[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 9396 of February 12, 2016

Establishment of the Sand to Snow National Monument

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

The Sand to Snow area of southern California is an ecological and
cultural treasure, a microcosm of the great geographic diversity of the
region. Rising from the floor of the Sonoran Desert to the tallest peak
in southern California, the area features a remarkable diversity of
plant and animal species. The area includes a portion of the San
Bernardino National Forest and connects this area with Joshua Tree
National Park to the east, knitting together a mosaic of spectacular
landscapes stretching over 200 miles. The mountain peaks of the Sand to
Snow area frame the northeastern reach of Coachella Valley along with
the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument to the south.
Home to desert oases at Big Morongo Canyon and Whitewater Canyon, the
area serves as a refuge for desert dwelling animals and a stopover for
migrating birds. The archaeological riches of the Black Lava Buttes and
the historical remains of mining and ranching communities tell of past
prosperity and struggle in this arid land. The unbroken expanse is an
invaluable treasure for our Nation and will continue to serve as an
irreplaceable resource for archaeologists, geologists, and biologists
for generations to come.
The Sand to Snow area encompasses a rich diversity of geological and
ecological resources, including a nearly 10,000-foot elevation gradient
from the Sonoran Desert floor to the top of the 11,500-foot San Gorgonio
Mountain, the highest mountain in southern California. From the flat
desert lowlands, the mountains thrust upward in stark relief, creating
indelible beauty along with a unique diversity of resources and a rich
history of human habitation and movement. Along this remarkable
topographic gradient lies an unusually wide range of ecosystems, ranging
from lowland Mojave and Colorado deserts to scrub and woodlands and
Mediterranean chaparral to subalpine and alpine conifer forests. San
Gorgonio Mountain is one end of the longest recorded line of sight in
the lower 48 States, the other being Mount Whitney, 190 miles away. In
addition, the Henry Washington Survey Marker, located on San Bernardino
Peak, serves as the starting point for surveying land in southern
California and is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
San Gorgonio, so named after Saint Gorgonius by early 17th century
Spanish missionaries, is just one name for this remarkable, region-
defining mountain. The Cahuilla Indians call the mountain Kwiria-Kaich,
which means ``bald'' or ``smooth,'' and consider it among the sacred
peaks of southern California. The Gabrielino Indians from the Los
Angeles Basin treat San Gorgonio Mountain with reverence and refer to it
as Akvangna. The Luiseno Indians consider San Gorgonio Mountain sacred
and the older brother of Mount San Jacinto; both peaks were among the
first born of Earth Mother. The Luiseno refer to San Gorgonio Mountain
as Pewipwi.

Thirty miles of the world famous Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail run
through the Sand to Snow area, climbing 7,000 feet from the desert of
Whitewater Canyon to Mission Springs in the San Bernardino Na

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tional Forest. The history of this renowned trail dates back to the
1920s when the idea of a border-to-border trail was first
conceptualized. Although the establishment of the trail took decades to
fully materialize, today the trail is a national icon, highlighting the
wilderness treasures of the American West. Since its completion, over
3,000 people have hiked the 2,600 miles of continuous trail along the
Pacific crest, including the Mission Creek Canyon segment found within
the Sand to Snow area.
The Sand to Snow area first took its current shape 175 million years ago
with the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American
Plate. The San Bernardino Mountain range in the western half of the Sand
to Snow area is unusual in California, a transverse range as distinct
from the north-south mountain ranges found through most of California.
This difference in direction results from a change in the San Andreas
Fault, which shifts direction to the west of the Sand to Snow area. This
intersection of mountains makes this area a critical bridge for wildlife
traversing the high elevations of southern California's desert
landscape.
Two branches of the San Andreas Fault run through the Sand to Snow area,
and the faulting that created the mountains and canyons throughout this
landscape also created the Morongo Valley. The Whitewater Canyon area
has been featured in numerous studies of the plate tectonics and
geologic rifting of southern California, including studies that examine
the impact of earthquakes on fault stability. The San Bernardino
Mountains and Big Morongo Canyon contain ancient rocks from the
Proterozoic Eon, along with some of the oldest exposed rocks in
California, nearly 2 billion years old. Granite, gneiss, and schist in
these areas have been used by geologists to better understand the
tectonic history of the region, and are a testament to the area's
important geologic past.
Covering a range of nearly 10,000 feet in elevation, the Sand to Snow
area includes an extraordinarily diverse range of ecosystems from
lowland deserts, fresh water marshes, and Mojave riparian forests, to
creosote bush scrub ecosystems, and alpine peaks. Hundreds of springs
rise to the surface at South Fork Meadows, the origin of the South Fork
of the Santa Ana River. The Sand to Snow area has been important to
biological and ecological research, as well as studies of climate and
land use change, the impact of fires and invasive species management.
The area has a remarkable species richness that makes it one of most
biodiverse areas in southern California. The area is home to 12
federally listed threatened and endangered animal species. Species
include the endangered peninsular bighorn sheep, San Bernardino
Merriam's kangaroo rat, Arroyo toad, Mountain Yellow-legged frog, and
unarmored threespine stickleback, as well as the threatened Santa Ana
sucker, Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, and desert tortoise.
A tremendous diversity of other wildlife species also make their homes
here. In the San Gorgonio Wilderness, black bears, mountain lions,
bobcats, mule deer, and bighorn sheep can all be found. Species such as
ringtails, kit fox, striped skunk, California ground squirrel, blacktail
jackrabbit, and 19 species of bat live in the Big Morongo Canyon
Preserve. Amphibians and reptiles including the Mohave Rattlesnake, red
diamond rattlesnake, rosy boa, desert spiny lizard, California

