CA SR116

Recognizes the California Desert as an ecological treasure containing unique geological features, diverse wildlife species, and important cultural and historical sites spanning the Mojave, Sonoran, and Great Basin deserts

Acknowledges the 1994 California Desert Protection Act (CDPA) which designated 3.57 million acres of Bureau of Land Management wilderness areas and redesignated Joshua Tree and Death Valley as national parks, protecting over 8.6 million acres total

Notes that three national monuments designated in 2016 (Castle Mountains, Sand to Snow, and Mojave Trails) protect 1.6 million acres and create wildlife corridors for at-risk species like bighorn sheep and desert tortoises in response to climate change impacts

Highlights the California Desert's ecological, recreational, and economic value, including support for 2,600 jobs through nonmotorized recreation, $372 million in tourism economic output, and critical carbon storage and water resources

Affirms commitment to securing an enduring heritage of biodiversity, wilderness, national parks, and public land values in the California Desert for current and future generations