COACHELLA, CA — Today, Tribal leaders, elected officials, and local community members celebrated President Biden’s plans to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in the California desert and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in Northern California. 

“Establishing the Chuckwalla National Monument is another major victory for safeguarding California’s public lands for generations to come,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “This historic announcement accelerates our state’s crucial efforts to fight the climate crisis, protect our iconic wildlife, preserve sacred tribal sites, and promote clean energy while expanding equitable access to nature for millions of Californians. This designation reflects years of tireless work from tribal leaders to protect these sacred desert landscapes. President Biden has joined California leaders in championing our treasured natural wonders, and I applaud him for further cementing his strong public lands legacy.”

The new Chuckwalla National Monument will reach from the Coachella Valley region in the west to near the Colorado River in the east. It will protect more than 624,000 acres of public lands located south of Joshua Tree National Park. The designation will advance local priorities in the Eastern Coachella Valley, including honoring Tribal sovereignty, boosting the local economy, and ensuring access to nature. The monument boundaries were also specifically drawn to avoid areas identified as suitable for renewable energy development, and the proposal garnered support from the renewable energy industry.

“I am thrilled that President Biden will designate the Chuckwalla National Monument using the Antiquities Act,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-25). “After years of negotiation and bringing several communities together, this achievement was made possible through the leadership and partnership of many organizations, tribes, and community leaders. Chuckwalla National Monument will pave the way for the future of conservation and renewable energy. I greatly appreciate Senators Padilla and Butler for their support and partnership over the last several years.”

Seven Tribes—along with local cities, elected officials, businesses, scientists, veterans, residents, and more—called for Chuckwalla National Monument and urged the president to protect this important cultural landscape. 

“For thousands of years, the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians have called the lands in the Chuckwalla National Monument home,” said Joseph DL Mirelez, Chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. “We are happy to see the designation protect this area that contains thousands of cultural places and objects of vital importance to the history and identity of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.”

The Chuckwalla National Monument is part of a living landscape that holds spiritual significance for many Tribes. The new monument will include interconnected cultural and natural resources that continue to sustain the well-being and survival of Indigenous peoples. 

The Tribal Council of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe released a statement saying: “The protection of the Chuckwalla National Monument brings the Quechan people an overwhelming sense of peace and joy. This national monument designation cements into history our solidarity and collective vision for our peoples. The essence of who we are lies in the landscapes of Chuckwalla and Avi Kwa Ame. Every trail, every living being, and every story in these places is connected to a rich history and heritage that runs in our DNA. That is why we look forward to the day when we can celebrate adding the proposed Kw’tsán National Monument for protection as well.”

Tribal leaders are also calling on President Biden to designate one more national monument in California before the end of his term: the proposed Kw’tsán National Monument in Southern California. 

“The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) celebrates the permanent and long-term protection of ancestral lands and the cultural landscape through the designation of the Chuckwalla National Monument,” said Amelia Flores, Chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. “CRIT has worked tirelessly to preserve and protect water, resources, and sacred sites. This designation clearly affirms CRIT’s spiritual, cultural, and ancestral connection to these lands.”

The designation will provide protection to Indigenous trail systems, sacred sites and objects, important plants and wildlife, and more.

“The Cahuilla Band of Indians strongly applauds the creation of the Chuckwalla National Monument,” said Erica Schenk, Chairwoman of the Cahuilla Band of Indians. “The area includes village sites, camps, quarries, food processing sites, power places, trails, glyphs, and story and song locations, all of which are evidence of the Cahuilla peoples’ and other Tribes’ close and spiritual relationship to these desert lands.”

Local businesses, chambers of commerce, and elected officials are also celebrating the national monument designation as great news for the local economy and quality of life. 

“Chuckwalla National Monument will help provide access to nature, protect places for outdoor recreation, boost our economy, and benefit businesses,” said Waymond Fermon, Indio City Councilmember. “In under an hour’s drive, residents of my community of Indio can experience the beauty of the monument and explore nature close to home. National monument status ensures that places beloved for outdoor recreation are here for current and future generations to enjoy.”

Some popular trails and places of interest that will be protected as part of the monument include Painted Canyon and Box Canyon in the Mecca Hills area, Corn Springs Campground, and the Bradshaw Trail. The area is popular for recreational activities like hiking, camping, and OHV use on authorized routes. Under a national monument, all of these uses will continue to be allowed, and the natural resources these uses depend on would be better protected.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the new Chuckwalla National Monument,” said Evan Trubee, Owner of Big Wheel Tours and Palm Desert City Councilmember. “Protecting public lands here in the Coachella Valley will preserve the wildlife and beautiful landscapes that make our desert home unique. It will help ensure access to the outdoors for our local communities and protect the nature that draws visitors to Riverside and Imperial Counties.”

The monument is complementary to the goals of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), which identified areas suitable for renewable energy development as well as lands that should be safeguarded for their biological, cultural, recreation, and other values. The DRECP identified many of the lands in the monument as being important to conserve for their biological values. Permanently protecting these lands helps ensure a balanced approach to the development of renewable energy and conservation in the California Desert.

“Chuckwalla National Monument is a testament to the reality that conservation and clean energy progress go hand in hand,” said Raisa Lee, Sr. Director of Development, Clearway Energy Group. “We are grateful to Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz for their tireless and collaborative work to protect biological and cultural areas while helping meet the nation’s growing demand for reliable, low-cost energy.”

The new monument also helps preserve the California Desert’s military history by protecting World War II training sites. Moreover, protecting public lands in the Desert helps provide a buffer for present-day military installations from development that may interfere with military airspace. 

“A major part of my transition back to civilian life and healing has been time spent with nature,” said Craig Meling, former U.S. Army Major who lives in the Coachella Valley. “The new Chuckwalla National Monument preserves the important military history of the area and can also serve as a place of respite for those healing from the trauma of war.” 

Championed by Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D., the effort to designate Chuckwalla National Monument garnered overwhelming local support. The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians all called for the establishment of the monument. 

Local elected officials, the cities of Banning, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs, over 300 businesses, business organizations, and Chambers of Commerce, 370 scientists, and residents of the eastern Coachella Valley and neighboring areas also added their voices in support.