Fort Ord National Monument
Proposed
Rich Military History, Exceptional Recreational Opportunities, Critical Habitat
Permanently protecting the Fort Ord Public Lands as a National Monument will allow for the protection
of a spectacular area that is home to rare plants and a range of wildlife, while connecting our citizens to
special landscapes and honor the rich military legacy of the area.
Military History
With more than 1.5 million solders having served at Fort Ord,
protecting this area will honor the distinctive history and
cultural heritage that the soldiers, families, and civilians of Fort
Ord gave to the region, state and nation.
Fort Ord has a rich and long history as a U.S. Army installation.
From World War I to the end of the Cold War, Fort Ord trained
soldiers and represents the last stand of U.S. Army war horses.
During the Vietnam War, Fort Ord was the leading training
center and staging ground for deployment to Southeast Asia. It
was not until the end of the Cold War that Fort Ord curtailed
training activities, and in 1994 the base officially closed its
gates and became part of U.S. military history.
A Fort Ord National Monument designation will serve as a reminder of the triumphs and sacrifices that
have shaped the United States and honor the legacy of the millions of soldiers who trained on these
lands.
The Fort Ord Public Lands also include a portion of the Juan Bautista de Anza
National Historic Trail which retraces the route of an overland expedition from
Sonora, Mexico to Alta California in 1775. The expedition resulted in the
establishment of both a presidio and a mission in San Francisco.
Recreational Use
The Fort Ord Public Lands offer 86 miles of trail that are open for bicyclists (mountain and road),
hikers, trail runners, horseback riders, wildlife/wildflower photographers, nature enthusiasts and search
and rescue training.
Fort Ord’s single track trails, grassland hills and oak
woodlands are surrounded by development and offer
some of the last remaining open space in the Monterey
Bay area.
Permanently protecting the Fort Ord Public Lands will
ensure that the public can continue to use this area for
mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding and other
recreational activities.
Critical Habitat
The Fort Ord Public Lands support a beautiful and diverse group
of plant and animal communities. The rare Central Coast Maritime
chaparral ecosystem is home to several plant and wildlife species
that depend largely on Fort Ord for their survival.
Some of the plants that thrive at Fort Ord are found almost
nowhere else, such as the Toro Manzanita, the state-threatened
sand gilia and the federally threatened Monterey spineflower. For
many of the rare plants, 50-90% of their worldwide habitat occurs
in Fort Ord.
The public lands also support a mixture of other habitats: coast live oak, coastal scrub, mixed annual
grassland and native perennial grassland. These lush landscapes are home to a range of wildlife
including mountain lions, black-tailed deer, bobcats, coyotes, golden eagles, red tailed hawks, California
quail, coast horned lizards and the federally endangered Smith's blue butterfly.
While the Fort Ord Public Lands are currently managed primarily for habitat conservation, designation
as a National Monument will ensure that habitat conservation continues to be central to future
management of the area.
Connecting Kids with Nature
The Fort Ord Public Lands provide an excellent outdoor
classroom for environmental education and scientific research.
Each year hundreds of school students from around the
Monterey Peninsula visit the public lands for science projects
or for special field trips focusing on soil erosion or habitat
restoration.
Protected Public Lands and Prosperity
Permanently protecting the Fort Ord Public Lands would
ensure that Monterey County will continue to benefit from eco-recreation and heritage tourism.
Protected natural amenities—such as pristine scenery and wildlife—help sustain property values and
attract new investment. In Monterey County, the Fort Ord Public Lands have enabled the community to
bring in nationally-recognized outdoor events, such as the Sea Otter Classic which is the largest
mountain biking event in the country.
Public support
There is substantial local and congressional support for permanently protecting the Fort Ord Public
Lands in a way which will ensure public access for mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding and other
recreational activities.
The Fort Ord Reuse Authority’s (FORA) legislative agenda supports a national monument designation
that would provide national recognition of the property’s unique ecological and recreational resources.
FORA’s voting members consist of Monterey County Board of Supervisors and city council members
from Marina, Seaside, Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Sand City, Monterey, Pacific Grove and Salinas.
Numerous community groups support protecting Fort Ord as a national monument including Fort Ord
Friends, Bicycle Equestrian Trails Assistance (BETA), Friends of the Fort Ord Warhorse, Fort Ord Rec
Users (forU), Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association (MORCA) and the Monterey Bay Chapter of the
Native Plant Society. As residents of an urban area, they treasure Fort Ord because it is a spectacular
area that enables people to connect with the outdoors.