Boundary Enlargement of the Pinnacles National Monument

President Clinton enlarged the boundaries of Pinnacles National Monument by approximately 7,900 acres using authority under the Antiquities Act. The proclamation withdraws federal lands from mineral entry, mining, and leasing, reserves water rights, and directs the Secretary of the Interior to manage the added lands through the National Park Service with livestock grazing permitted.

Federal Register Open PDF 65 FR 2831

Impact dates

Jan 11, 2000
Proclamation effective; boundary enlargement, land withdrawal, and water reservation take effect

Key directives

Set apart approximately 7,900 acres as addition to Pinnacles National Monument
Withdraw federal lands from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, leasing, or other disposition under public land laws
Withdraw from location, entry, and patent under mining laws
Withdraw from disposition under mineral and geothermal leasing laws
Reserve water sufficient to fulfill monument purposes
Secretary of the Interior to manage added area through National Park Service under same laws and regulations as rest of monument
Permit livestock grazing in added area
Continue managing Wilderness Study Areas under FLPMA section 603(c)

Who is ordered

Secretary of the Interior · Department of the Interior

Timeline

Immediate

Boundary enlargement takes effect upon proclamation
Federal lands withdrawn from entry, location, sale, leasing, mining, and mineral/geothermal leasing
Water reservation takes effect

Near term (90d)

—

Long term

Ongoing management of expanded monument by National Park Service
Potential acquisition of non-federal lands to complete monument boundaries
Wilderness Study Areas continue under FLPMA section 603(c) management

Risks & tensions

Livestock grazing exception in added area may create tension with ecosystem preservation goals
Valid existing rights reservation preserves pre-existing claims, potentially complicating unified management
Water reservation language attempts to protect federal rights without relinquishing prior claims, but may face state-level water rights disputes
Non-federal lands require future acquisition before full monument protection applies