WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is poised to issue a proclamation that will designate two new national monuments in California, aiming to recognize the heritage of two tribes, according to a source who spoke anonymously regarding the forthcoming announcement.
The Chuckwalla National Monument will be established in Southern California near Joshua Tree National Park, while the Sáttítla National Monument will be created in Northern California. This declaration will prevent activities such as drilling, mining, and other developments across a vast territory—600,000 acres (approximately 2,400 square kilometers) in Southern California and around 200,000 acres (about 800 square kilometers) in Northern California.
The introduction of these monuments was first mentioned in The Washington Post. With only two weeks left in his presidency, Biden is currently in New Orleans, engaging with the families of victims from a recent New Year’s attack in the French Quarter, before moving on to California later in the day.
This initiative aligns with Biden’s “America the Beautiful” plan introduced in 2021, which seeks to honor tribal traditions, fulfill federal aims of conserving 30% of public lands and waters by 2030, and combat climate change.
The Pit River Tribe has been a strong advocate for federal recognition of the Sáttítla National Monument. Various Native American groups and environmental advocates have been urging Biden to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument, which is named after a prominent desert lizard, since early 2023.
This area is intended to preserve public lands south of Joshua Tree National Park, stretching from the Coachella Valley region in the west to the vicinity of the Colorado River. Proponents believe the monument will conserve a cultural landscape significant to the tribes, ensure local residents’ access to nature, and protect historical military sites.
In August 2024, the California Legislature passed a resolution encouraging Biden to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument alongside another national monument managed by the National Park Service adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, as well as the Kw’tsán National Monument, which would lie near the borders of Mexico and Arizona.
Leaders from within the tribes have emphasized the importance of the Chuckwalla monument in recognizing tribal sovereignty and allowing local tribes to participate as co-stewards of the land. This reflects a broader trend following the establishment of monuments like the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, which is co-managed with five tribal nations.
“The protection of the Chuckwalla National Monument brings the Quechan people an overwhelming sense of peace and joy,” stated the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe. “The re-establishment of tribes as stewards of this landscape marks the beginning of essential healing and restoration, and we are excited to renew our relationship with this land.”
Earlier this year, the Biden administration also expanded two existing national monuments in California: the San Gabriel Mountains to the south and Berryessa Snow Mountain to the north. In October, Biden granted the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary designation off Central California’s coast, where local Chumash tribes will be consulted regarding preservation strategies.
Notably, last year, the Yurok Tribe in Northern California became the first Native group to manage its tribal land in partnership with the National Park Service through a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding signed between the tribe, Redwood National and State Parks, and the nonprofit Save the Redwoods League, which is facilitating the transfer of the land to the tribe.
