Californians support expanding the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

On November 7, Biden administration officials visited the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in Los Angeles to attend a public listening session about a proposal to expand the monument. The proposed expansion would add 110,000 acres to the existing monument, preserving more land and rivers for future generations. More than 250 people attended the public meeting, with the majority of participants there specifically to support the expansion proposal. 

The San Gabriel Mountains Protection Act (H.R. 3681) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in May 2023 by Rep. Judy Chu to expand the area’s protections. In June, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, but the House of Representatives has taken no action since.

Concurrently, the San Gabriel Mountains Foothills and Rivers Act is included in the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act (S. 1776), introduced by Sen. Alex Padilla in May 2023. The bill was passed out of the state’s Senate Energy Natural Resources Committee in December 2023. 

The San Gabriel Mountains were originally designated as a national monument by President Barack Obama on October 10, 2014. The 346,177 acres of protected land are home to 153 endangered or threatened plant and animal species, as well as 300 “endemic” species – species that are only found in specific parts of the world. The region is also important to the inhabitants of Los Angeles, since the protected rivers provide 30% of the county’s drinking water. 

When the San Gabriel Mountains were named a national monument, a central portion of Los Angeles’ history, culture, and wildlife was preserved for generations to come. President Biden can use his power under the Antiquities Act to protect the additional 110,000 acres, and ensure that the entire ecosystem can thrive for decades to come.

While the San Gabriel Mountains expansion has the support of many government officials, community members and locals, we need to demonstrate more support to convince President Biden to protect this special place.