On a warm, Wednesday afternoon, scientists, community members and local leaders gathered at the Grange Hall in San Luis Obispo to discuss the Trump administration’s attempts to weaken laws protecting public land and waters — and how those policies could impact the Central Coast. … From an attempt to reduce the scope of the Endangered Species Act to an effort to allow the president to eliminate national monuments, here are three issues to keep an eye on for the Central Coast. … “Our nation’s public lands provide tangible goods that we all depend on — things like water, safety from wildfire, timber, grazing for cattle,” (Los Padres National Forest wildlife biologist Ben) Vizzachero said. “We need to support those things, and as a biologist, I’m making sure that our forest can provide those without sacrificing wildlife habitat.”

Other public land news:

• San Francisco Chronicle: ‘Prepare to be blown away’: New national monument near Santa Cruz to open with trails for hiking, biking
• Sierra Sun (Truckee, Calif.): Could the Senate’s proposed budget bill jeopardize Tahoe land?
• SFGate: Calif. mountain towns could be decimated by public lands sell-off​
• The Fresno Bee (Calif.): Opinion: If MAGA prevails, your favorite CA forest recreation area could be sold