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JANUARY 9, 2000

More on the Sonoran Desert and the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks national monument proposals. Source: US Department of Interior.

Sonoran Desert
The proposed Sonoran Desert National Monument is located in south central Arizona, approximately 60 miles from Phoenix. The area is a magnificent example of untrammeled Sonoran Desert landscape. It encompasses a functioning desert ecosystem with an extraordinary array of biological, scientific and historic resources. The most biologically diverse of the North American deserts, the proposed monument consists of distinct mountain ranges separated by wide valleys and includes large saguaro cactus forest communities that provide excellent habitats for a wide range of wildlife species. The outer boundaries of the area encompass approximately 486,149 areas of federal land.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
The proposed Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is located in north central New Mexico near Santa Fe. It is a remarkable outdoor laboratory, offering an opportunity to observe, study and experience the geologic processes that shape natural landscapes, as well as other cultural and biological objects of interest. Rich in pumice, ash and tuff deposits, the light-colored cone-shaped tend rock formations are the products of explosive volcanic eruptions that occurred between six and seven million years ago. The proposed monument includes approximately 4,148 acres of federal land. Elevations within the proposed monument range from about 5,560 feet to 6,760 feet above sea level.

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Babbitt recommends two monuments (Enviro 1/9)