Interior holds public meeting regarding proposed Chuckwalla National Monument

Hundreds of people packed a toasty Riverside County Fairgrounds Taj Mahal building to share their overwhelming support for designating Chuckwalla National Monument and protecting lands adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park in the southern California desert. The public meeting, hosted by the Department of the Interior, marks a significant milestone in the campaign to create a connected network of protected public lands that would ensure connectivity for wildlife such as desert bighorn sheep and burro deer, honor a cultural landscape with spiritual significance, help ensure more equitable access to nature for Coachella Valley communities, and preserve historical artifacts.

“We're grateful for the phenomenal work everyone, including the people who showed up today, has contributed to protecting the greater southern California Desert. This public meeting is part of a critical moment in conservation that would protect landscapes and serve communities throughout the state,” said Alicia Thomas, California Community Partnerships Manager of The Wilderness Society. “Tribal Nations and communities in Imperial and Riverside Counties have long-standing legacies honoring the relationship between people and landscape, and these proposals will ensure that present and future generations can continue to foster those connections.”

The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument would protect 627,000 acres of existing public lands south of I-10, extending from the Coachella Valley region to the east near the Colorado River. This campaign also includes protecting 17,000 acres of public lands adjacent to the east side of Joshua Tree National Park, further enhancing the area's holistic conservation efforts. 

Interior Secretary Haaland recently visited the two proposal sites and met with Tribal leaders from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Cahuilla Band of Indians, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. She also met with federal, state, and local elected leaders, business owners, and community members who helped shape the proposal, signaling that it is being seriously considered for designation.

Members of the California congressional delegation support the proposal; Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), and Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25) introduced bicameral legislation to designate the proposed national monument and park expansion.

Now, it’s up to President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to swiftly protect this treasured southern California landscape.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Alicia Thomas
California Community Partnerships Manager, The Wilderness Society 
alicia_thomas@tws.org / (415) 398-1111