President Biden designated two new national monuments in California, protecting 848,000 acres of ecologically significant land while setting a presidential conservation record.
President Biden has designated two new national monuments in California, protecting 848,000 acres of land. These new California national monuments make him the U.S. president who has conserved the most land and water in history.
The Chuckwalla National Monument and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument will preserve areas important for their scientific value, cultural heritage, and natural beauty. The new national monuments in California will also help protect clean water sources and wildlife habitats while boosting local economies through tourism and research opportunities.
The larger of the two new national monuments in California, Chuckwalla National Monument, covers 624,000 acres in southern California. It sits just south of Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado Deserts meet. The area includes striking landscapes like the Painted Canyon of Mecca Hills and Alligator Rock.
Visitors to Chuckwalla can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, photography, and wildlife watching. The monument’s diverse terrain makes it ideal for both casual explorers and serious outdoor enthusiasts. Local tour operators expect increased business as more people discover this newly protected area.
This land holds special significance for several Native American tribes. The Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano Nations have ancestral ties to the area. The monument contains sacred sites, ancient trails, and religious locations.
The monument will protect more than 50 rare plant and animal species. These include desert bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and the monument’s namesake – the Chuckwalla lizard. Scientists anticipate new research opportunities to study these species in their protected habitat.
The second of the new national monuments in California, Sáttítla Highlands, spans 224,000 acres in northern California. It includes parts of three national forests: Modoc, Shasta-Trinity, and Klamath. Local businesses in nearby communities expect increased tourism revenue from visitors drawn to the unique volcanic landscape.
At its heart lies the Medicine Lake Volcano, which is ten times larger than Mount St. Helens in Washington. The area features unique geological formations like volcanic craters and lava tubes. In fact, it contains Giant Crater, the world’s longest known lava tube system.
Research teams from several universities have already planned geological studies in the Sáttítla Highlands. The monument’s volcanic features offer valuable insights into the region’s geological history and potential volcanic activity.
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The Sáttítla Highlands are sacred to the Pit River Tribe and Modoc Peoples. Other tribes, including the Karuk, Klamath, Shasta, Siletz, Wintu, and Yana, also have deep connections to this land. Local tribal leaders expect the designation will help preserve their cultural heritage.
The new national monuments in California are part of a larger conservation effort. They complete what’s now the largest protected land corridor in the lower 48 states. This Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor stretches about 600 miles and covers nearly 18 million acres.
The corridor runs from Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments through Arizona and Nevada. It now extends to these new California national monuments. Initial economic studies suggest the corridor could generate significant tourism revenue for communities along its route.
Both monuments will allow some existing activities to continue. The Sáttítla Highlands will permit forest management to reduce fire risks. Military training can continue in both areas.
The monuments will only affect federal lands. Private and state properties within their boundaries won’t be impacted.
These designations support Biden’s goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. With these additions, he has now protected 674 million acres.
The monuments also align with clean energy goals. The Chuckwalla monument allows for electric transmission lines to carry renewable energy. Nearby areas can still develop renewable energy projects under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.
