Local Conservationists Discuss Next Steps For Chuckwalla National Monument

Wednesday evening, President Joe Biden said his farewell address after 50 years of serving the public.

Just one day after signing what so many local and tribal leaders here in the Coachella Valley have pushed for, for years.

"First bill I’m signing is the establishment of the California Chuckwalla National Monument." President Joe Biden said Tuesday.

The designation of more than 624,000 acres of now federally protected land.

Both local and tribal leaders watched as the proclamation was signed, at The White House.

"Growing up in the Coachella Valley to have them get an invitation and sit there in the White House was pretty remarkable." 25th District Representative Raul Ruiz says.

The Chuckwalla National Monument now marks as the fifth largest land based national monument in the mainland U.S., with a heavy focus on conserving land, and protecting endangered animals and plants, all while expanding renewable energy.

Conservationists helping protect the land tell me the real work starts now, "We're celebrating that win, and now, you know, now comes the hard part, right? We have to work together and start to build out those management plans and figure out how we're going to do it." Keller Herbinson, the Executive Director for the Mojave Desert Land Trust says.

Former Quechan Indian Tribal Councilmember Donald Medart Jr., saying something similar.

"It's of the utmost importance for us to continue to work together as tribes and the tribes are working together with the outside community in order to ensure that this land is protected for all of us."