Along with 61 other conservation non-profit groups, representing millions of members and supporters, MBCA signed on to a comprehensive comment letter on the Bureau of Land Management's proposal for revisions in land-use decision making. Much of the land in the Morongo Basin falls under the BLM jurisdiction, whose mission includes "multiple uses" that often impinge on environmental health, especially in the desert. The potential revisions place conservation "on equal footing with other consumptive multiple uses." The comment letter applauds the improvements but also points to numerous additional ways to strengthen the rule making. 

After several years of debate and temporary protection status in California, enactment of the state's budget agreement now provides the Western Joshua tree with permanent protection. A Press Release from the Center for Biological Diversity, which initiated the effort via a petition in 2020, provides history and current status details. Additional coverage of the issue, significant for the Morongo Basin, can by found at local radio station KCDZ-fm, the Hi Desert Star, and the Desert Sun. The section on Joshua trees is item #2 in the trailer bill, SB 122.

With 100 other non-profit conservation-related organizations, MBCA signed a letter to entreat Governor Newsom and 15 state legislators on the Senate and Assembly budget committees to eliminate from the budget a number of infrastructure trailer bills that should be enacted through the legislative process instead. The 8 trailer bills cited would, if enacted through the budget, eliminate public input and considered evaluation for "important and complicated policies." 

Congratulations to the winners of the Desert-Wise Landscape Tour Inspiration Contest!

In this year’s Contest, we asked Tour participants to submit their reactions to the Tour in either a short essay or a visual creation.

Winner of the essay category and a $200 gift certificate to Unique Nursery in Joshua Tree is Allie Irwin. Here is her essay, which captures so well the spirit of discovery, as well as lessons learned, that MBCA hopes to provide to Tour participants.

Winner of the visual creation submission is Corrina Paton, whose photograph below depicts a spot in Tour Host Valerie Davis's yard. She explains: Conserving Water through art ~ Proving you can still have vibrant colors and a fun and quirky landscape while reducing your water usage. Corrina wins a $200 gift certificate to Cactus Mart in Morongo Valley.

Watch for an announcement in early June about several new Virtual Tour Videos of additional Morongo Basin landscapes that offer exceptional beauty and creativity with low water use and native and drought-tolerant plants.

Conserving Water through art ~ Proving you can still have vibrant colors and a fun and quirky landscape while reducing your water usage……

 

MBCA has submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management's Las Vegas Field Office about the proposed Golden Currant Solar Project's effects on bird migration. Research shows that birds are killed near solar installations because they are attracted to reflective panels they perceive as water. This solar project plus three others nearby would create an excessive array of danger for birds. MBCA's letter includes graphic data of bird presence in the area from the eBird program of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.