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Christy Goldfuss: President Obama Designates 3 New National Monuments, Protecting More than 1 Million Acres of Public Land
Today, we joined community members from California, Texas, and Nevada to celebrate the President’s announcement of three new national monuments. The new monuments include Berryessa Snow Mountain in California, Waco Mammoth in Texas, and Basin and Range in Nevada. Together, these striking places demonstrate the wide range of historic, cultural, and natural values that make America’s public lands so treasured. With these new designations, President Obama will have used the Antiquities Act to establish or expand 19 national monuments. Today’s addition of three national monuments will protect more than 1 million acres of public land, adding to the more than 260 million acres of public lands and waters President Obama has protected for future generations – more than any other President.
Protecting our lands is about more than just protecting our great outdoors. These designations provide a boost to the local economies of surrounding communities by attracting visitors and generating more revenue and jobs, building on an outdoor recreation industry that already generates $646 billion in consumer spending each year. The public lands President Obama designated today protect significant cultural and historical landmarks. Native Americans have inhabited the Berryessa Snow Mountain area for at least the last 11,000 years, leaving behind their cultural influences and artifacts, such as seasonal hunting camps and earth-covered round buildings.
More here
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President Barack Obama talks about the designation of three new national monuments; Berryessa Snow Mountain in California, Waco Mammoth in Texas, and the Basin and Range in Nevada, in the Oval Office of the White House. Behind him from left are Victor Knox, associate director of park planning, facilities and lands of the National Park Service; April Slayton, chief of public affairs and chief spokesperson of the National Park Service; Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell; U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell; Randy Moore, Forest Service; and Bureau of Land Management director Neil Kornze
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RT to spread the word: @POTUS is protecting more than 1 million acres for future generations. go.wh.gov/Monuments http://t.co/duKdSEGSiS
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 10, 2015
I applaud President Obama for preserving the beauty of the Nevada desert for generations to come. http://t.co/zULwUk6toe
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Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) July 10, 2015
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.@POTUS designates 3 new national monuments including the stunning Berryessa Snow Mountain #California #FindYourPark http://t.co/8kVgquY4SU
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US Dept of Interior (@Interior) July 10, 2015
Here's how public lands boost local economies across America → go.wh.gov/Monuments #FindYourPark http://t.co/jynqKLJ6x8
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The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 10, 2015
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Great to have the official Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. A win for our economy, environment & recreation http://t.co/o0rs88yzzU
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Mike Thompson (@RepThompson) July 10, 2015
.@POTUS understands we need to protect America's special places for future gens. Today he designated 3 new nat'l monuments.SJ #FindYourPark
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Sally Jewell (@SecretaryJewell) July 10, 2015