“The wild, open deserts that make up the Coachella Valley’s backyard are officially under federal protection as part of the new Chuckwalla National Monument.
The White House on Tuesday, Jan. 7, announced that President Joe Biden would sign a proclamation creating the Chuckwalla National Monument. The area spans 624,000 acres of public lands south of Joshua Tree National Park across Riverside and Imperial counties. It will be managed by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management.
It’s welcome news to a large cohort of activists, tribes, politicians and environmental groups who’ve spent years organizing, rallying and petitioning to gain protection for the region. Organizers with Protect CA Deserts, a diverse coalition of supporters leading advocacy efforts, issued a press release celebrating the designation. Some supporters planned hikes for the coming weekend…”
[Read the full article at cvindependent.com]