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56-512: The Salinas Valley is the fort's northern border, the Santa Lucia Mountains bound it on the east, Los Padres National Forest on the west and the Monterey and San Luis Obispo County line on the south. The fort originally comprised 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares), but even at its present size of 167,000 acres (68,000 hectares), it is the largest United States Army Reserve post. Some of

112-557: A federal judge. Due to the fire risk, there are seasonal restrictions on building fires. Some portions of the forest are closed entirely to public entry during the peak fire season, which usually extends from around June 1 to mid-November. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for parking in most locations of the Los Padres National Forest, as well as other National Forests in Southern California . The pass

168-642: A major philanthropic benefactor to Salinas. Salinas Valley is also an important viticultural area. Three American Viticultural Association " American Viticultural Area " domains are located within Salinas Valley: the Arroyo Seco AVA , the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA , and the Monterey AVA . Although agriculture forms an economic base, more than 100 manufacturing firms call Salinas home. Some of

224-506: A map of old growth redwoods in and around Big Sur as a result of his transect of the entire redwood range. The U.S. Forest Service decided in May 2020 to thin 755 acres (306 ha) of land to reduce wildfire risk most of which is within the national forest. The decision memo states the project aims to “to improve forest health by reducing mortality risk, provide safe and effective locations from which to perform fire suppression operations, to slow

280-577: A simulated Soviet Mechanized Rifle Company to act as the "OPFOR", or Opposing Forces . By this method, the Sgt. York anti-aircraft gun was found to have serious flaws, while the Marine's Light Armored Vehicle was validated. As of October 2018, the command is officially designated as the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett with Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (RFTA) (aka Camp Parks) located in Dublin, California as

336-732: A small extension into Los Angeles County in the Pyramid Lake area, between Castaic and Gorman . The Santa Ynez Mountains , which are within the Los Padres, rise above the Gaviota Coast , a series of alluvial plains along the last undeveloped stretch of the Southern California coastline. Other mountain ranges within the Los Padres include the Santa Lucia Mountains , La Panza Range , Caliente Range (a small part), Sierra Madre Mountains , San Rafael Mountains , Topatopa Mountains , and

392-624: A sub-installation. In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations, the Department of Defense recommended relocating the 91st Division from Parks Reserve Forces Training Area to Hunter Liggett. In 2007, the Army created the Combat Support Training Center at Fort Hunter Liggett and ramped up training from roughly 300,000 man-days per year (predominately during the summer), to over 850,000 per year, year-round. While training

448-1104: A tiny section of the Sierra Pelona Mountains  ; the highest parts of the forest are not within named mountain ranges, but are adjacent to the western San Emigdio Mountains and include Mount Pinos , Cerro Noroeste , and Reyes Peak . The forest is also adjacent to the Angeles National Forest , which is in Los Angeles County in Southern California and is nearby Carrizo Plain National Monument in eastern San Luis Obispo County. Forest headquarters are located in Goleta, California . There are local ranger district offices in Frazier Park , King City , Ojai , Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria . Many rivers in Southern and Central California have their points of origin within

504-456: A wired "shoot-house", improvements to the hardened landing strip capable of handling larger Air Force transport planes, and a 7-mile live-fire convoy course, the US Army's only such training area capable of handling 360-degree fire up to .50 caliber. A new US Army Reserve Center was constructed and the 91st Division moved into their new Headquarters building in May 2009. On 11 September 2010 the new HQ

560-732: Is divided into two non-contiguous areas separated approximately 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 km) from one another. The northern division lies within Monterey County and includes the Big Sur Coast and its scenic interior areas. This is a very popular area for hiking, with 323 miles (520 km) of hiking trails and 11 campgrounds (ranging from very rugged to suitable for recreational vehicles ). The larger, so called main section of Los Padres lies further south, within San Luis Obispo , Santa Barbara , Ventura and Kern Counties, with

616-591: Is located west of the San Joaquin Valley and south of San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley . The Salinas River , which geologically formed the fluvial valley and generated its human history, flows to the northwest or 'up' along the principal axis and the length of the valley. The valley was named during the late 18th-century Spanish colonial Alta California period, and in Spanish Salina

