This year, the world watched in awe as a sea of colorful flowers blossomed in the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The superbloom itself was much more than the focal point of thousands of photos; as a product of intense drought and extreme storms, it was a visual testament to the impacts of climate change.
Although the superbloom has ended, we won’t shift our focus from this iconic place. The Trump administration is currently issuing a review of our national monuments that could limit protections for places like Carrizo or eliminate them altogether.
Fortunately, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) is at the forefront of efforts to protect Carrizo Plain. He spoke out in Congress, in an editorial and in a letter urging the Department of the Interior to preserve Carrizo. He is engaging the public to protect this special place, and I was lucky to join him on a recent tour through part of the 205,000-acre monument with local environmental leaders.