81_FR_8411 81 FR 8379 - Establishment of the Sand to Snow National Monument

81 FR 8379 - Establishment of the Sand to Snow National Monument

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 32 (February 18, 2016)

Page Range8379-8385
FR Document2016-03548

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8379-8385]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03548]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents

[[Page 8379]]


                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 Luise[ntilde]o 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 Luise[ntilde]o 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 
                National 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

[[Page 8380]]

                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 
                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

[[Page 8381]]

                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, 
                pi[ntilde]on, 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 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

[[Page 8382]]

                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.

                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

[[Page 8383]]

                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 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.

[[Page 8384]]

                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.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

Billing code 3295-F6-P


[[Page 8385]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TD18FE16.002


[FR Doc. 2016-03548
Filed 2-17-16; 11:15 am]
Billing code 4310-10-C



                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents                      8379

                                                                                                 Presidential Documents



                                                                                                 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 Monu-
                                                                                                 ment to the south. Home to desert oases at Big Morongo Canyon and White-
                                                                                                 water 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 Luiseño 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
                                                                                                 Luiseño refer to San Gorgonio Mountain as Pewipwi.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with D2




                                                                                                 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 National
                                                                                                 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


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                                             8380             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents

                                                                                                 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 endan-
                                                                                                 gered 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 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 recog-
                                                                                                 nized as among the most important avian habitats in the State. Common
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with D2




                                                                                                 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, wood-
                                                                                                 peckers, vireos, and finches. Additionally, 32 species of migratory birds


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents                      8381

                                                                                                 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,
                                                                                                 piñon, 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 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
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                                                                                                 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


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                                             8382             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents

                                                                                                 by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric struc-
                                                                                                 tures, 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 Govern-
                                                                                                 ment 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 monu-
                                                                                                 ment are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry, loca-
                                                                                                 tion, 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.
                                                                                                 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 applica-
                                                                                                 ble 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 regula-
                                                                                                 tions governing NFS lands within the monument, the Secretary of Agri-
                                                                                                 culture, through USFS, shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior through
                                                                                                 BLM. The Secretaries shall provide for public involvement in the develop-
                                                                                                 ment of the management plan including, but not limited to, consultation
                                                                                                 with tribal, State, and local governments. In the development and implemen-
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                                                                                                 tation 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 oper-
                                                                                                 ation or maintenance, or with the replacement or modification within the


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents                      8383

                                                                                                 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 ex-
                                                                                                 panded, 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 vehi-
                                                                                                 cle 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 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 with-
                                                                                                 drawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the monument shall be the
                                                                                                 dominant reservation.
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                                             8384             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents

                                                                                                 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.




                                             Billing code 3295–F6–P
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                                                                                                                                                                              OB#1.EPS</GPH>




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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 32 / Thursday, February 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents                                                                                                                8385




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   National Monument
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sand to Snow


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       SMiles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  W.E
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       2.5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               s


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1:72,000
                                                                                                                                                                             Sand toSnow Nationai Monument

                                                                                                                                                                                                             USFS Mderness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             NPS Wlldeme$$
                                                                                                                                                                             0
                                                                                                                                                                                                             -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             -
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                                             [FR Doc. 2016–03548

                                             Filed 2–17–16; 11:15 am]
                                             Billing code 4310–10–C
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ED18FE16.002</GPH>




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Document Created: 2016-02-18 07:46:30
Document Modified: 2016-02-18 07:46:30
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionPresidential Documents
FR Citation81 FR 8379 

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