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672-633: Is not required in the Monterey Ranger District including Ventana Wilderness and Silver Peak Wilderness . Restrictions were put in place at times during the COVID-19 pandemic due to crowded conditions in which people were unable to social distance and also the resulting litter and human waste that was left behind. Los Padres means "the Fathers ", referring to the Catholic missionary priests of

728-405: Is the term for a salt marsh , salt lake , or salt pan . The seasonal Salinas River had brackish tule ponds in broad depressed areas, and more salinity during summer and when drought lowered flows. The valley runs in a southeast to northwest alignment. It begins south of San Ardo , framed by the central inner California Coast Ranges , continues northwestward continuously defined on the west by

784-557: The Dust Bowl era forms the backdrop for several John Steinbeck stories including East of Eden , Tortilla Flat , Of Mice and Men , The Chrysanthemums , and Johnny Bear . At a railroad crossing about one mile south of Chualar , a bus carrying Mexican migrant workers collided with a train in September 1963, killing 32 passengers and injuring 25. It was the most serious road accident in U.S. history, and helped spur abolition of

840-665: The Santa Lucia Range , on the east by the Gabilan Range , to its end and the river's mouth at the Monterey Bay . It is also known for being the setting of the novels East of Eden and Of Mice and Men , both by John Steinbeck . The Salinas Valley runs approximately 90 miles (145 km) southeast from the Salinas River mouth near Castroville and Salinas towards King City and San Ardo . The valley lends its name to

896-462: The Spanish missions who proselytized in and around the area in the 18th and 19th centuries. Los Padres was named Santa Barbara National Forest until December 3, 1936, and was assembled from a number of smaller National Forests, including: After the consolidation of the forests, the name Santa Barbara Forest was resented by residents of the other counties for being too closely identified with just

952-547: The United States Forest Service , Los Padres includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey , extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8,847 feet (2,697 m). The forest is approximately 1,950,000 acres (7,890 km ) in area, of which 1,762,400 acres (7,130 km ) or about 88% are public lands; the rest are privately owned inholdings . The forest

1008-727: The Ventana Wilderness and other portions of the Los Padres Forest. In June and July, 2008, the Basin Complex Fire torched 162,818 acres (658.90 km ) in the same region. The Thomas Fire was a massive wildfire that traversed the forest within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. It was one of multiple wildfires that ignited in southern California in December 2017. The unusually strong and persistent Santa Ana winds were

1064-574: The bracero program . Agriculture dominates the economy of the valley. Promoters call the Salinas Valley "the Salad Bowl of the World" for the production of lettuce, broccoli, peppers and numerous other crops. The climate and long growing season are also ideal for the flower industry and grape vineyards planted by world-famous vintners. In particular, a large majority of the salad greens consumed in

1120-656: The 1970s was the Ventana Wilderness in the Santa Lucia Mountains. The Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act of 1992 expanded existing wilderness by 84,400 acres (34,200 ha) and designated 316,050 acres (127,900 ha) of new wilderness that provides habitat for the condor. A total of 48% of the total area within the forest has a wilderness designation. Parts of the National Forest are designated as recreation areas. There are three recreation areas, Many threatened and endangered species live within

1176-598: The Los Padres National Forest, including the Carmel , Salinas , Cuyama , Sisquoc , Santa Ynez , Coyote Creek , Sespe , Ventura , and Piru . Several wilderness areas have been set aside within the Los Padres National Forest, including the San Rafael Wilderness , the first primitive area to be included in the U.S. wilderness system after the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964. Another large wilderness created in

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1232-741: The Los Padres, including chaparral , the common ground cover of most coastal ranges in California below about 5,000 feet (1,500 m), and coniferous forests, which can be found in abundance in the Ventana Wilderness as well as the region around Mount Pinos in northern Ventura County. Researchers estimate the extent of old growth in the forest is 18,900 acres (76 km ). It consists largely of Jeffrey pine ( Pinus jeffreyi ) forests, although old-growth coast redwood ( Sequoia Sempervirens ), coast Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii ), and white fir ( Abies concolor ) are also found there. In 2008, scientist J. Michael Fay published

