President to designate 3 California National Monuments

President Obama will designate three new national monuments in California desert. The Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains National Monuments will protect public lands in the desert for future generations, enhance the region’s vital tourism economy, and ensure that the public can continue to access these places for outdoor recreation activities.

According the group, Campaign for the California Desert, the designation of these new national monuments is a historic action that comes after years of work by local leaders to protect public lands in the desert. The Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains National Monuments altogether hold approximately 1.8 million acres of public lands, including 450,000 acres of wilderness previously designated by Congress.