like livestock grazing, military flight training, and fire prevention efforts.

For citizens and local residents, this law preserves the natural landscape for recreation while authorizing a five-year pilot program to combat invasive species on both public and private lands. It also protects local water rights and permits specific infrastructure improvements, such as water line maintenance in the Silver Peak Wilderness, to support domestic water needs.