Mission

In the final stretch of the current Administration, the push to designate the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument is stronger than ever! We flew with stakeholders, environmental equity and conservation organizations, and Tribal leaders to advocate, educate, and collect media resources.

The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument is a cultural, ecological, and recreational gem just hours from some of Southern California’s biggest cities. At first, the hills may look unassuming, but a bird's-eye-view from the seat of the plane reveals intricate canyons, diverse habitat, spectacularly colorful geology, and hidden springs bursting with life tucked deep in the dry desert.

Tourism is the top industry in the Coachella Valley, and a monument designation here would promote sustainable visitation and create mechanisms for funding to balance recreation with ecological protection. It would also promote equitable access for nearby underserved communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley, and open doors for Tribal co-stewardship and the application of traditional knowledge in landscape management. A national monument designation would permanently protect about 660,000 acres, providing contiguous habitat protection to Joshua Tree National Park from what are currently islands of critical habitat for wildlife like the threatened desert tortoise, the endangered Peninsula bighorn sheep, countless small desert mammals and rodents, and the solitary Chuckwalla lizard.

U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz and Sen. Alex Padilla introduced legislation to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument. The preservation of this unique and fragile landscape is widely supported by politicians, Tribes, conservationists, and Californians.

Click for photos from the flights, geo-referenced photos, and EcoFlight’s Chuckwalla photo collection.