Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Raul Ruiz (CA-25) called on President Biden to use his powers under the Antiquities Act to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in the California Desert and protect lands adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park. Ruiz has also introduced legislation to achieve this goal. The effort seeks to protect about 660,000 acres of the California Desert south of Joshua Tree National Park, reaching west from the Coachella Valley region to the east near the Colorado River. It would also expand Joshua Tree National Park to preserve about 17,000 acres of public lands east of the park. The new national monument would protect fragile ecosystems, honor Tribal and cultural legacies on the landscape, expand access to nature for Southern California communities, and get us closer to the scientifically recognized goal of protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030.
The Antiquities Act grants U.S. presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments. Biden has designated five national monuments during his administration: Camp Hale-Continental Divide in Colorado, Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, Castner Range in Texas, Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley in Illinois and Mississippi, and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
In response, Sierra Club’s Chief Conservation Officer Chris Hill, released the following statement:
“National monuments help tell the story of this country through its landscapes. For the landscapes of the California desert, it’s a diverse and important story that combines Indigenous peoples and cultures, veterans of World War II, and rare and unique species, all of whom have called this place home.
“By designating Chuckwalla National Monument, we can honor the Tribes who have stewarded these lands for generations, commemorate those who served our country, preserve the rich biodiversity of a truly unique ecosystem, and move us closer towards achieving the goal of protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030. We hope President Biden continues to build his monumental legacy by fully protecting this landscape.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.