1288-759: The Monterey County Water Resources Agency, will use an inflatable dam near Salinas to capture more water during wet periods. Monterey County Water Recycling Projects, a combination of the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project and the Salinas Valley Reclamation Project, started delivering recycled water to fields near Castroville in 1998. The project's goal is to reduce pumping of groundwater and slow down seawater intrusion. The Salinas Valley's weather varies from north to south. Proximity to Monterey Bay and

1344-599: The Monterey Peninsula. In general, the installation is bounded on the north by the Salinas Valley , on the east by the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains , on the south by the Monterey/San Luis Obispo county line and on the west by approximately 55 miles (89 km) of Los Padres National Forest . The highest mountain in the area is Junipero Serra Peak. At 5,862 feet (1,787 m), it is visible toward

1400-429: The Salinas Valley in the late 18th century; from the last grew the city of Soledad . The Franciscans baptized the native population at the missions. The Native Americans had no immunity to European diseases like smallpox and measles , so many died and their culture was devastated. Many of the remaining people assimilated with Spanish and Mexican ranchers in the nineteenth century. The commercial farming sector of

1456-547: The Salinas Valley with Highway 1 between Cambria and Pacific Grove. However, in January 2021, several landslides have destroyed the road. Reopening is not anticipated until 2023 or 2024. Under the Köppen Climate Classification , "dry-summer subtropical" climates are often referred to as "Mediterranean". This climate zone has an average temperature above 10 °C (50 °F) in their warmest months, and an average in

1512-404: The U.S. are grown within this region. Strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, and spinach are the dominant crops in the valley. Other crops include broccoli, cauliflower, wine grapes, artichokes, and celery. Due to the intensity of local agriculture, the area has earned itself the nickname "America's Salad Bowl." The flower industry, grown in greenhouses, is now dominated by Matsui Nursery , which has been

1568-519: The addition of 26 tule elk from the Owens Valley tule elk herd in December 1981, and the population reached 300-400 individual animals by 2002. This article incorporates public domain content from United States government sources. Salinas Valley The Salinas Valley ( Spanish : Valle de Salinas ) is one of the major valleys and most productive agricultural regions in California . It

1624-419: The coldest between 18 and −3 °C (64 and 27 °F). Summers tend to be dry with less than one-third that of the wettest winter month, and with less than 30 mm (1.2 in) of precipitation in a summer month The United States Census Bureau has designated Fort Hunter Liggett as a separate census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, covering the fort's permanent residential population. It

1680-465: The cool coastal waters of the Pacific cools the northern part of the valley in summer, and keeps it relatively mild in winter. The southern portion of the valley has greater extremes of temperature, hotter in summer, and colder in winter. In summer, inland heating creates a thermal low that draws the marine layer into the valley, with fog and low clouds near Monterey Bay, sometimes extending farther down

1736-401: The fire) and 2,000 acres (sparks from live fire catching dry vegetation near by). In 2008, negligent campers left a fire smoldering at a Los Padres National Forest campsite immediately northeast of Hunter Liggett. The ensuing wildfire — subsequently called the "Indians Fire" after the campsite where it originated — consumed over 200,000 acres, 9,000 of which were on the northern end of

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1792-565: The forest. Among them is the California condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ), for whom the United States Forest Service manages the Sespe Condor Sanctuary and the Sisquoc Condor Sanctuary. Also present is the California mountain kingsnake , a California species of special concern. The American peregrine falcon is also entirely dependent on the forest for its survival. The mountain lion and California mule deer may be

1848-516: The geologic province in which it is located, the Salinian Block . Cities and populated places in the Salinas Valley include Bradley , Castroville , Chualar , Gonzales , Greenfield , Jolon , King City , Salinas , San Ardo , San Lucas , Soledad and Spreckels . The Salinas Valley is located in between the Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges, which border the Salinas Valley to the east and

1904-446: The groundwater to irrigate about 275,000 acres (1,110 km ) of fruits and vegetables and to supply the valley cities. The Salinas River itself is a sand river, so water appears on the surface only during heavy rains or when water is released from the upstream reservoirs. Increasing demand for water near the mouth of the valley is drawing seawater into the freshwater aquifer. The Salinas Valley Water Project, now under construction by

