Surfrider Asks Biden to Expand San Gabriel Mountains National Monument

Towering above the Los Angeles basin are the San Gabriel Mountains. Their highest points stand upwards of 10,000 feet and are capped with snow during most winters, providing a unique juxtaposition to downtown LA’s skyline and its western sandy beaches. The San Gabriels teem with wildlife including mountain lions, coyote, Golden and Bald Eagles, California Black Bear, and endemic Leather Oak. They provide an abundance of recreation opportunities for Southern Californians including camping, hiking, canyoning, and snow sports. The area is within 90 minutes of more than 18 million people. 

The coast and ocean of Southern California are uniquely connected to the San Gabriels. These mountains are home to the headwaters of the San Gabriel River, as well as other creeks and streams that wind their way through the LA basin and eventually into the Pacific. Downstream flows carry cobble and sediment that help create our beaches and provide critical ecological linkages between land and sea. The conservation of these headwaters are important to the health of our Southern California coastline as well as for Southern Californians. 

In 2014, President Barack Obama designated 346,177 acres of federal lands in the San Gabriel Mountains as a National Monument. Currently, there is an opportunity to expand the monument by adding 109,000 acres of public lands to the protected area. 

A national monument is a land or historic area that has been given permanent protection by Congress or by the president through the Antiquities Act. The Antiquities Act, established in 1906, provides the foundation for preserving and protecting archeological sites, historic landmarks, prehistoric structures, and other objects of interest on Federal lands.

The Surfrider Foundation along with community leaders and residents of the Los Angeles region are joining Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) to ask President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. 

According to Senator Alex Padilla, “For Angelenos, the San Gabriel Mountains have been a lifelong connection to nature. That is why we are urging President Biden to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to fulfill the complete vision of permanently protecting the San Gabriel Mountains and all of their natural wonders.”

The expansion will enhance equitable access to nature, protect the upper Los Angeles River watershed, and safeguard a refuge for wildlife. Expanding the monument is the next step in a 20-year, locally-driven effort to protect the San Gabriel Mountains. 

Please join us and take action today to protect this incredible Southern California resource.