Sand to Snow National Monument

The national monument protects a total of {{convert|154,000|acres}}, with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managing {{convert|83000|acres}} acres, and the USFS−San Bernardino National Forest managing {{convert|71000|acres}}.[https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/12/presidential-proclamation-establishment-sand-snow-national-monument Whitehouse.gov: Presidential Proclamation − Establishment of the Sand to Snow National Monument], 12 February 2016 – "The USFS shall manage that portion of the monument within the boundaries of the San Bernardino National Forest, and BLM shall manage the remainder of the monument."{{cite web|url=http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/nlcs/Sand-to-Snow.html|title=BLM California: Sand to Snow National Monument|date=1 March 2016|access-date=7 April 2016}}[http://www.fs.fed.us/sites/default/files/S2S-QAs-final-NoMap.pdf USDA Forest Service: Sand to Snow National Monument webpage]. It extends from around {{convert|1000|ft|m}} on the Coachella Valley desert floor up to over {{convert|11000|ft|m}} in the San Bernardino Mountains.

Over {{convert|100000|acres}} of the national monument are within the San Gorgonio Wilderness area, which was designated by Congress in 1964. An eastern border in the Little San Bernardino Mountains abuts Joshua Tree National Park. A separate section expands the Bighorn Mountain Wilderness area to the northeast.

{{convert|30|mi|km|spell=In}} of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail pass through the monument. The headwaters of the Santa Ana River, Whitewater River, Morongo Creek, and San Gorgonio River are within it. The park protects a significant wildlife corridor and landscape linkage between the San Bernardino National Forest/San Gorgonio Wilderness area, Joshua Tree National Park, and Bighorn Mountain Wilderness area.[https://wildlandsconservancy.org/conservation/sandtosnownm The Wildlands Conservancy: Sand to Snow National Monument]

Diverse plant communities in the park support flora of the higher Mojave and lower Sonoran Colorado Deserts, chaparral, California oak woodland, coniferous forest, and alpine ecosystems, making it the most botanically rich national monument in the United States.

Plant life native to the San Bernardino Mountains is influenced by their location at the convergence of three distinct ecosystems: California chaparral and woodlands to the west, Mojave Desert to the east, and Sonoran Desert to the south. There are over 1,600 different plant species native to the range.[http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/pdf/TWC_WP_%20PlantList.pdf The Wildlands Conservancy: Whitewater Preserve Plant List], flora of Whitewater River Canyon, San Bernardino Mountains.

Sand dunes are home to the endangered fringe-toed lizard at the lower elevation confluence of the Whitewater and San Gorgonio Rivers, while Desert bighorn sheep are found at higher elevations.{{Cite web|last=Makinen|first=Julie|date=August 16, 2021|title=Mojave Desert Land Trust acquires 43 acres near Hwy 62, hopes to build wildlife crossing|url=https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2021/08/16/mojave-desert-land-trust-wants-wildlife-overpass-highway-62/8102951002/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=The Desert Sun|language=en-US}}

Sand to Snow National Monument was designated by President Obama on February 12, 2016 along with Castle Mountains National Monument and Mojave Trails National Monument.{{Cite news|title = Obama creates 3 new national monuments to protect 1.8 million acres of California desert|url = http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-monuments-20160212-story.html|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|access-date = 2016-02-12|last = Sahagun|first = Louis|date = February 11, 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Eilperin|first1=Juliet|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=February 12, 2016|issue=February 12, 2016|title=With 3 new monuments, Obama creates world's second-largest desert preserve|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/02/12/with-3-new-monuments-obama-creates-worlds-second-largest-desert-preserve/}} It is governed by the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

The Sand to Snow National Monument was inspired by The Wildlands Conservancy’s twenty-year-old Sand to Snow Wilderness Interface Project that included more than {{convert|60000|acres|ha}} of privately-funded land acquisition, including private properties threatened with development. The Conservancy established Whitewater Preserve,[http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_whitewater.html Wildlands Conservancy.org: Whitewater Preserve] Mission Creek Preserve,[http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_missioncreek.html Wildlands Conservancy.org: Mission Creek Preserve] and Pioneertown Mountains Preserve.[http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_pioneertown.html Wildlands Conservancy.org: Pioneertown Mountains Preserve] The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve was protected as a wildlife reserve in 1982, and later included in the monument, forming thus its most developed area. The aggregate set of preserved lands extends recreational opportunities in the Coachella Valley region.{{cite web

|title=Monumental Achievement: One of the West's great natural wonders — the Sand to Snow National Monument — has finallly been given the recognition and protection it deserves …and it's in the Coachella Valley's backyard.

|first=Bernadette|last=Murphy|date=September 1, 2016|newspaper=Palm Springs Life

|url=https://www.palmspringslife.com/monumental-achievement/

}}

• List of national monuments of the United States
• {{C|Natural history of the Mojave Desert}}
• {{C|Natural history of the Colorado Desert}}
• {{C|San Bernardino Mountains|San Bernardino Mountains topics}}
• Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

{{Reflist|26em}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/sand-to-snow-national-monument USFS: Sand to Snow National Monument website]
• [https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/sand-to-snow-national-monument BLM California: Sand to Snow National Monument website]
• [http://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/sandtosnow-map-20160211.pdf Sand to Snow National Monument Map]
• [https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/s2s-qas-final-nomap.pdf Sand to Snow National Monument Q&As]
• [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/12/presidential-proclamation-establishment-sand-snow-national-monument Presidential Proclamation – Establishment of the Sand to Snow National Monument]
• [https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmcalifornia/sets/72157647014279350 BLM California: Flickr photo gallery of Sand to Snow National Monument]

{{Protected areas of California}}

{{National Monuments of the United States}}

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Category:National monuments in California

Category:Parks in Riverside County, California

Category:Parks in San Bernardino County, California

Category:Bureau of Land Management national monuments

Category:United States Forest Service national monuments

Category:Protected areas of the Colorado Desert

Category:Protected areas of the Mojave Desert

Category:Coachella Valley

Category:San Bernardino Mountains

Category:San Bernardino National Forest

Category:Bureau of Land Management areas in California

Category:Protected areas established in 2016

Category:2016 establishments in California

Category:Units of the National Landscape Conservation System

Category:National monuments designated by Barack Obama