Anglers can celebrate the recent expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, a mountain range that is precisely as its designation describes—monumental!
The San Gabriel Mountains extend mightily from east to west as the backdrop of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, gloriously towering over the urban sprawl and its millions of residents. For thousands of years, Indigenous people, including the Gabrielino, Kizh, or Tongva, and the Chumash Kitanemuk, Serrano, and Tataviam peoples, have recognized this place as home. 10 years ago, when President Obama proclaimed nearly 350,000 acres of these lands a National Monument, they were preserved in perpetuity for the Native tribes and the millions more who reside alongside them.
The initial action to protect the precious cultural, historical, and ecological landscapes of the San Gabs was indeed valued, but it wasn’t enough. To further protect from encroachment on water sources from urban development, protect the biodiversity and natural spaces, and build climate resiliency, community organizers campaigned for expanding the monument. Their efforts were rewarded when, on May 2, 2024, President Biden expanded the National Monument by over 100,000 acres of land, bringing the total under conservation to over 452,000 acres in LA’s backyard.
Notably, this designation, unlike other National Monuments, is accompanied by heavy investments to improve the area’s resources, support staffing, fund the Tribal Conservation Corps, and enhance recreation opportunities.
“…the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its partners are investing more resources and staffing for the National Monument. This includes additional field rangers, interpretation and visitor engagement positions, support from the Tiuvac’a’ai’ Tribal Conservation Corps, and $2.3 million in Great American Outdoors Act funding to rehabilitate barracks and provide housing for recreation and other vital Angeles National Forest staff. Additionally, a $1 million investment from private philanthropy and complementary funding from the State of California Water Resources Control Board, U.S. EPA, and the State of California Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, will be targeted to the area to improve the health of the lands and waters, manage sensitive resources amid increased interest in the area’s recreational opportunities, and improve the overall visitor experience.” – USDA Press Release
The San Gabriel Mountains represent both a wilderness and a gateway to some of the more easily accessible, green recreational resources for the diverse communities of the LA area.
The range comprises over 70% of LA County’s open space and one-third of its drinking water. Safeguarding these watersheds from further mining and extraction is a crucial component of the proclamation. It also adds the strongest protections for a free-flowing river by designating the San Gabriel as a Wild and Scenic River. Within the National Monument is the Angeles National Forest. With over 4.5 million visitors in 2021, it is one of the most visited public lands in the country, more than even Yosemite National Park. It is a popular resource for hiking, swimming, camping, biking, snow sports, and, yes, one can fly fish here.
Preserving the numerous streams throughout these hills is of critical importance for native rainbow trout, especially as we seek to conserve southern steelhead and its genetics, recently listed as a California Endangered Species. The watersheds offer cold-water refugia for trout, which historically would migrate from the ocean to headwaters in the San Gabriels for spawning, and Southern California’s endemic trout have evolved to withstand this environment better than other trout species.
Cold water zones throughout the watersheds allow for thermal relief during extreme summer temperatures while also providing critical habitat for other threatened or endangered species like the mountain yellow-legged frog, Arroyo chub fish, southwestern pond turtle, and slender-horned spine-flower.
For those interested in California’s Heritage Trout Challenge, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife recognizes these SoCal waters and the genetics of their wild coastal rainbow trout as a qualifying heritage species.
The San Gabriel Mountains and their little oases are a biodiversity hotspot, which is of huge importance for climate resiliency. With over 500 species, 300 of which are endemic to the area, these hills support an incredible amount of life. It’s remarkable that beyond the skyline of the second most populated area in the country, one could cross paths with the rare but favorite local celebrities: the California condor, bighorn sheep, black bear, and mountain lion.
Despite fire, drought, and climate chaos, Californians are fortunate for how much these lands continue to give. Through acts of stewardship and conservation, may we continue to give them the care and respect they deserve.
More about the National Monument | More about the expansion | More about investments
Some suggested organizations to support and volunteer for:
The FRVC
Canyon City Environmental Project
Arroyo Seco Foundation
Nature for All
Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates
