The monument includes a privileged habitat for mule deer, black bear and bighorn sheep; provides access opportunities close to home for Angelenos
LOS ANGELES – Conservation of critical fish and wildlife habitat in Southern California could be advanced by President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument by 109,000 acres, accomplishing the that Congress has not yet been able to do.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and its California chapter are part of a diverse coalition of athletes, outdoor recreationists, community members, and tribes supporting the San Gabriel Mountain Protection Act (HR 3681) led by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), and the Protecting California’s Unique and Beautiful Landscapes Through Investment in Land (PUBLIC) Act (S. 1776) containing the same language, led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). These bills would expand conservation measures for the San Gabriel Mountains, enlarging the existing monument, adding more than 31,000 acres of wilderness, and designating more than 45 miles of river as wild and scenic. Traditional hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreational access would be maintained.
After passing the House multiple times in the 117th Congress and being considered in Senate committee, this legislation appears destined to languish in a divided Congress. Hunters and fishers and local leaders have been working for years to achieve this conservation vision for the San Gabriel Mountains region, and BHA supports the use of the Antiquities Act to address calls from community stakeholders. to expand the monument.
Eric Hanson, co-chair of the California chapter of the BHA, shared his support for conserving this precious landscape.
“We call on President Biden to use his authority through the Antiquities Act to safeguard critical natural and recreational resources in Southern California, and we are grateful to Representative Chu and Senator Padilla for their leadership,” Hanson said. “The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is an outdoor sanctuary for residents of the Los Angeles area and provides urban residents with the local opportunity to recreate in its wild and scenic landscapes, including hunting and fishing. By expanding the monument, we ensure that this legacy is preserved for generations to come.”
The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is home to a variety of game species, including mule deer and black bears, and is home to a healthy population of bighorn sheep. The area provides opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other forms of outdoor recreation for millions of Californians, including urban residents of Los Angeles and surrounding areas, who depend on mountains for access to clean air, water, and recreation. The expansion of the national monument would reinforce intact habitat and promote public access for all Americans, including hunters and fishermen whose licenses and excise taxes contribute significantly to wildlife and habitat conservation.
BHA has always championed the United States’ national monument system and the judicious use of the Antiquities Act as a way to permanently preserve important great landscapes. The key to achieving this outcome is a process that adheres to specific principles and is locally driven, transparent, incorporates science-based habitat management, and advocates for existing hunting and fishing opportunities.
Read a report from the BHA and its partners: National Monuments: A Sportsman’s Perspective.
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