Parks Group Seeks to Intervene in Lawsuit to Protect Chuckwalla National Monument

PALM DESERT, CA — Today, nine organizations—ranging from Coachella Valley-based, to state-wide and national groups—followed the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and three other Tribal Nations in filing motions to intervene in a lawsuit to defend the Chuckwalla National Monument.

“Chuckwalla National Monument is beloved, broadly supported across the political spectrum, and fundamental to our shared history,” said Chance Wilcox, California Desert program manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “I’ve seen firsthand how important these protected landscapes are for our communities, our health, and our local economies. For decades, Chuckwalla has been recognized and planned for conservation efforts in the greater Joshua Tree region, and it’s easy to see why. We must defend it fiercely, ensuring that future generations can connect with and cherish this extraordinary landscape.”

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan 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 (DOI). These plaintiffs, represented by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Mountain States Legal Foundation, seek to undo the designation of the monument, established in January 2025. The monument is located on desert lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in California’s Riverside and Imperial Counties.

The organizations filing for intervention spent years carefully vetting boundaries and collaborating with Tribes, veterans, business owners, local elected officials, recreation and conservation groups, and community members to identify and document Chuckwalla’s unique tribal resources and values worthy of monument-level protections. These organizations each have interests and expertise in the monument’s designation, and intervention by interested parties is critical. Even if the U.S. government vigorously defends the monument, it does not have the same interests as local Tribes or this intervening coalition.

“Chuckwalla National Monument is more than just land to me — it’s a part of my personal story,” said Colin Barrows, CoFounder of CactusToCloud Institute. “I grew up exploring the winding Painted Canyon on foot, and continue to find new adventures driving along the network of off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails on the Chuckwalla Bench. It has become a sanctuary where I have found solitude, shared special moments with my wife, and introduced countless others to the unique beauty of our desert. This Monument is a living classroom for geology, rare plants, and climate change, and a vital, sustainable economic driver for the Coachella Valley. 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.”

Chuckwalla National Monument benefits local economies, protects lands significant to 13 Tribal Nations, ensures equitable access and outdoor recreation (including camping, picnicking, driving off-highway vehicles, hunting and more) 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.

“California veterans spent years advocating for the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument not just because of its breathtaking landscapes, but because it tells the story of our service. From the World War II training grounds scattered across the desert to its proximity to active duty bases, Chuckwalla is a place where military families can reconnect with each other, with the land, and with their sense of purpose,” said Janessa Goldbeck, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation. “Veterans have a long history of protecting America’s public lands, going all the way back to Teddy Roosevelt, who was both a soldier and an outdoorsman. This monument continues that legacy of service.”

Democrats and Republicans have used the Antiquities Act to designate monuments for more than 100 years. The Supreme Court, a century ago and other courts in the decades since, have consistently upheld the president’s authority to determine whether and how much area to protect. Lands protected as National Monuments have included important stretches of public lands in California like Joshua Tree and Death Valley, which were designated as National Monuments in the 1930s by presidential proclamation.

The applicants filing this motion to intervene 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. They are represented by Earthjustice and the Law Offices of Joseph Lavigne.

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.