Yesterday, Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced the California Desert Protection Act of 2011, which would create two new National Monuments, expand Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve, and establish new wilderness areas in Death Valley and throughout Southern California.

The bill would preserve about 1.6 million acres of public lands, including historic trails, Native American cultural areas, and portions of the old Route 66. The new Mojave Trails National Monument would protect a sprawling area around Route 66 to the south and west of the Mojave National Preserve, and the Sand to Snow National Monument would include portions of the eastern San Bernadino National Forest including San Gorgonio and the Little San Bernadinos up to the western border of Joshua Tree. (See PDF Map of the proposed area).

For more information on the proposed legislation, head to Senator Feinstein’s site or the Campaign for the California Desert.

Tags: california desert protection act of 2011, national monuments, National Parks, Politics, senator diane feinstein, southern california, wilderness areas