San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Expansion

WHAT IS IT
On June 26, 2023 Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Judy Chu called on President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to add 109,000 acres of public lands to the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians, and numerous cities, local elected officials, and residents have also urged the President to protect these public lands.

WHY IT IS NEEDED
The San Gabriel Mountains provide one-third of the drinking water and more than 70% of the open space in the Los Angeles region, an area with over 18 million residents - of whom Latinos make up the largest ethnic group. The expansion will help increase equitable access to nature and improve public health, conserve a critical drinking water source, address the climate and biodiversity crises, and honor the cultural and historical significance of the landscape. In addition to advocating for the expansion of the monument, local advocates are also highlighting the urgent need for increased resources for the national monument and the national forest.

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Expansion (Molok Luyuk)

WHAT IS IT
Last year, Senator Alex Padilla, the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation called on President Biden to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument using the Antiquities Act. This effort aims to add 13,753 acres of BLM-managed public lands in Lake and Colusa County to the existing monument. Northern California Tribes, local elected officials, businesses, neighboring landowners, and over 300 scientists support the proposed expansion.

WHY IT IS NEEDED
Expanding the monument will help safeguard lands that are sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, and preserve important wildlife corridors and the area’s distinct biodiversity. A key goal of this effort is also to establish co-management with federally recognized Tribes and to return to an Indigenous name for these lands - Molok Luyuk. Molok Luyuk is Patwin for “Condor Ridge” and is a name provided by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Expanding the monument would also help ensure access to nature for the region’s significant number of Latino residents. Already, this area is beloved for outdoor activities and local organizations report full attendance for organized birdwatching and wildflower tours.