Many celebrate the new Sand to Snow National Monument welcome sign
One of the new national monument’s that President Obama designated before arriving here in the valley, is getting a new sign.
Local leaders gathered near the newly designated Sand to Snow National Monument to unveil a welcome sign.
A culmination of nearly a decade long effort to protect these public lands.
“Such a long term not just a battle, but a campaign, with so many of the people standing here today. To try to elevate the level of protection for the area that is now inside the national monument,” said Robin Kobaly, the executive director of Summer Tree Institute.
Sand to Snow is one of three new national monuments in our desert along with Mojave Trails and Castle Mountains.
This ribbon cutting ceremony taking place just four days after President Obama permanently protected these lands.
“It is very high up in the protection. In fact I think the only thing higher is wilderness and we do have some wilderness here too. It means a large leap beyond where we have been,” said David Miller the President of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.
Miller said without this designation big companies would have taken over the diverse desert.
“There are three deserts that culminate in this area. There’s wildlife here that’s very unique, there’s bird migration that attracts people from all over the world,” Miller said.
Karen Lowe with the Chamber of Commerce said the designation is essential to sustaining the local economy.
“There’s a lot of economic benefits that can happen from having the monument so close. This one completely encircles Morongo Valley and were looking forward to new tourism dollars, increased property values and more mom and pop stores,” said Lowe.
Many locals showed their support for the new monument
“It was going to destroy what people come here for. We have mountain lions and big horn sheep and we love them and were not afraid of them,” said Otter who lives in Morongo Valley.
The new sign welcoming visitors to a diverse landscape now a National Monument.
