New Doubts Growing About Biden
As President Joe Biden’s time in office winds down, questions are emerging about whether he will act on proposals to designate new national monuments in Northern California before January. Two significant sites, one in the Sierra Nevada south of Yosemite and another near Mount Shasta, are at the heart of the debate. While time is running out for Biden to make a decision, growing opposition from local communities and industry groups could complicate matters.
One of the most talked-about proposals is the Range of Light Monument in the Sierra Nevada, which aims to protect over 1.4 million acres linking Yosemite National Park with Kings Canyon. The monument’s supporters, including conservationists like Deanna Lynn Wulff of Unite the Parks, argue it would preserve some of the most scenic and ecologically important land in the High Sierra. However, the proposal has stalled in Congress, leaving it to Biden to potentially use his authority under the Antiquities Act to bypass legislation and make the designation.
Yet, there is strong opposition to this move. Many residents in the region are concerned about the economic consequences, particularly the impact on logging, grazing, and other local industries that rely on these lands. While the proposal does not restrict hunting, fishing, or off-road vehicle use, critics fear that once a monument designation is in place, the federal government could impose stricter regulations, limiting public access and curtailing economic activity.
Meanwhile, the Sáttítla National Monument proposal in the volcanic highlands near Mount Shasta, led by the Pit River Tribe, has drawn attention for its cultural significance. The tribe has sought protection for roughly 200,000 acres of sacred land, hoping to prevent geothermal development and preserve the area for future generations. However, the timber industry has raised concerns, warning that the monument designation could hinder commercial logging and negatively impact the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to manage the area effectively.
With President-elect Donald Trump’s return to Washington in 2025, these monument proposals could face additional challenges. During his first term, Trump rolled back several national monument designations, and his second term could see a similar reversal. Given the growing opposition, Biden may face political pressure to abandon these monument plans altogether or leave them to be handled by a future administration.
Additionally, new proposals for Southern California monuments—such as Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree and Kw’tsán National Monument along the California-Mexico border—are also on the table. As the clock ticks down on Biden’s presidency, it remains to be seen whether these controversial plans will come to fruition or if they will be left for his successor to address. For many in these regions, the future of their land—and their livelihoods—hangs in the balance.