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kingsnake, Western whiptail, and Pacific tree frog also live in the Sand
to Snow area.
The Sand to Snow area is famous for its oases frequented by over 240
species of birds, including the endangered Least Bell's vireo,
southwestern willow flycatcher, and Yuma clapper rail, as well as the
threatened coastal California gnatcatcher. Big Morongo Canyon,
characterized by steep canyons, rugged terrain, and desert oases, is
particularly high in biodiversity and is among the largest desert
riparian habitats in California. It has been recognized as among the
most important avian habitats in the State. Common birds found at Big
Morongo Canyon include shore birds like the American white pelican,
great blue heron, and green heron, raptors such as the Swainson's hawk,
Northern Harrier, and American kestrel, owls, including the western
screech-owl and great horned owl, and hummingbirds, woodpeckers, vireos,
and finches. Additionally, 32 species of migratory birds of conservation
concern have been identified in the Sand to Snow area, including eagles,
sparrows, owls, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and falcons, among others.
The Sand to Snow area is home to dozens of native plant species,
including 14 federally listed threatened or endangered species of
flowering plants. These include the endangered California dandelion,
Coachella Valley milk-vetch, Cushenbury buckwheat, Cushenbury oxytheca,
pedate checker-mallow, San Bernardino bluegrass, San Bernardino
Mountains bladderpod, Santa Ana River woolly-star, slender-petaled
mustard, and triple-ribbed milk-vetch and the threatened ash-grey
paintbrush, Bear Valley sandwort, Parish's daisy, and Southern Mountain
wild-buckwheat. The southern-most stand of quaking aspen trees is
located here as are important stands of white fir and bigcone Douglas-
fir.
The human history of the Sand to Snow area extends back thousands of
years. People now identified as part of the Takic subset of the large
Uto-Aztecan group of Native Americans arrived in the region around 2,500
years ago. Ancient people of the area used a wide variety of plants from
both the mountains and the Mojave desert, such as honey mesquite, oak,
pinon, cactus fruits, yucca roots, and tubers as well as grasses, seeds,
and berries. Common tools were made of wood, bone, shell, stone, clay,
and plant fibers. These people also manufactured woven goods, pipes made
of stone, awls made of bone, tools associated with archery, and fire
drills. They made coiled basketry and simple undecorated ceramic pots
used for storage and transport.
The name ``Serrano'' was given to people living in the Sand to Snow area
by the Spanish missionaries in the late 18th century and translates from
Spanish as a ``person from the mountains.'' In 1834, the Spanish
forcibly relocated many Serrano people to the missions. In 1840 the
Serrano suffered a devastating smallpox outbreak, and the disease
returned in 1860. Ruth Benedict, one of the world's foremost cultural
anthropologists, studied the Serrano extensively in 1924. However, by
this time there were few remaining eastern groups and no old shamans or
priests survived. Today, the rich archaeological resources in this area
serve to preserve the history of the Serrano people. Black Lava Butte,
topped by distinctive basaltic lava flows, is sacred to the Serrano
Tribe and home to a substantial number of archaeological sites,
including evidence of habitation, rock art, and possible ritual
activities. Black Lava Butte contains an estimated 1,700 distinct
petroglyphs, most of

