Elton Gallegly: “H.R. 4917, the Los Padres National Forest Land Exchange Act, will facilitate a land exchange between the U.S. Forest…”

“H.R. 4917, the Los Padres National Forest Land Exchange Act, will facilitate a land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and the United Water Conservation District, a local public agency. Under this legislation, the U.S. Forest Service will convey 420 acres to United Water. Of that total, 290 acres are mud-flats surrounded by Lake Piru, 80 acres are campground, and 50 acres are primarily two separate sections of Blue Point Road. United Water will convey to the Forest Service 340 acres. The land is open space within the Los Padres National Forest previously leased for grazing. Both the Forest Service and United Water benefit from the exchange. The Blue Point Campground, which has been closed by the Forest Service since 1995, will be opened on a limited basis by United Water. This will provide additional recreational opportunities for families and outdoor enthusiasts for frequent trips to the forest. In addition, United Water has pledged to increase patrols around the campground's arroyo toad habitat, which the Forest Service admits does not have the resources necessary to adequately patrol and maintain.”