Phillip Burton Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Phillip Burton Wilderness is part of the 100 square miles (259 km²) Point Reyes National Seashore
located about 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of San Francisco, California
. Total wilderness land is 33,373 acres which includes a roadless "potential wilderness" area of over 8000 acres (32.4 km²) and is the only designated wilderness along the California coast. The National Park Service
manages the wilderness.
The wilderness is named for California's Congressman Phillip Burton
who served in the US House of Representatives from 1964 til his death on April 10, 1983.
The US Congress passed legislation (Public Law
94-544) in 1976 that created the Point Reyes Wilderness, and in 1985, Congress, in recognition of Burton's dedication to wilderness preservation, especially his work on the California Wilderness Act of 1984
, renamed the wilderness after him (P.L. 99-68).
Southeastern- this area protects the Inverness Ridge
down to a long coastline and is the largest unit. Within this area are forests of Douglas-fir
and California buckeye, coastal foothills, terraces, caves, beaches and several small inland lakes as well as the high point of Mount Wittenberg. The four trailcamps are in this section, with Wildcat and Coast camps located near shore, and Sky and Glen camps inland. Each camp has different numbers of individual sites with 52 sites total and four group sites.
Central-this section, which is separated from the southeastern unit by Limintour Road, protects the crest of the Inverness Ridge, the east shore of Estero de Limintour and the Limintour Spit. An endemic (restricted to one area) and rare coastal pine known as the Bishop pine
grows here.
North-this segment includes the Tomales Point area, which is an open grassland peninsula that separates the Pacific Ocean to the west from the Tomales Bay, a submerged valley, on the east. A reserve for the reintroduced tule elk is in this section. Although there are no trailcamps, boat-in camping is allowed on Tomales Bay
.
Nearly half of the Point Reyes National Seashore is within the Phillip Burton Wilderness and has one of the most diverse landscapes of the California coast.
The United Nations
' Biosphere Program, which began in the 1970s to preserve the world's major biotic regions, included the Point Reyes area in 1988 when it designated the Central California Coast Biosphere Reserve (now the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
) in recognition of the vast array of plants, animals and ecosystem
s. This is the first U.S. biosphere reserve firmly integrated within a large metropolitan area that is home to over 8 million people.
There are at least 42 rare
and endangered plants of the more than 850 plant species identified. Almost 40 species of land mammals plus a dozen marine mammals such as the harbor seal
live or migrate through this area. Bird species counts are well over 400.
is required for backpacking trips to any of the four trailcamps and limited to one night. Permits must be reserved in advance and picked up at the Bear Valley Visitor Center and fees are charged. Campsites can be reserved three months in advance. All four trailcamps allow bicycle
access but no dogs.
s, unstable cliffs and fragile meadows. Several miles of trail are open to bicycles and horseback riders and at least one trail allows leashed pets.
The legislation that created the wilderness contains special provisions, one of which allows mechanized vehicles on four trails or closed roads within the wilderness boundaries.
es of Tomales Bay. A required "beachfire permit" is available at no charge. There are 10 boat-in campsites along the wilderness portion of Tomales Bay (See map.)
The Bear Valley Visitor Center has copies of the recommended brochure
Backpack Camping Information.
(Pinus muricata) varies in growth habit it is always found within 12 miles (or less) of the Pacific Ocean
. The tree can be a wind-twisted shrub to a straight-boled "timber tree" 100 feet (30.5 m) high. It has vexed scientists for decades for several reasons, one of which is the apparent inability to breed between the northern and southern varieties of bishop pine. No such cross barrier has ever been seen elsewhere in the pine species
The bishop pines of the Phillip Burton Wilderness are considered an "intermediate" between the northern variety (Pinus muricata v. borealis) and the southern (Pinus muricata v. muricata).
), federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act
in 2000, and state listed as rare since 1979. It has yellow flowers that bloom from March through May, grows in plant communities of coastal scrub, and is extremely poisonous (major toxicity class 1 ). Rare grasses include the endemic Sonoma shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis var. sonomensis) in the family Poaceae
, federally listed as endangered since 1997. The California Native Plant Society lists this subspecies population as seriously endangered, and that more taxonomic information is needed.
In addition to the bishop pine, there is the Monterey cypress (Callitropsis macrocarpa), a closed-cone conifer.
Reserve comprises 2,600 acres and was started in 1978 by the National Park Service (NPS). By 2000 the elk herd had increased in size to the point that they had outgrown the restricted area. NPS relocated about 50 animals to the Phillip Burton Wilderness section near Drake's Bay.
A full-grown elk can weigh 500 pounds or more and run at speeds of a racehorse.
The elk were California's version of the bison
and roamed freely in massive herds-up to a half-million--until the mid-19th century when they were wiped out by hunting and believed extinct. In 1874, a small group was discovered in a marsh thicket on the cattle ranch of Henry Miller near Bakersfield, California
. Mr. Miller set aside some of his property for this herd, which survived and 100 years later, the Tule elk received federal protection under the Tule Elk Preservation Act (P.L. 94-38) that was passed on August 14, 1976.
