by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on April 13, 2023
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by Steve Bardwell
318sc
on April 11, 2023
- 2023 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour
- Attend MBCA and Friends of Wonder Valley Dark Skies event
- Wonder Inn and Flamingo 640 appealed to Board of Supervisors
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by Steve Bardwell
318sc
on April 11, 2023
- Wonder Inn Project to be considered by Planning Commission
- Flamingo 640 Glamping Project has been appealed!
- 2023 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour
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by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on March 31, 2023
Speaking at an water industry event at the Salton Sea near Mecca on Monday, March 27, Scott Slater, the CEO of Cadiz, Inc, the company that wants to sell water from the Cadiz aquifer for enormous financial gain, shared that the company is considering piping water "to bring water to disadvantaged communities within our reach."
Slater also revealed efforts "to pursue a relationship with the Salton Sea Authority...and the Torres Martinez tribe, to bring water to the
Salton Sea and to benefit the tribe, which would happen via an exchange." Slater also noted that the company will then "push the water north into the northern hi-desert and then into the interconnected systems of the state," via its 220-mile Northern Pipeline.
MBCA has long been concerned about the devastating effects of the proposed Cadiz Water Project. A series of our past News posts about Cadiz plus other water-related issues we have reported on, can be found by searching "
water" on our website.
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by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on March 24, 2023
In a 4-0 vote, San Bernardino County Planning Commissioners denied the Wonder Inn project opposed by MBCA and hundreds of Morongo Basin area residents. Almost 50 citizens made their comments in person at the meeting. The citizens' group
Stop Wonder Inn spent a year doing research to demonstrate how the project if built would have significant negative repercussions not only for Wonder Valley but the entire Morongo Basin. MBCA's
initial and
followup comment letters contain detailed information about the project's weaknesses. The developers have the option to appeal the Commission's decision within 10 days to the Supervisors.
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by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on March 10, 2023
The San Bernardino County Planning Commissioners listened to almost three hours of public comments almost completely against the RoBott Land Company's
proposal for a
Conditional Use Permit for "a campground that includes a number of facilities, including 75-camp sites, camp store, restaurant, bar, restrooms, pool, workshop buildings, helipad, and common area gardens and pathways within an approximate 25-acre portion of a 640- acre parcel." The denial of the project "without prejudice" means the company can appeal to the Board of Supervisors or resubmit a revised program later. You can view the meeting on the County's website; the public hearing on the glamping project starts at 9:22 AM.
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by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on March 04, 2023
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by Steve Bardwell
318sc
on March 01, 2023
- Flamingo 640 Glamping Project going before Planning Commission
- Wonder Inn Project update
- Spring is here and so are Invasive Plants!
- Rooftop Solar Update
- 2023 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour
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by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on February 27, 2023
MBCA supports the position of the
Stop Wonder Inn community group opposing the County's acceptance of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Wonder Inn Hotel/Resort. Instead, we argue that a full Environmental Impact Report is required under the California Environmental Quality Act. In a
presentation to Wonder Valley residents on January 28, MBCA Board member Pat Flanagan illustrated that many of the Project's Initial Study conclusions overlook or minimize conditions and show significant discrepancies from the experience of residents. Among the areas of concern are sand transport (dust) exacerbated by additional traffic, the presence of desert tortoise, diminishment of dark night skies, and environmental justice issues for a state-indicated Super Disadvantaged Community. On February 21 MBCA sent a detailed
comment letter to San Bernardino County Land Use Services, explaining these concerns in more detail. In an
addendum also sent February 21, reference is made to extensive social media advertising by the Project proponent promoting expansion of facilities and services beyond the project application.
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by Laraine Turk
1278sc
on February 22, 2023
Local winter rains provide hope for some good wildflower viewing in the coming months, but also have fed the growth of some of the Basin's worst invasive weeds that can reduce wildflower displays. Check out this
news report on invasive plants by local radio station KCDZ and also MBCA's
Invasive Plants page, to learn how to recognize and deal with these environmental threats.
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