1960-536: The land, 52 acres (21 hectares), was given to Mission San Antonio de Padua , bringing its size to 85 acres (34 hectares). Additionally, land has been traded between the United States Forest Service , which owns the adjacent Los Padres National Forest , and the Army. Junipero Serra Peak is to the north and Bald Mountain to the south. The fort also contains the headwaters of the Nacimiento River and San Antonio River. The opening helicopter scene of We Were Soldiers

2016-451: The largest employers in the area include: Dole Fresh Vegetable , the County of Monterey , and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital . Supplying Salinas Valley farms is an underground water supply fed, in part, by the large watershed in surrounding mountains. Two reservoirs – Nacimiento and San Antonio —store and release the water for groundwater recharge , flood control and farming. Wells access

2072-641: The largest factor in the spread of the fire. The region experienced an on-and-off Santa Ana wind event for a little over two weeks, which contributed to the Thomas Fire's persistent growths in size. At its height, the wildfire was powerful enough to generate its own weather, qualifying it as a firestorm . The Forest Service conducts prescribed burns when favorable weather conditions are present; temperatures must be below 80 degrees, winds lower than 15 miles per hour and relative humidity needs to be above 20 percent. Illegal farming of cannabis in secluded areas has been

2128-464: The military installation. While battling the fire, over 3,000 firefighters from across the nation based at Fort Hunter Liggett near one of the newly established Tactical Training Bases. On August 13, 2016, the Chimney Fire started on the south side of Lake Nacimiento and burned northward onto the post. By the time the fire was contained, over 46,000 acres were burned of which several thousand were on

2184-610: The most common large mammals. Bighorn sheep inhabit the Sespe Creek region of the forest. American black bears browse on grasses, berries , and carrion. Coyotes thrive everywhere in this forest. Bobcats can occasionally be seen in the more remote mountainous areas of the forest. Other animals found in this forest are raccoons , bluebirds , barn owls , red-tailed hawks , cottontail rabbits , bald eagles , jack rabbits , California quail , California scrub jays , and great horned owls . Many vegetation types are represented in

2240-464: The nation. The Army installation's garrison commander relocated from Camp Parks to Hunter Liggett in early 2007, with oversight for Camp Parks and Army units and housing that remain at former NAS Moffett Field and B.T. Collins Reserve Center in Sacramento. Significant training infrastructure improvements were made including several Tactical Training Bases (TTBs - analogous to Forward Operating Bases),

2296-438: The north and has a fairly good road leading to the summit. The peak was formerly known as Santa Lucia and local long-time residents still call it by that name. In winter it is sometimes cloaked with a white mantle of snow. The fort is named for Lt. Gen. Hunter Liggett , a commander and chief of staff under General John J. Pershing during World War I. Fort Hunter Liggett was under the authority of Camp Roberts, California , to

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2352-404: The old main gate, there is a road to the southwest which goes to what is known as the "Primitive Campgrounds". There are some camper trailers there, and some water spigots around the site. There is also a central restroom on the site and a store. Near that area is a lot that has several used FEMA trailers stored. Nacimiento-Fergusson Road, which runs through the fort, is the only road that connects

2408-562: The one county. Amidst public pressure, administrators therefore changed the name to Los Padres to be more representative of the regional history. Due to the very dry summers, forest fires in Los Padres National Forest are always a risk. In 1965, a truck driven by country singer Johnny Cash caught fire, and burned several hundred acres in Ventura County. In August 1977, the Marble Cone Fire burned 178,000 acres (720 km ) within

2464-488: The southeast, until 1952, when it became a sub-installation of Fort Ord. From the 1970s through the early 1990s, the post served two purposes — as a training area for the 7th Light Infantry Division (based at Fort Ord), and as the home for the Training and Experimentation Command (USACDEC) (usually abbreviated as CDEC and later as TEC). The mission of CDEC was to evaluate new Army and Marine Corps weapons systems by providing

2520-541: The southwest part of the post. The Dolan Fire reached Fort Hunter Liggett in September 2020, forcing an evacuation warning. The fire began in August near Limekiln State Park . The fort covers hundreds of acres of grassland , chaparral and oak woodland. There are several vernal pools , a rare habitat type. The entire world population of the rare Santa Lucia mint ( Pogogyne clareana ) occurs on Fort Hunter Liggett grounds. A herd of tule elk ( Cervus canadensis nannodes )