Today, there are more elk in the state than at any time since Abraham Lincoln's presidency.
With over 2.3 million visitors to the park in 2007, the wilderness receives very heavy use and the Leave No Trace
(LNT) ethics are enforced for the benefit of everyone. The required permit is considered a signed contract
of agreement to treat the wilderness with respect by employing the LNT techniques that minimize human impact to the environment
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is a park preserve located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California, USA. As a national seashore, it is maintained by the US National Park Service as a nationally important nature preserve within which existing agricultural uses are allowed to continue...
located about 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. Total wilderness land is 33,373 acres which includes a roadless "potential wilderness" area of over 8000 acres (32.4 km²) and is the only designated wilderness along the California coast. The National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
manages the wilderness.
The wilderness is named for California's Congressman Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton
Phillip Burton was a United States Representative from California. A Democrat, he was instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Burton was one of the first members of Congress to acknowledge the need for AIDS research and introduce an AIDS bill. He was the brother of...
who served in the US House of Representatives from 1964 til his death on April 10, 1983.
The US Congress passed legislation (Public Law
Public law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
94-544) in 1976 that created the Point Reyes Wilderness, and in 1985, Congress, in recognition of Burton's dedication to wilderness preservation, especially his work on the California Wilderness Act of 1984
California Wilderness Act of 1984
The California Wilderness Act of 1984 is a federal law , passed by the United States Congress on September 28, 1984, that authorized the addition of over within the state of California to the National Wilderness Preservation System....
, renamed the wilderness after him (P.L. 99-68).
"...his leadership in establishing units of the National Park System and preserving their integrity against threats to those resources... his tireless efforts that led to the enactment of the California Wilderness Act...shall henceforth be known as the "Phillip Burton Wilderness."
Wilderness Areas
There are three separate units:Southeastern- this area protects the Inverness Ridge
Inverness Ridge
Inverness Ridge is a ridge located at on the Point Reyes Peninsula in western Marin County, California. It reaches an elevation of .-See also:* Inverness* Inverness Park* Bolinas Ridge...
down to a long coastline and is the largest unit. Within this area are forests of Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
and California buckeye, coastal foothills, terraces, caves, beaches and several small inland lakes as well as the high point of Mount Wittenberg. The four trailcamps are in this section, with Wildcat and Coast camps located near shore, and Sky and Glen camps inland. Each camp has different numbers of individual sites with 52 sites total and four group sites.
Central-this section, which is separated from the southeastern unit by Limintour Road, protects the crest of the Inverness Ridge, the east shore of Estero de Limintour and the Limintour Spit. An endemic (restricted to one area) and rare coastal pine known as the Bishop pine
Bishop Pine
The Bishop Pine, Pinus muricata, is a pine with a very restricted range: mostly in the U.S. state of California, including several offshore Channel Islands, and a few locations in Baja California, Mexico...
grows here.
North-this segment includes the Tomales Point area, which is an open grassland peninsula that separates the Pacific Ocean to the west from the Tomales Bay, a submerged valley, on the east. A reserve for the reintroduced tule elk is in this section. Although there are no trailcamps, boat-in camping is allowed on Tomales Bay
Tomales Bay
Tomales Bay is a long narrow inlet of the Pacific Ocean in Marin County in northern California in the United States. It is approximately 15 miles long and averages nearly 1.0 miles wide, effectively separating the Point Reyes Peninsula from the mainland of Marin County. It is located...
.
Nearly half of the Point Reyes National Seashore is within the Phillip Burton Wilderness and has one of the most diverse landscapes of the California coast.
The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
' Biosphere Program, which began in the 1970s to preserve the world's major biotic regions, included the Point Reyes area in 1988 when it designated the Central California Coast Biosphere Reserve (now the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve
The Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in Northern California. It was created by UNESCO in 1988, and encompasses thirteen protected areas in the San Francisco Bay Area...
) in recognition of the vast array of plants, animals and ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s. This is the first U.S. biosphere reserve firmly integrated within a large metropolitan area that is home to over 8 million people.
There are at least 42 rare
Rare species
A rare species is a group of organisms that are very uncommon or scarce. This designation may be applied to either a plant or animal taxon, and may be distinct from the term "endangered" or "threatened species" but not "extinct"....
and endangered plants of the more than 850 plant species identified. Almost 40 species of land mammals plus a dozen marine mammals such as the harbor seal
Harbor Seal
The harbor seal , also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere...
live or migrate through this area. Bird species counts are well over 400.
Backpacking
A permitPermit
Permit may refer to:*Permit *Various legal licenses:*License*Work permit*Learner's permit*Permit to travel*Construction permit*Home Return Permit*One-way Permit*Permit is the common name for the Trachinotus falcatus, a type of Pompano....
is required for backpacking trips to any of the four trailcamps and limited to one night. Permits must be reserved in advance and picked up at the Bear Valley Visitor Center and fees are charged. Campsites can be reserved three months in advance. All four trailcamps allow bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
access but no dogs.
