LOS ANGELES — President Joe Biden was forced to cancel a planned visit to the Eastern Coachella Valley on Tuesday due to dangerously high winds in Southern California. The trip was intended for him to announce the establishment of two new national monuments in California that would honor Native American tribes.
As winds intensified, forecasters issued warnings about potentially “life-threatening, destructive” gusts. Biden was already in his limousine ready to depart Los Angeles when his team decided to call off the event. While the White House initially indicated that the president would address the public in Los Angeles, they later stated the announcement would be rescheduled for next week at the White House to allow greater attendance.
The National Weather Service cautioned that the region could experience one of the most intense Santa Ana windstorms in over a decade, with peak gusts anticipated on Wednesday morning, potentially reaching 80 mph (129 kph). In some mountain areas, gusts could exceed 100 mph (160 kph).
The president’s announcement was a significant part of his administration’s initiative to protect at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 under the “America the Beautiful” plan. However, the storm’s impact also served as a reminder of the administration’s priorities regarding climate change and the growing challenges posed by extreme weather.
The proclamations would establish the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California, adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, and the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California. These declarations would prohibit drilling, mining, and other forms of development on approximately 624,000 acres (2,400 square kilometers) in Chuckwalla and around 225,000 acres (800 square kilometers) near the Oregon border in Sáttítla.
According to the White House, these new monuments aim to preserve clean water for communities, acknowledge areas of cultural importance to Native tribes and Indigenous peoples, and improve access to nature.
Amid his upcoming departure from office, Biden also announced plans on Monday to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in the majority of U.S. coastal waters, including California and other West Coast regions, as a move to prevent the next administration from expanding offshore drilling projects.
This recent surge of actions aligns with the “America the Beautiful” initiative that Biden launched in 2021. This effort is centered on honoring tribal heritage, achieving federal conservation goals, and tackling climate change.
The Pit River Tribe has advocated for the federal recognition of the Sáttítla National Monument, a spiritually significant site for both the Pit River and Modoc Tribes, featuring diverse mountain ecosystems and unique wildlife.
Several Native American tribes and environmental advocates began encouraging Biden to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument—named after a large desert lizard—earlier this year. The monument aims to protect public lands stretching from the Coachella Valley to near the Colorado River south of Joshua Tree National Park.
Supporters believe that establishing this monument will safeguard tribal cultural landscapes, improve access to nature for local populations, and preserve significant military history sites.
Carrie Besnette Hauser, president and CEO of the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, stated that designating the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments represents a historic effort to protect land of great cultural, ecological, and historical value for all Americans.
Hauser emphasized that these new monuments honor the ongoing stewardship of Native Tribes and recognize the dedication of local communities and conservationists who have tirelessly worked to protect these vital landscapes for future generations.
According to her, national monuments like Chuckwalla and Sáttítla are crucial for addressing historical injustices and creating a more inclusive narrative of America’s past.
California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla praised the creation of the new monuments as a significant victory for safeguarding the state’s public lands for future generations.
The Chuckwalla monument, according to Padilla, will accelerate California’s efforts against the climate crisis, protect wildlife, preserve sacred tribal locations, and promote clean energy initiatives. He noted that the Sáttítla monument protects land that holds spiritual importance for the Pit River and Modoc Nations for generations to come.
Furthermore, the Chuckwalla monument seeks to honor tribal sovereignty by incorporating local tribes as co-stewards of the land, similar to recent initiatives such as the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, which is managed collaboratively with five tribal nations.
The Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe expressed their joy in a statement by stating that the establishment of the Chuckwalla National Monument provides a sense of peace, signaling the start of renewed stewardship and healing for the tribal community.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration also expanded two national monuments in California—the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain. In October, Biden designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary along the central California coast, which will incorporate input from local Chumash tribes in its preservation efforts.
Last year marked a historic moment for the Yurok Tribe in Northern California, becoming the first Native group to jointly manage tribal lands with the National Park Service, following a memorandum of understanding with Redwood National and State Parks and the nonprofit Save the Redwoods League, which facilitated the return of the land to the tribe.
