Drinking Water for Millions Is Threatened as Trump Targets National Monuments

"Using geospatial data to quantify the miles of rivers and watersheds within the studied national monument boundaries, as well as the number of users who depend on that water, the report found that the water supplies for more than 13 million Americans are directly provided by watersheds within or downstream of these national monuments. About 83 percent of the water passing through these public lands has no other protection besides the monument designations, it found."

"National monuments protect more than 21,000 miles of waterways across the U.S., nearly twice as much waterway mileage as the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the analysis also determined."

"The report comes as the Trump administration weighs downsizing or revoking the designation of some national monuments. In March, the Trump administration announced it would eliminate California's Chuckwalla and Sátt;ítla Highlands national monuments before removing language from a White House fact sheet announcing that decision."

Geospatial data quantifies miles of rivers and watersheds within 31 national monument boundaries and the number of downstream users. Watersheds within or downstream of these monuments directly provide water supplies for more than 13 million Americans. About 83 percent of the water passing through these public lands lacks any protection other than monument designation. National monuments protect more than 21,000 miles of waterways, nearly double the mileage protected by the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The federal government has announced elimination of California's Chuckwalla and Sátt;ítla Highlands monuments and has considered downsizing or revoking protections for additional monuments.

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