• California’s 18 national forests make up 20.7 million acres, or 20 percent of California’s total land.  Of these 20.7 million acres, 4.4 million, or 21 percent, are in Inventoried Roadless Areas.

• Only one percent of California’s old growth forests remain today.

• National forests supply 50 percent of the water in California and form the watershed of most major aqueducts and more than 2,400 reservoirs throughout the state.*

• National forests in California account for 25 percent of national forest recreation nationwide and about half of the public wild land recreation in the state.*

• In California, national forests contain 30 percent of the family campgrounds, 30 percent of the 14.4 million acres of designated wilderness, and 22 of the 33 major downhill ski areas.  They include more than 2,400 lakes and reservoirs, 13,000 miles of fishable rivers and streams, 1,200 miles of designated Wild and Scenic Rivers, and 10,500 miles of maintained trails for hiking, horseback riding and off-road vehicle use.*

• Each year, 18.3 million Californians participate in outdoor recreation, and spend and estimated $1.7 billion on outdoor gear and apparel.ò  A 1986 study calculated the total spending by California wild land recreationists to be $4.9 billion.  A conservative estimate of the annual average recreation value of California public lands is $1.5 billion per year.ð

• National forests are home to major California landmarks including Mt. Shasta, Lake Tahoe, Mt. Whitney and parts of the Big Sur coast.
  

*USDA Forest Service

òOutdoor Recreation Industry letter, 12/17/03

ðCalifornia Board of Forestry, California Fire Plan