The Biden-Harris administration responds to overwhelming Tribal and local support
DENVER— President Joe Biden is expected to use his authority under the Antiquities Act today to designate two new national monuments in California: Chuckwalla National Monument and Sáttítla National Monument. Together these monuments will add greater protections for over 800,000 acres of culturally and ecologically significant federal land.
The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“With these proclamations, President Biden has secured his legacy as one of America’s great conservation presidents. It’s not enough to protect iconic landmarks and features—we must preserve the linkages between ecosystems and landscapes that support wildlife, clean air, and water that communities depend on. We thank President Biden for taking another big step toward achieving the national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters, and for honoring and respecting Indigenous peoples’ advocacy and heritage.”
“The local and Tribal communities of the Eastern Coachella Valley have demonstrated overwhelming public support for creating Chuckwalla National Monument. I want to express gratitude for their tireless leadership in this effort, as well as the local and national elected officials who listened and understood why this amazing desert ecosystem is worthy of greater protection.
“The designation of Sáttítla National Monument is another great example of President Biden using the Antiquities Act to honor Tribally-led land protection efforts. The Pit River Nation has cared for these lands for millennia, and today’s designation ensures the area’s natural and cultural resources are sustained for generations to come.”
Chuckwalla National Monument protects more than 624,000 acres of fragile desert ecosystem just south of Joshua Tree National Park. The monument is named for the chuckwalla lizard, a native species found in the region. Establishing this monument will help ensure equitable access to nature for local communities, as well as safeguard biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and critical wildlife migration corridors. The area holds cultural, natural, and spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples and includes the homelands of the Iviatim, Nüwü, Pipa Aha Macav, Kwatsáan, and Maara’yam peoples (Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mohave, Colorado River Indian Tribes/CRIT Mohave, Quechan, and Serrano nations).
Sáttítla National Monument protects more than 224,000 acres of water-rich and culturally significant land important to the Pit River Nation. The monument comprises the upper reaches of the Medicine Lake Highlands and boasts unique geology formed by volcanoes. The area also serves as a giant freshwater aquifer, storing snowmelt that provides water for millions of Californians.
With these monument designations, President Biden has protected more public land than any other recent president in their first term and made significant progress toward the national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030.
Learn more
- Center for Western Priorities’ Road to 30: Postcards Chuckwalla film
- Scenic b-roll video and photos of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument [for editorial use only, please credit Center for Western Priorities]
- The Designation of Chuckwalla National Monument Would Protect Connected Ecosystems and Close the Nature Gap [Center for American Progress]
- Protect Chuckwalla website
- Center for Western Priorities’ Road to 30: Postcards Sáttítla blog post
- Protect Sáttítla website
Featured image: Chuckwalla National Monument, Bob Wick