President Joe Biden is poised to designate two new national monuments in California in the final days of his term, responding to calls from tribes and environmental groups for urgent action. The Chuckwalla monument in southern California and the Sáttítla monument in the state’s far north will see 840,000 acres of land placed under protection, safeguarding it from extraction and energy development.
Originally scheduled to make the announcement in California’s eastern Coachella valley on Tuesday, Biden postponed the event due to hazardous weather conditions. The unveiling is now set to take place at the White House next week to allow key stakeholders to attend.
The Chuckwalla monument, which shares a border with Joshua Tree National Park, holds significant cultural and ecological value. It encompasses the ancestral homeland of Indigenous peoples such as the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano nations, and provides habitat for desert species including the greater roadrunner, Gila woodpecker, and bighorn sheep.
Erica Schenk, chair of the Cahuilla Band of Indians, highlighted the historical and spiritual connection of Indigenous peoples to the desert lands within the Chuckwalla monument. She noted the presence of village sites, camps, quarries, food-processing sites, and other cultural artifacts as evidence of this deep relationship.
The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, who have inhabited the area for millennia, expressed satisfaction with the protection of their cultural heritage. Tribal chair Joseph DL Mirelez emphasized the significance of safeguarding the land that holds thousands of cultural sites and artifacts vital to their identity.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland commended President Biden’s action, emphasizing the importance of preserving the spiritual and cultural values tied to the land and wildlife. The Pit River Tribe played a leading role in advocating for the designation of the Sáttítla monument near the Oregon border, which features a volcanic landscape and striking obsidian formations.
The move to create these national monuments aligns with the Biden administration’s goal to conserve 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030 under the America the Beautiful plan. In contrast, former President Donald Trump’s administration had pursued policies promoting increased extraction and development on public lands, a stark departure from conservation efforts.
California Governor Gavin Newsom lauded the new designations as a significant step towards safeguarding the state’s natural and cultural heritage. Designating national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906 provides a means for Biden to protect these areas from potential threats posed by future administrations.
While the designation of these national monuments marks a positive development, challenges remain in ensuring their long-term preservation. The tribal council of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe expressed optimism about the historic significance of the monument designations, reflecting a shared vision for the protection of ancestral lands and heritage.
Additionally, the council has been actively advocating for the designation of a third national monument in California, namely the Kw’tsán National Monument located at the southern tip
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