Coachella, CA — Frank Ruiz, Director of Audubon California’s Desert & Salton Sea Programs, issued the following statement today on Senator Feinstein’s passing and conservation legacy.

“We recognize Senator Dianne Feinstein’s tremendous legacy for the California Desert. In the three decades that she served as a United States Senator, she championed the protection of millions of acres of public lands in the Desert. Our communities benefited from her commitment to conservation and will continue to benefit for generations to come.

In 1994, Senator Feinstein championed the California Desert Protection Act. This historic law created Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Parks, the Mojave National Preserve, and many wilderness areas. It is thanks to Senator Feinstein and the many advocates and community leaders who worked with her on this effort that millions of people can visit and enjoy these special places every year. 

The California Desert Protection Act also laid the groundwork for many more conservation efforts in the following years. For example, Senator Feinstein later advocated for the designation of the California Desert’s three newer national monuments: Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and Castle Mountains National Monuments. Thanks to her efforts, these designations collectively conserved over 1.7 million acres of public lands and protected important wildlife habitat, cultural and historic sites, and places enjoyed by visitors and locals alike.

Senator Feinstein was also a key part of renewable energy and conservation planning for the California Desert, helping to champion the process of developing the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). This balanced approach to conservation and renewable energy development is a landmark approach for our region and our country and protects millions of acres of public lands as California Desert National Conservation Lands. 

These are just a few examples of the substantial legacy Senator Feinstein leaves behind in the California Desert. We must continue this work in the years to come, protecting and conserving our region’s critically important public lands.”