2576-527: The spread of a wildland fire”. The Reyes Peak Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Project is roughly 30 miles (48 km) north of Ojai in the Reyes Peak area on Pine Mountain in Ventura County. Seven environmental groups, the city of Ojai and Ventura County filed three lawsuits in federal court in April 2022 to stop the brush clearance and logging operation. The suit was dismissed with prejudice on July 19, 2023 by

2632-799: The valley. The climate is ideal for the numerous vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands, promoting growth of winetasting along the River Road Wine Trail . The California Rodeo Salinas , California International Airshow, the National Steinbeck Center , and the Steinbeck Festival are major attractions in Salinas . On August 30, 2007, 8,000 cartons of spinach (from Metz Fresh, a King City -based grower and shipper, Salinas Valley, California ) were recalled after Salmonella

2688-567: The west, respectively. Before colonization, the valley was inhabited by indigenous Salinans who lived by hunting and gathering and spoke the Salinan language . The Salinan people are believed to have lived south of Junipero Serra Peak , perhaps ranging from Slates Hot Springs on the coast to Soledad in the Salinas Valley and into northern San Luis Obispo County. The Spanish colonial missions of San Miguel Arcángel , San Antonio de Padua and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad were all founded within

2744-534: Was centered around United States Army Reserve units preparing for deployment, such was provided to all Army components (Active, Reserve, and Guard), and to Air Force, Navy, Marines, and even foreign commands (the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force trained there in late 2007). Exercises held that first year included Pacific Warrior and Global Medic, which involved over 6,000 troops at Hunter Liggett, and connections to other units in locations across

2800-543: Was designated as the Master Sergeant Robb G. Needham Army Reserve Center after the first 91st Division combat casualty since WWII. Fort Hunter Liggett was used to film parts of the movie We Were Soldiers . The post was also used in the filming of Clear and Present Danger , starring Harrison Ford . The post is featured in Road Trip with Huell Howser Episode 147. In 2002, a small portion of Fort Hunter Liggett

2856-424: Was designed by the architect Julia Morgan . The government purchased Hearst's properties plus two-thirds of Rancho Pleyto . It added other private holdings as well. This surrounded the small unincorporated town of Jolon , which remains today in a significantly diminished form from its heyday. The post is about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of King City and about 86 miles (138 km) south of old Fort Ord on

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2912-483: Was discovered on routine testing. The incident led to a call from some consumer advocates and lawmakers for greater oversight in food safety, even if 90% of the suspect vegetable did not reach the shelves. 36°45′55″N 121°47′30″W  /  36.7654°N 121.7918°W  / 36.7654; -121.7918 Los Padres National Forest Los Padres National Forest is a United States national forest in southern and central California . Administered by

2968-532: Was established at Fort Hunter Liggett in December 1978 by translocation of 22 elk from the Tupman Tule Elk Reserve in Buttonwillow, California , and two additional elk bulls translocated were from San Luis National Wildlife Refuge in September 1979. However, severe poaching resulted in failure of the translocation, with 14 of 15 elk mortalities the result of illegal hunting. The herd was re-established by

3024-580: Was filmed at the old Bailey Bridge spanning the Nacimiento River. There is an historic hotel on the Post known as The Hacienda (Milpitas Ranchhouse) which serves the general public and can be used as guest housing by military personnel, and as available, to the public. The "west wing" of The Hacienda has also served as the Installation Commander's Quarters during various periods. A short distance past

3080-433: Was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census with a population of 250. In 1923, Newhall Land sold Rancho San Miguelito de Trinidad and Rancho El Piojo to William Randolph Hearst . In 1925, Hearst's Piedmont Land and Cattle Company bought Rancho Milpitas and neighboring Rancho Los Ojitos (Little Springs) ) from the James Brown Cattle Company. The Hacienda , now a hotel, was constructed during Hearst's ownership and

3136-447: Was scorched by a 2,000-acre fire that was started by a U.S. Forest Service employee's personal Jeep. The fire resulted from a "mechanical failure" in the vehicle, and the employee tried to put the fire out before it spread to brush. No injuries were reported but the fire did consume several outbuildings. Following the ramp-up in training in 2007, two fires that year consumed 5,000 acres (an elevated boom struck an electrical wire, sparking

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