Ventana Wilderness Alliance A Non Profit California Corporation

THE MISSION OF THE VENTANA WILDERNESS ALLIANCE IS TO PROTECT, PRESERVE, AND RESTORE THE WILDERNESS QUALITIES AND BIODIVERSITY OF THE PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN CALIFORNIA'S NORTHERN SANTA LUCIA MOUNTAINS AND BIG SUR COAST.

TRAIL PROGRAM: MAINTAINING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE 300-MILE NETWORK OF TRAILS IN THE RUGGED VENTANA REGION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE. LANDSCAPE LEVEL WILDFIRES IN RECENT YEARS INCLUDE THE 2016 SOBERANES FIRE AND THE 2020 DOLAN FIRE. EACH OF THESE CONFLAGRATIONS TORCHED OVER 100,000 ACRES OF THE VENTANA WILDENESS AND DAMAGED OVER 100 MILES OF TRAILS. POST-FIRE WINTER STORMS DECIMATE ROADS LEADING TO TRAILHEADS LIMITING THE ABILITY OF VOLUNTEER AND CONTRACT CREWS TO RESTORE TRAILS EQUALLY DAMAGED BY EROSION, DEBRIS FLOWS, AND DEADFALLS. DESPITE THESE MAJOR SETBACKS, THE VWA TRAIL PROGRAM CONTINUED TO CONTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF CONTRACT CREW AND VOLUNTEER CREW HOURS IN 2022 TO MAINTAIN AND RECONSTRUCT PRIORITIZED SECTIONS OF TRAIL IN THE VENTANA AND SILVER PEAK WILDERNESS AREAS.THIS INCLUDES A PARTNERSHIP WITH USDA FOREST SERVICE TO REOPEN THE LOWER PINE RIDGE TRAIL WHICH WAS CLOSED SINCE 2017.

ADVOCACY: THE VWA ADVOCATES FOR WILDERNESS VALUES AND ECOLOGICALLY-SENSITIVE MANAGEMENT OF WILD LANDS IN THE VENTANA AND BIG SUR REGION BY MONITORING THE US FOREST SERVICE SCHEDULE OF PROPOSED ACTIONS (SOPA), ATTENDING PLANNING AND SCOPING MEETINGS, AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE BEST AVAILABLE SCIENCE. THE VWA'S ADVOCACY PROGRAMS INCLUDED EFFORTS TO EXPAND WILDERNESS AND WILD AND SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATIONS, RETIRE INAPPROPRIATE GRAZING ALLOTMENTS, ENCOURGE ENLIGHTENED WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT, IDENTIFY AND MITIGATE EFFECTS OF WILDERNESS INCURSIONS, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WILDERNESS, AND RESTORE FEDERAL FUNDING TO CRITICAL PUBLIC LAND AGENCIES.

YOUTH: THE VWA'S YOUTH IN WILDERNESS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED BY CENTRAL COAST YOUTH. MONTEREY COUNTY RANKS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION IN TEEN VIOLENCE; JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND GANG VIOLENCE ARE DOMINANT FORCES IN MANY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS. YOUNG PEOPLE IN URBAN AREAS OFTEN HAVE MINIMAL RESOURCES OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. IN 2022, THE VWA'S YOUTH IN WILDERNESS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO FILL THIS NEED AND INSPIRE FUTURE WILDERNESS STEWARDS BY PROVIDING WILDERNESS ADVENTURES TO HUNDREDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE REGION. LEADERSHIP, GEAR, AND FOOD FOR THESE EXPERIENCES WAS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS OR THEIR SCHOOLS.