Could Biden Declare Shaver Lake a National Monument?

Activist group Unite the Parks called on President Joe Biden to transform 1.4 million acres of Sierra National Forest land into a national monument, and it has the backing of three state lawmakers from the Valley.

But three local county supervisors wrote to the president, warning him the change could undo forest management efforts, end off-road vehicle recreation and motorized boating, and possibly threaten private property rights.

“A lot of the great work that has been taking place the last five or six years to just really reduce the high hazard fuels would be effectively eliminated,” said Fresno County Board Chair Nathan Magsig, and co-author of the letter to Biden.

“There’s also a lot of private properties in the area that could be drawn into this (proposed) Range of Light area.

And so private property rights, in my opinion, could be in jeopardy.

How Shaver operates today could be completely changed.”