[Editor’s Note: Contributors to this story include sanmarinotribune.com and Erin Letarte of SaveTheSanGabrielMountains@gmail.com]
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Tomorrow at 12 noon, President Obama is scheduled to announce at Bonelli Park, San Dimas, his plans for using executive order to create a San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, nationalizing 350,000 acres of public land. That represents about half of the area that draws three million visitors annually.
This marks the 11th time President Obama has used his executive power to establish a National Monument without Congressional approval.
An opposition rally will be held at the event to express citizens and local leaders’ concerns about the fast-tracked proposal.
The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument proposal is a surprising bypass of the democratic process and does not follow standard protocol for creating national monuments, which usually require years of formal study and community outreach.
Two months ago, on Aug. 18, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu asked the President to use an executive order to fast-track her legislative bill, HR4858, which calls for the creation of a “San Gabriel Mountains National Recreation Area.”
Ms. Chu wants Obama to issue an executive order declaring the mountains a National Monument with an executive order as early as this month without proper studies or public input. The result will be to limit substantially public access to and use of the mountains, which have been open to the public for over a century.
This bill is being reviewed by a Congressional committee and does not currently have enough support to pass. However, President Obama has stated he will use the Antiquities Act of 1906 to create a national monument as early as this month without a vote. The National Recreation Area requested by Ms. Chu’s HR4858 is not to be interchangeable with a National Monument because they have differing land use implications and legal consequences which have not been studied.
Additionally, local elected leaders have concerns over the impact to our water supply if the San Gabriel River is included in a National Monument. Many foothill cities receive their drinking water from this river, which could be restricted. Additionally, recreation access and land usage will be altered if this plan is implemented. New fees and permits are expected and winter sports, off road biking and hiking, atvs, rifle ranges, horseback riding and many other activities could be curtailed. Originally, Rep. Chu stated that an additional 270,000 acres the San Bernardino Mountains were also going to be included, but after strong objections from local leaders she backed down this week and removed San Bernardino and Mt. Baldy from the plan.
Among groups delivering letters of opposition this week were the California Trail Users Coalition, Pasadena Bait Club, Public Lands for Public People, SoCal Cycling, Mt. Baldy Lodge, Off-Piste Hikers, Glendora Community Conservancy, San Gabriel Valley Regional Conservancy, and California Off- Road Vehicle Assn.
