Nine Organizations Intervene In Lawsuit To Defend Chuckwalla National Monument

Nine organizations, represented by Earthjustice and the Law Offices of Joseph Lavigne, will intervene in a lawsuit to defend Chuckwalla National Monument in California after a district court judge approved the move. The lawsuit seeks to undo the designation of the monument, which was established in January 2025.

“Chuckwalla National Monument is the result of years of collaboration among Tribal nations, diverse communities, and elected leaders—using a century-old presidential tool to protect America’s most cherished landscapes,” said Mark Green, executive director of Calwild. “Any attempt to undo these protections would be a betrayal of the public trust and bipartisan voices that made the monument possible.”

The lawsuit was filed by an Idaho-based motorized recreation special interest group, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and an individual miner from Michigan, against the U.S. Department of Interior. They are represented by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Mountain States Legal Foundation.

The nine groups that have joined the lawsuit in defense of the monument include CactusToCloud Institute, California Native Plant Society, CalWild, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Lands Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Vet Voice Foundation, and The Wilderness Society. All are interested in the monument’s designation and protection. Tribal Nations including the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and three other Tribal Nations have also joined as parties to the case.

“The lands within Chuckwalla National Monument are the ancestral homelands of several Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples, and they safeguard a wealth of sacred and cultural sites and rare and culturally important plants and wildlife,” said Helen O’Shea, California state director for The Wilderness Society. “These lands are part of our shared American heritage and must be protected so future generations can experience the freedom they provide.”

The organizations intervening spent years carefully vetting boundaries and collaborating with a broad coalition to identify and document Chuckwalla’s unique tribal resources and values worthy of monument-level protections, according to Earthjustice. The monument protects lands significant to 13 Tribal Nations, ensures equitable access and outdoor recreation, and safeguards numerous historical, scientific, and ecological values. The monument designation was called for and celebrated by local Tribes, local and state governments, state and federal elected officials, veterans, 300+ businesses, business groups and Chambers of Commerce, 370+ scientists and residents of surrounding communities.

“This monument is a living classroom for geology, rare plants, and climate change, and a vital, sustainable economic driver for the Coachella Valley,” said Colin Barrows, CoFounder of CactusToCloud Institute. “Its designation ensures that everyone, especially those who might not otherwise have the opportunity, can experience the exceptional beauty and rich culture of our desert.”

The monument also benefits local economies. A recent analysis found that from 2001 to 2022, employment in the counties where Chuckwalla sits increased by 76 percent. Additionally, real per capita income grew from $44,489 to $54,667, a 23 percent increase.

The monument “is a sacred landscape vital to ecological integrity, economic prosperity, and recreational access,” said Dr. Jun Bando, executive director of the California Native Plant Society. “Special interests from outside the state must not be allowed to override the history and needs of those who are sustained by the land and are stewarding it for future generations.”