Sáttítla Highlands National Monument
| Sáttítla Highlands National Monument | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
.JPG) Obsidian rocks on Glass Mountain | |
  Sáttítla National Monument  Sáttítla National Monument | |
| Location | Siskiyou County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°30′N 121°30′W / 41.5°N 121.5°W |
| Area | 224,000 acres (910 km2) |
| Established | January 2025 |
| Governing body | United States Forest Service |
Sáttítla Highlands National Monument is an announced national monument in the Medicine Lake Highlands of the Cascade Range of Northern California. The monument will protect about 224,000 acres (910 km2) of forest and mountain habitat in Siskiyou County from development.
In September 2024, Senator Alex Padilla introduced federal legislation to create the monument, with support from Senator Laphonza Butler.[1][2]
President Joe Biden announced he would establish the monument by proclamation under the Antiquities Act on January 7, 2025.[3][4]
Features
[edit]
The monument protects the Medicine Lake Volcano and surrounding highlands in Klamath National Forest, Shasta–Trinity National Forest, and Modoc National Forest northeast of Mount Shasta and south of Lava Beds National Monument. These highlands provide clean water for communities downstream.[5]
The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway includes a segment that loops around Medicine Lake.[6]
Protection efforts
[edit]The Pit River Tribe has spearheaded calls for land protection.[7] The tribe has opposed development of geothermal energy in the area.[2]
The California legislature unanimously passed a resolution in support of the monument.[8] The Forest Service hosted a public meeting about the proposed monument in December 2024.[9]
On January 2, 2025, the Washington Post reported that President Biden would establish Sáttítla Highlands National Monument along with Chuckwalla National Monument.[10] Biden planned to do so at an event in the Coachella Valley on January 7, but it was canceled due to a windstorm and rescheduled to be at the White House the next week.[11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Sen. Padilla, Alex (2024-09-10). "S.5001 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Sáttítla National Monument Establishment Act". United States Congress. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ a b Alexander, Kurtis (August 30, 2024). "California lawmakers urge Biden to create new national monument near Mount Shasta". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "FACT SHEET: President Biden Establishes Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments in California". The White House. 2025-01-07. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Friedman, Lisa (2025-01-07). "Biden to Designate Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments in California". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Joselow, Maxine (January 2, 2025). "Biden to create two national monuments in California honoring tribes". Washington Post.
- ^ "Visitor Guide to the Medicine Lake Highlands Volcanic Area" (PDF). United States Forest Service.
- ^ Alexander, Kurtis (December 23, 2023). "California's next national monument could be this remote volcanic landscape". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "SJR-17 The Sáttítla National Monument". leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ "Public meeting draws large crowd in support of proposed Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California | The Wilderness Society". Wilderness Society. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Joselow, Maxine (January 2, 2025). "Biden to create two national monuments in California honoring tribes". Washington Post.
- ^ Reyes, Jesus (2025-01-07). "President Biden's Coachella Valley visit canceled due to weather issues". KESQ. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
External links
[edit]- Protect Sáttítla
- USDA Celebrates President Biden’s Sáttítla Highlands Monument Designation – United States Forest Service
- White House establishment proclamation – January 7, 2025