COACHELLA, CA — This January marks the one-year anniversary of the Chuckwalla National Monument, a victory celebrated region-wide after years of advocacy from local Tribes and community members. Chuckwalla National Monument protects more than 624,000 acres of public lands south of Joshua Tree National Park. It reaches from the Coachella Valley region in the west to near the Colorado River in the east. 

“The Chuckwalla National Monument is more than a habitat filled with trees, plants, and wildlife; for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, it embodies life itself, and we are intrinsically linked to it, committed to safeguarding it,” said Joseph Mirelez, Chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.

In January, local residents celebrated the anniversary by visiting and stewarding the beloved monument. This past weekend, about 60 people gathered for a volunteer cleanup at the monument in coordination with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. Earlier in the month, an anniversary hike brought together locals to explore the monument and look for early wildflowers. Chuckwalla National Monument is enjoyed by locals and visitors for its hiking trails, off-highway vehicle routes, night skies, and other activities. 

“As a local business owner, I am celebrating the one-year anniversary of Chuckwalla National Monument,” said Kimberly Rennae, Owner of Red Jeep Tours, which has helped thousands of people to explore the desert over the years. “Chuckwalla National Monument is part of our economy and protects the desert for current and future generations to explore and enjoy.”

Since the monument’s creation, five Tribes – the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) formed the new Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission. The Commission’s goal is to ensure that Tribal values, expertise, cultural heritage, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge are incorporated into the management of the monument.

“Chuckwalla National Monument is imbued with religious, spiritual, historic, and cultural significance for Tribal Nations that trace their origins to these lands,” said Jonathan Koteen, President of the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe. “The formation of the Chuckwalla National Monument Intertribal Commission will help ensure that Indigenous values and principles are integrated into the region’s land management plan.”

A bipartisan group of elected officials has also continued to highlight their support for the monument. After a meeting with Coachella Valley business leaders last year, Congressman Ken Calvert shared, “I recently had the opportunity to meet with Coachella Valley business leaders about the vital role our public lands, including the recently created Chuckwalla National Monument, play in the local economy. These lands support jobs, drive tourism, and provide extraordinary recreational opportunities. I believe these invaluable assets must be protected for future generations.”

Similarly, Assemblymembers Jeff Gonzalez (AD-36) and Greg Wallis (AD-47) jointly authored an opinion piece in the Riverside Press-Enterprise on their support for Chuckwalla National Monument, saying, “For years, the communities we represent have called for the creation of Chuckwalla National Monument. Located south of Joshua Tree National Park, this monument is about more than protecting land—it’s about strengthening our economy, preserving our shared history, and honoring the service and sacrifice of those who came before us.”

Tribes led the effort to create the Chuckwalla National Monument, alongside local desert communities. It was a proposal that attracted near-universal and bipartisan support throughout the region, and was endorsed by the cities of Banning, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Palm Springs, a bipartisan group of local elected officials, 300+ businesses, business groups, and Chambers of Commerce, and residents of the eastern Coachella Valley and neighboring areas. The California Legislature also passed a bipartisan resolution in support of the monument.

“I own a small business that takes visitors out to experience off-roading adventures in the Chuckwalla National Monument and on other desert lands, “ said Evan Trubee, Owner of Big Wheel Tours and Palm Desert Mayor. “Protected public lands are our bread and butter. My business depends on these places, and they make our area a great place to live. Celebrating the one-year anniversary of Chuckwalla National Monument is a special milestone for the many business owners, community leaders, and local residents who made the protection of this place possible.”

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