National Monuments Face Challenges
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1.
Quality of cultural resources faced degradation from increased visitation and recreational use. 
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2.
Increase in OHV traffic made managing livestock more difficult with gates left open and fences vandalized. 
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3.
Historic structures at Dripping Springs were frequently targeted for vandalism. 
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More power to government agencies means loss of local control
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Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Closed during the COVID-19 Pandemic and remains closed to the public. Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument |
Dripping Springs Natural Area
Closed to the public during the COVID-19 Pandemic. BLM Closes Developed Recreation Spots |
Public land is not always available to the public under a national monument designation
Grazing under attack in Sonoran Desert National Monument
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"Management in issuing and administering grazing permits or leases on all lands under its jurisdiction shall continue to apply with regard to the lands in the monument; provided, however, that grazing permits on Federal lands within the monument south of Interstate Highway 8 shall not be renewed at the end of their current term; and provided further, that grazing on Federal lands north of Interstate 8 shall be allowed to continue only to the extent that the Bureau of Land Management determines that grazing is compatible with the paramount purpose of protecting the objects identified in this proclamation." Sonoran Desert National Monument Proclamation |
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Environmental groups including the Western Watersheds Project and Sierra Club sued the Bureau of Land Management in 2021 regarding grazing in the area of the monument north of Interstate 8. A federal district judge has ordered BLM to reevaluate their resource management plan for a third time. Public land ranchers in this area are at risk of losing their grazing permits. Grazing overturned in Sonoran Desert National Monument |
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Objects identified within a proclamation take priority over everything, even valid existing rights.
