Thompson bill would add southern Mendocino Coast to national monument

Stornetta Public Lands, 1,132 acres located along Mendocino County's south coast, could receive additional protection under legislation introduced Friday.

H.R. 4969 would add the land - overseen by the Bureau of Land Management - to the California Coastal National Monument, according to the office of Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena. Thompson introduced the proposed legislation.

The coastal monument is comprised of more than 20,000 small islands, rocks, exposed reefs and pinnacles along 1,100 miles of coast between Mexico and Oregon.

National monument status carries a higher standard of care for public land, according to the Bureau of Land Management's website.

Officials said it would permanently protect the land, which includes more than two miles of coastline with natural bridges, tide pools, waterfalls, sinkholes and blowholes. It's adjacent to Manchester State Beach and the Point Arena Lighthouse.

The designation would not preclude the current agricultural activities that take place on the land, according to Thompson's office. The Stornetta family retained a 10-year lease to graze the public lands following its sale in 2004.