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which have not yet been studied and may provide insight into the history
of the Serrano and other tribes in the region. The mesa also contains
dozens of isolated grinding and milling sites and at least one shelter
site, where many milling stones are present.
After the Holcomb Valley gold rush of 1860, ranchers used the area for
grazing sheep, horses, and cattle. Many of the ranchers kept their herds
at lower elevations during the winter and drove their stock to the
meadows of the San Bernardino Mountains to graze during the summer
months. Old cattle paths, watering holes, and campsites remain a part of
the landscape today. Although not particularly successful, many miners
prospected in the southeastern portions of the San Bernardino Mountains.
Evidence still remains in the form of old cabins, mine shafts,
prospecting pits, and refuse deposits.
The protection of the Sand to Snow area will preserve its cultural,
prehistoric, and historic legacy and maintain its diverse array of
natural and scientific resources, ensuring that the historic and
scientific values of this area remain for the benefit of all Americans.
In addition to its significant scientific and historic values, the area
also provides world class outdoor recreation opportunities, including
hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, and horseback
riding.
WHEREAS, section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (known as the
``Antiquities Act''), authorizes the President, in his discretion, to
declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and
prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific
interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the
Federal Government to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part
thereof parcels of land, the limits of which in all cases shall be
confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and
management of the objects to be protected;
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to preserve the objects of
scientific and historic interest on the Sand to Snow lands;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of title 54,
United States Code, hereby proclaim the objects identified above that
are situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by
the Federal Government to be the Sand to Snow National Monument
(monument) and, for the purpose of protecting those objects, reserve as
part thereof all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the
Federal Government within the boundaries described on the accompanying
map, which is attached to and forms a part of this proclamation. These
reserved Federal lands and interests in lands encompass approximately
154,000 acres. The boundaries described on the accompanying map are
confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and
management of the objects to be protected.
All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the
monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry,
location, selection, sale, or other disposition under the public land
laws or laws applicable to the U.S. Forest Service, from location,
entry, and patent under the mining laws, and from disposition under all
laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, other than by exchange
that furthers the protective purposes of the monument.

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The establishment of the monument is subject to valid existing rights.
If the Federal Government acquires any lands or interests in lands not
owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries
described on the accompanying map, such lands and interests in lands
shall be reserved as a part of the monument, and objects identified
above that are situated upon those lands and interests in lands shall be
part of the monument, upon acquisition of ownership or control by the
Federal Government.
The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretaries) shall manage the monument through the U.S. Forest Service
(USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), pursuant to their
respective applicable legal authorities, to implement the purposes of
this proclamation. The USFS shall manage that portion of the monument
within the boundaries of the National Forest System (NFS), and BLM shall
manage the remainder of the monument. The lands administered by USFS
shall be managed as part of the San Bernardino National Forest. The
lands administered by BLM shall be managed as a unit of the National
Landscape Conservation System, pursuant to applicable legal authorities.
For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified above,
the Secretaries shall jointly prepare a management plan for the monument
and shall promulgate such regulations for its management as deemed
appropriate. In developing any management plans and any management rules
and regulations governing NFS lands within the monument, the Secretary
of Agriculture, through USFS, shall consult with the Secretary of the
Interior through BLM. The Secretaries shall provide for public
involvement in the development of the management plan including, but not
limited to, consultation with tribal, State, and local governments. In
the development and implementation of the management plan, the
Secretaries shall maximize opportunities, pursuant to applicable legal
authorities, for shared resources, operational efficiency, and
cooperation.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to interfere with the
operation or maintenance, or with the replacement or modification within
the existing authorization boundary, of existing water resource, flood
control, utility, pipeline, or telecommunications facilities that are
located within the monument. Existing water resource, flood control,
utility, pipeline, or telecommunications facilities located within the
monument may be expanded, and new facilities may be constructed within
the monument, to the extent consistent with the proper care and
management of the objects identified above. This proclamation does not
alter or affect the valid existing water rights of any party, including
the United States. This proclamation does not reserve water as a matter
of Federal law.
Except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes, motorized
vehicle use in the monument shall be permitted only on roads existing as
of the date of this proclamation. Non-motorized mechanized vehicle use
shall be permitted only on roads and trails designated for their use
consistent with the care and management of the objects identified above.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the
rights of any Indian tribe. The Secretaries shall, to the maximum extent
permitted by law and in consultation with Indian tribes, ensure

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the protection of Indian sacred sites and traditional cultural
properties in the monument and provide access by members of Indian
tribes for traditional cultural and customary uses, consistent with the
American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996) and Executive
Order 13007 of May 24, 1996 (Indian Sacred Sites).
Nothing in this proclamation shall preclude low level overflights of
military aircraft, the designation of new units of special use airspace,
the use or establishment of military flight training routes over the
lands reserved by this proclamation, or related military uses,
consistent with the care and management of the objects identified above.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the
jurisdiction of the State of California, including its jurisdiction and
authority with respect to fish and wildlife management.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to alter the authority
or responsibility of any party with respect to emergency response
activities within the monument, including wildland fire response.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing
withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the monument shall
be the dominant reservation.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate,
injure, destroy, or remove any feature of the monument and not to locate
or settle upon any of the lands thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of
February, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA

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