With the designation of the San Gabriel Mountains as a National Monument on Oct. 10, 346,177 acres of national forest land in southern California are now permanently protected.
The San Gabriel Mountains are located in northern Los Angeles and western San Bernardino counties, Cali, and serve as an outdoor recreation hub for more than 15 million people who live within 90 minutes of the park. The acreage protected by the presidential declaration includes the closest available trout fishing for residents of the region.
According to Trout Unlimited (TU), the East Fork and West Fork of the San Gabriel River flow through the San Gabriel range, providing a rare opportunity for stream fishing in southern California and one of the region’s few designated Wild Trout waters. Remnant populations of trout in their headwaters have been genetically linked to the native–and endangered—southern steelhead.
TU has worked for nearly a decade to support initiatives that would better protect the San Gabriels. In particular, TU helped to develop and advance legislation that would establish new Wild and Scenic River designations and a larger National Recreation Area.
“In this case, we view national monument designation as a strong first step in a more comprehensive effort to protect and restore public lands habitat and fishing and hunting opportunities in the Angeles and San Bernardino national forests,” said Steve Moyer, TU’s vice president for government affairs.
A recent poll by Public Opinion Strategies found that 73 percent of sportsmen in the Los Angeles region support permanent protection for the San Gabriel Mountains.
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