"Biden Administration Said to Expand Two California National Monuments"

"The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument are expected to grow by a combined total of about 130,000 acres."

"President Biden plans to expand the perimeters of two national monuments in California, protecting mountains and meadows in a remote area between Napa and Mendocino as well as a rugged stretch east of Los Angeles, two people familiar with the administration’s plans said Thursday.

The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument will each get new boundaries designed to protect land of cultural significance to Native American tribes, as well as biodiversity and wildlife corridors, said the people, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to discuss the plans publicly.

The San Gabriel monument encompasses 342,177 acres of the Angeles National Forest and 4,002 acres of neighboring San Bernardino National Forest. Mr. Biden intends to expand the monument by approximately 110,000 acres.

The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument includes nearly 331,000 acres of protected land in parts of Napa, Yolo, Solano, Lake, Colusa, Glenn and Mendocino counties, from Pacific Ocean beaches to a 7,000-foot mountain. It would be expanded by about 13,753 acres under Mr. Biden’s plan."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times April 11, 2024.

Source: NYTimes, 04/12/2024