As President Biden exits, which places could become new national monuments?

Ever since Theodore Roosevelt created the first national monument, Devils Tower in 1906, U.S. presidents have had the opportunity to leave a legacy for themselves. Only two, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush, did not avail themselves of the opportunity. President Biden has designated six national monuments and has made changes to the boundaries of several others. As his time winds down, will he create more? And does it make a difference for RVers?

New national monuments could mean more RV recreation

National monuments can significantly enhance recreational activities by providing protected spaces where people can enjoy outdoor pursuits. At the same time, these can preserve the natural, cultural, and historical resources.

National monuments often include vast, stunning landscapes such as deserts, mountains, forests, and coastal areas. RVers may benefit with areas for camping areas, often in a way most suited to the self-contained abilities of their rigs. They can also take advantage of hiking, photography, bird watching, and other nature-based activities. These areas are preserved for their exceptional beauty and biodiversity, attracting those who want to experience pristine natural environments.

Some national monuments encompass bodies of water like lakes, rivers, or coastal areas, enabling recreational activities like kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and boating. For example, national monuments located along rivers offer opportunities for whitewater rafting and fishing in pristine environments.

If you’re looking for more active or extreme recreation, many national monuments in rugged areas offer opportunities for rock climbing, mountain biking, off-roading, and backcountry skiing, depending on the region. These outdoor activities can be pursued in a protected and scenic setting.

There are considerations other than recreational where national monuments play a big part in enriching America’s public lands. Many national monuments protect important cultural or historical sites. Visitors can explore ancient ruins, Native American petroglyphs, historical buildings, and other landmarks. This aspect makes national monuments ideal for educational tourism and those interested in history, archaeology, and cultural heritage.

Biden administration—six new national monuments … so far

So what might the current presidential administration do toward expanding the number of America’s national monuments? During his presidency, Joe Biden has designated six national monuments and has made changes to the boundaries of several others. Native American tribes and conservation groups are urging him to create more monuments before his term ends.

The proposed sites span a wide range of locations. From a Southern California area featuring palm trees and petroglyphs, to a sacred site in Nevada’s high desert, to a historic Black neighborhood in Oklahoma. Or a homestead in Maine linked to Frances Perkins, the nation’s first female cabinet member.

Biden’s first use of the Antiquities Act in 2021 involved restoring protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in southern Utah, highlighting their spiritual, cultural, and prehistoric significance. These two monuments were originally established by President Barack Obama, who created 29 during his presidency. In response to concerns that Obama had overstepped his authority, President Donald Trump reduced their size but added unprotected areas to Bears Ears. Biden later called Bears Ears, the first monument created at the request of federally recognized tribes, a “place of healing.”

Groups press Biden for more monuments

While Biden’s monument designations may not set records in terms of numbers or land area, conservationists are calling on him for more. They argue that using the Antiquities Act strategically will be essential as the demand for land grows with the expansion of solar, wind farms, and mineral extraction for the green energy transition.

As to specifics, these groups want President Biden to expand California’s Joshua Tree National Park and establish a new Chuckwalla National Monument that would stretch from the park to the Colorado River, which divides California and Arizona. Supported by several tribes, this monument would add to one of the largest protected corridors in the U.S., stretching from Utah’s Canyonlands through existing monuments to Southern California’s desert oases.

“The concern is that so much land is being used for renewable energy, and it could permanently damage the desert,” Kristen Brengel told The Times of San Diego. Brengel is senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association. “If we don’t act now, we could lose these places forever.”

What monuments could be created?

There are still pending proposals for new monuments, including one for the Greenwood area in North Tulsa, Oklahoma, site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Another is along the Maah Daah Hey Trail in North Dakota’s Badlands, where tribes aim to highlight the land’s history from their perspective.

Expanding the range of the popular Joshua Tree National Park could make for expanded RVing opportunities, indeed. Creating protective corridors across the huge dusty tracts of land stretching from Joshua Tree clear to the Colorado? It’s decidedly a land where “self-containment” would be key.

Just what and if the Biden administration does in terms of expanding national monuments in the final weeks of his tenure remains to be seen.

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