Day hikes
The 71 miles (114.3 km) of trails offer the full spectrum of landscapes from the Douglas-fir forests on the Inverness Ridge to the sandy beaches, rocky headlands and salt marshes near the ocean and estuaries. Cross-country travel is allowed but caution is advised as there is poison oak, stinging nettleStinging nettle
Stinging nettle or common nettle, Urtica dioica, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant, native to Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and North America, and is the best-known member of the nettle genus Urtica...
s, unstable cliffs and fragile meadows. Several miles of trail are open to bicycles and horseback riders and at least one trail allows leashed pets.
The legislation that created the wilderness contains special provisions, one of which allows mechanized vehicles on four trails or closed roads within the wilderness boundaries.
Boat camping
Boat-in overnight camping is allowed with permit on the westside beachBeach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es of Tomales Bay. A required "beachfire permit" is available at no charge. There are 10 boat-in campsites along the wilderness portion of Tomales Bay (See map.)
The Bear Valley Visitor Center has copies of the recommended brochure
Brochure
A brochure is a type of leaflet. Brochures are most commonly found at places that tourists frequently visit, such as museums, major shops, and tourist information. Brochure racks or stands may suggest visits to amusement parks and other points of interest...
Backpack Camping Information.
Bishop pine
Although the bishop pineBishop Pine
The Bishop Pine, Pinus muricata, is a pine with a very restricted range: mostly in the U.S. state of California, including several offshore Channel Islands, and a few locations in Baja California, Mexico...
(Pinus muricata) varies in growth habit it is always found within 12 miles (or less) of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. The tree can be a wind-twisted shrub to a straight-boled "timber tree" 100 feet (30.5 m) high. It has vexed scientists for decades for several reasons, one of which is the apparent inability to breed between the northern and southern varieties of bishop pine. No such cross barrier has ever been seen elsewhere in the pine species
The bishop pines of the Phillip Burton Wilderness are considered an "intermediate" between the northern variety (Pinus muricata v. borealis) and the southern (Pinus muricata v. muricata).
Native rare plants
The Point Reyes area has more than 50 species of rare, threatened or endangered plants. Perennial wildflowers include the yellow larkspur (Delphinium luteumDelphinium luteum
The endangered flower Delphinium luteum, the yellow larkspur, is a perennial of the buttercup family which is endemic to the rocky, foggy hillsides of coastal Sonoma County, California. As of 2005 there were about 200 individuals believed to be in existence...
), federally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is one of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s. Signed into law by President Richard Nixon on December 28, 1973, it was designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and...
in 2000, and state listed as rare since 1979. It has yellow flowers that bloom from March through May, grows in plant communities of coastal scrub, and is extremely poisonous (major toxicity class 1 ). Rare grasses include the endemic Sonoma shortawn foxtail (Alopecurus aequalis var. sonomensis) in the family Poaceae
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
, federally listed as endangered since 1997. The California Native Plant Society lists this subspecies population as seriously endangered, and that more taxonomic information is needed.
In addition to the bishop pine, there is the Monterey cypress (Callitropsis macrocarpa), a closed-cone conifer.
Tule elk
The Tule ElkTule Elk
The tule elk is a subspecies of elk found only in California, ranging from the grasslands and marshlands of the Central Valley to the grassy hills on the coast. The subspecies name derives from the tule that it feeds off of, which grows in the marshlands...
Reserve comprises 2,600 acres and was started in 1978 by the National Park Service (NPS). By 2000 the elk herd had increased in size to the point that they had outgrown the restricted area. NPS relocated about 50 animals to the Phillip Burton Wilderness section near Drake's Bay.
A full-grown elk can weigh 500 pounds or more and run at speeds of a racehorse.
The elk were California's version of the bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
and roamed freely in massive herds-up to a half-million--until the mid-19th century when they were wiped out by hunting and believed extinct. In 1874, a small group was discovered in a marsh thicket on the cattle ranch of Henry Miller near Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
. Mr. Miller set aside some of his property for this herd, which survived and 100 years later, the Tule elk received federal protection under the Tule Elk Preservation Act (P.L. 94-38) that was passed on August 14, 1976.
Today, there are more elk in the state than at any time since Abraham Lincoln's presidency.
With over 2.3 million visitors to the park in 2007, the wilderness receives very heavy use and the Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
(LNT) ethics are enforced for the benefit of everyone. The required permit is considered a signed contract
Contract
A contract is an agreement entered into by two parties or more with the intention of creating a legal obligation, which may have elements in writing. Contracts can be made orally. The remedy for breach of contract can be "damages" or compensation of money. In equity, the remedy can be specific...
of agreement to treat the wilderness with respect by employing the LNT techniques that minimize human impact to the environment
Internet
- NPS-Point Reyes National Seashore website.
- Wilderness.net-Phillip Burton Wilderness laws.
- Georgewright.org-Madrid, Spain UN Conference Report.
- KQED -TV online reprint of Tule elk report, "Elk Return to the Bay" episode 105, dated March 20, 2007.
External links
- National Park Service Accessed Jan 1, 2009
- Description of the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve Accessed Jan. 1, 2009
- Link to reprint of KQED-TV story Accessed Jan 1, 2009