WASHINGTON — President Biden has signed a proclamation expanding the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The designation further conserves and protects an area that provides drinking water to millions of people, and encompasses a rich cultural history, striking geological features that provide views into the ancient earth and ecological diversity with hundreds of species of native, rare and sensitive plants and animals. The San Gabriel proclamation that the President is signing today will permanently protect the lands covered by the bill that Vice President Harris led during her time in Congress.
“As a U.S. Senator from California, I fought to defend and grow our public lands protections, including by introducing legislation to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument,” said Vice President Kamala Harris. “Thanks to President Biden’s leadership and the dedicated organizing of advocates throughout my home state, we are making that a reality by protecting an additional 120,000 acres of lands that are culturally, ecologically, and historically important to California and our nation. These expansions will increase access to nature, boost our outdoor economy, and honor areas of significance to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples as we continue to safeguard our public lands for all Americans and for generations to come.”
“The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is a crown jewel for Los Angeles. It is a backyard to millions of people, and is also home to cultural resources, rare animals and plants, unique geology, and dynamic forests, rivers and high peaks,” said Secretary Vilsack. “President Biden’s actions today ensure this remarkable place is protected for current and future generations.”
The expanded national monument includes sites and resources that tell of the rich history of peoples and lands including a unique scenic railway, grand recreation resorts, and Cold War Nike missile facilities. The exceptional geology also provides opportunities for exploration and the diverse ecosystems provide important connectivity to enable species to move from foothills in the south to the soaring mountains to the north. The expansion area will provide unparalleled value to an already beloved national monument for nearby underserved and disadvantaged communities.
This designation builds on decades of efforts from Tribal Nations, state and local officials, conservation and outdoor recreation advocates, local business owners, and members of Congress to recognize and conserve these landscapes in perpetuity. In 2018, then-Senator Harris introduced the “San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Protection Act,” the first Senate proposal to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
The expansion advances the President’s historic climate, conservation and environmental justice goals as part of his America the Beautiful Initiative. The Biden-Harris Administration has already conserved more than 41 million acres of lands and waters, putting President Biden on track to conserve more lands and waters than any President in history.