Biden to expand two California national monuments Thursday

President Biden will expand two new national monuments in California, the White House confirmed Thursday morning.

President Obama first designated two monuments: San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. White House officials confirmed that the expansion, which The Hill reported in April, will protect approximately 120,000 acres between the two monuments. Biden’s proclamation will also change the name of the central ridge of the Snow Mountain Monument from Walker Ridge to Molok Loyuk.

The declaration would protect an additional 105,919 acres in addition to the San Gabriel Mountains Monument’s existing 346,177 acres, according to a White House fact sheet. Adjacent to the City of Los Angeles, the monument also includes a large tract of undeveloped land.

Biden’s expansion would add 13,696 acres to the existing 330,000 acres covered by the Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument.

Vice President Harris, who will attend the signing ceremony with the president, emphasized her California roots and the administration’s broader conservation goals in a statement. Harris introduced a bill in the Senate in 2020 to expand the San Gabriel Monument. Harris’ successors, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), have also long pushed for expansion. The House passed Harris’ companion bill, which was sponsored by Thieu at the time.

“Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and the organization of dedicated supporters across my home state, we will be able to secure an additional 120,000 acres of culturally, ecologically and historically significant land to California and our country,” Harris said. We are making that a reality by protecting the “These expansions will increase access to nature, promote the outdoor economy, and respect areas important to tribal nations and indigenous peoples as we continue to protect public lands for all Americans and generations to come.” It will happen.”

The administration has set a goal of conserving 30 percent of America’s land and waters by 2030.

“From increasing access to nature for low-income and underserved communities to protecting the source of one-third of Los Angeles County’s drinking water, today’s proclamation will help us It will be very meaningful to the region,” Chu said in a statement. “As we celebrate this proclamation from President Biden, let us recommit to working together to protect these pristine public lands for the future so that everyone can enjoy their invaluable benefits.”