Desert Gems Protected: Historic California Land Law

A pivotal piece of legislation, the California Desert Protection Act, was signed into law on October 31, 1994. This act profoundly impacted millions of acres of public land across Southern California, from Death Valley to the Mexican border.

The law elevated Death Valley National Monument to Death Valley National Park, incorporating over 1.3 million additional acres. Similarly, Joshua Tree National Monument was redesignated as Joshua Tree National Park, gaining approximately 234,000 acres. Crucially, the act also established the Mojave National Preserve, encompassing about 1.4 million acres of the former East Mojave National Scenic Area.

Beyond park designations, the act established 74 new wilderness areas, totaling over 7.6 million acres within the California desert. It also granted the state 20,500 federal acres to expand Red Rock Canyon State Park. As a result, approximately 7.7 million acres were designated as wilderness, and an additional 3 million acres were added to the National Park System.

Managed under National Park System laws, the Mojave National Preserve is a significant addition. Death Valley National Park, with its expanded 3.3 million acres, became the largest national park unit outside Alaska. This expansion allows for the protection of entire desert basins and mountain ranges. Generous donations, such as over 560,000 acres from The Wildlands Conservancy, further integrated scattered parcels within protected areas.

The California Desert Protection Act is considered the largest public lands law since the Wilderness Act of 1964. It created a connected network of protected desert lands across Southern California, including surrounding wilderness areas that act as buffers against development. The long-term outcome continues to shape desert management and preserve these distinct landscapes for visitors.