BLM and Forest Service host free event to celebrate 5th Anniversary of Sand to Snow National Monument
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
MORENO VALLEY, Calif - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, invite the public to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of the Sand to Snow National Monument with a free public nature hunt, February 12-14.
“I am excited about celebrating this important milestone for the Sand to Snow National Monument along with the public and our friends and partner groups,” said Jihadda Govan, manager of the Sand to Snow National Monument. “The Monument offers so many family-friendly outdoor activities, including hiking, hunting, picnicking, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and snow play. There is so much to offer!”
The nature hunt will take place over 48 hours, from noon on Friday, Feb. 12 to noon on Sunday, Feb. 14. People of all ages are invited to participate using the free iNaturalist smartphone app to identify as many species of plants and animals as possible along designated Monument trails. The BLM and Forest Service strongly encourage participants to follow the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including social distancing and wearing a mask.
The goal of the nature hunt is to give the public an opportunity to experience the Monument’s unique biological value and natural habitats, which include deserts, foothills and mountains, while also contributing to genuine scientific research. The data gathered by the public will be used by BLM and Forest Service staff to better understand the types and locations of species within the Monument.
The Sand to Snow National Monument extends from BLM lands on the Sonoran Desert floor to the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino National Forest. The 11,500-foot San Gorgonio Mountain within the Monument is the highest peak in California, south of the Sierra Nevada. The area has some of the most rugged topography in southern California, with steep slopes culminating in a granite ridge over seven miles long and two miles high. The Monument also includes 30 miles of the 2,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail.
Conservation partners involved in the establishment of the Monument include Mojave Desert Lands Trust, San Gorgonio Wilderness Association, Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, and Friends of the Desert Mountains. A series of preserves owned by The Wildlands Conservancy are managed for public access and serve as entry points from the north, south, and east of the Monument. By day, enjoy unmatched discovery. By night, camp in solitude under the stars.
For additional details and to register for the Nature Hunt event, visit https://www.desertmountains.org/sandtosnow. For more information, contact Tracy Albrecht, Interpretive Specialist, Bureau of Land Management by email at talbrech@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.