SANTA ROSA AND SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT, CA (May 30, 2006) -- In recognition of her support for the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and the National Landscape Conservation System, Congresswoman Mary Bono was honored today in Indian Canyons, on Agua Caliente Cahuilla land within the Monument.
“Representative Mary Bono has been a steadfast advocate for the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument,” said William H. Meadows, President of The Wilderness Society. “While promoting conservation in her own backyard, she has also elevated the issue of preserving treasured Bureau of Land Management lands on the national level.”
The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains are rich in archeological sites, including rock art and stone structures dating back over 3,000 years to the Cahuilla Indians, who still live in the area and are active partners in managing the Monument. The area is also home to more than 500 plant and animal species, including the endangered peninsular bighorn sheep. Residents of Palm Springs and surrounding communities also value the Monument for easy access to open space and stunning scenery.
“Like many of BLM’s conservation lands, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains still face challenges,” said Representative Bono. “We owe it to ourselves and future generations to make sure that the agency has the resources and leadership needed to protect these and other unique places.”
Congresswoman Bono has been a long-time supporter of Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument. In 2000, she introduced and passed the legislation that created the Monument, bringing the community together in support of its designation. She has obtained several million dollars for key land acquisitions and for implementation of the Monument’s management plan.
“The national monument preserves open space and trails, protects dramatic scenic vistas, and provides economic benefits for the community,” said Katie Barrows of the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy. “Congresswoman Bono has been outspoken about these benefits as she has worked in Washington D.C. and at home to protect this treasure in our backyard.”
“The Monument is a major draw for our area,” said Buford Crites, a Palm Desert Councilmember. “It’s one of the key attributes that makes the Coachella Valley a place where people want to live and visit.”
The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument is a flagship area in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Landscape Conservation System. The Conservation System was established in 2000 to encompass the crown jewels of the public lands managed by the BLM. Unfortunately, the System faces a number of problems, including a lack of funding and a lack of institutional support for the System’s conservation mandate. A growing number of lawmakers and community leaders are calling on BLM and the administration to fulfill the System’s conservation directive.
“The special lands within the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System benefit our nation by protecting our national heritage and safeguarding our natural resources,” Congresswoman Bono said. “The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument is a prime example of conservation serving the best interest of the local community and the nation.”
In 2005, Congresswoman Bono cosponsored a letter in the House of Representatives urging greater support for the National Landscape Conservation System and she continues to be a leader on the Hill in advocating for the Conservation System.
