California Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz Introduce Legislation to Designate Chuckwalla National Monument

Today, California Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Ruiz introduced legislation to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California.

Why It Matters

• The Chuckwalla National Monument will:
  • help ensure more equitable access to nature for local residents and protect popular recreation sites;
  • protect vast desert ecosystems and habitat for species like Chuckwalla lizards;
  • protect an interconnected cultural, natural, and spiritual living landscape that holds Tribal history and supports Indigenous peoples today; and
  • honor the region’s history of training soldiers during World War II and protect stretches of the historic Bradshaw Trail.

Press Statement

CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION URGES PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DESIGNATE CHUCKWALLA NATIONAL MONUMENT: THANKS SENATOR PADILLA FOR INTRODUCING BILL 

Coachella, CA —  As the only non-profit organization solely focused on protecting the public’s access to lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Conservation Lands Foundation cheered U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s introduction today of legislation to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California and, in light of Congressional unreliability, urged President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate this national monument quickly.

Statement from Maricela Rosales, California Associate Program Director for the Conservation Lands Foundation:

“We applaud Senator Padilla’s and Representative Ruiz’s foresight and leadership to designate a Chuckwalla National Monument and protect the public’s access to this California Desert region and secure essential wildlife habitat and landscape connectivity at a key moment in time when we need to aggressively advance our nation’s and California’s goal of protecting 30% of public lands and coastal waters by 2030.” 

“The designation will also increase much-needed access to nature for residents of the Eastern Coachella Valley, Blythe, and other local communities. It will honor Tribal cultural heritage by safeguarding a living and cultural landscape for Indigenous communities, including the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mojave, Quechan, and Serrano peoples, and protect the desert’s unique biodiversity, including the chuckwalla lizard.”

“These rocky mountain ranges, steep slot canyons, desert wash woodlands, and palm oases that make up the Chuckwalla are beloved for outdoor recreation activities and hold deep significance for our nation's veterans as they were used to train soldiers for WWII and are still used for missions today.”

“Senator Padilla’s and Representative Ruiz’s bill illustrates strong community support and, recognizing the unreliability of the Congressional process, we urge President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate this national monument quickly.”

People can add their voices in support by visiting ProtectChuckwalla.org.

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