List of protected areas within California

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The following is a list of protected territories within the State of California.

Contents

[edit] National park system

Main articles: List of areas in the National Park System of the United States, List of United States National Parks by state, and List of National Monuments of the United States

The U.S. National Park System controls a large and diverse group of California parks. The best known is the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, that figures prominently on the reverse side of the California state quarter. Other prominent parks are the Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Park complex, Redwood National Park, Channel Islands National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and the largest, Death Valley National Park. The NPS also administers the Manzanar National Historic Site in Inyo County.

[edit] State parks

Main article: List of California state parks

The California Department of Parks and Recreation maintains over 270 protected areas, which include almost one-third of California's scenic coastline, including coastal wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and dune systems. The state parks system covers 1.3 million acres (5,300 km²), with over 280 miles (450 km) of coastline, 625 miles (1,006 km) of lake and river frontage, nearly 18,000 campsites; and 3,000 miles (5,000 km) of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.[1]

[edit] National Marine Sanctuaries

Main article: United States National Marine Sanctuary

California borders several U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries:

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[edit] California Protected Areas

Main article: List of California Department of Fish and Game protected areas

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), through its seven regional divisions[2], manages more than 700 protected areas statewide.[3] They are broadly categorized as:

  • 110 wildlife areas[4], designed to give the public easier access to wildlife while preserving habitats.
  • 123 ecological reserves[5], which protect rare terrestrial species and habitats.
  • 11 marine reserves, which do the same for sea-dwelling species and habitats.
See also: Marine Life Protection Act

[edit] National Landscape Conservation System

Main article: National Landscape Conservation System

National Landscape Conservation System sites in California include:

[edit] National monuments

[edit] National conservation areas

[edit] Wilderness areas

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[edit] National Forests

Main article: List of U.S. National Forests

California contains all or portions of several U.S. National Forests:

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[edit] References

  1. ^ A State Park System is Born. California State Parks. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
  2. ^ DFG Regions. California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) website. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  3. ^ Lands Inventory Fact Sheet. California DFG website. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  4. ^ Wildlife Areas. California DFG website. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.
  5. ^ Ecological Reserves. California DFG website. Retrieved on 2008-02-19.