Air Quality

Big Morongo Canyon, panoramic view from the West Canyon Trail of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, near Morongo Valley, California. Creative Commons photo by Dicklyon

Air Quality in San Bernardino County

The Mojave Air Quality Management District provides a Purple Air Monitor map that includes some monitors in the Morongo Basin communities. Air quality measurements can be viewed in real time. Another source for Southern California information is the South Coast AQMD website. This September 2020 article in the in LA Times explains the air quality numbering system.

Air Quality in Joshua Tree National Park

We in the Morongo Basin are so closely connected with Joshua Tree National Park that its air quality issues are ours. Most of us have seen the smog around San Gorgonio Pass where the I-10 and Highway 62 intersect. Read more about air quality in the Park on the JTNP Air Quality page.

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MBCA Joins Appeal against Weakening California Environmental Protections

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 20, 2024 2:52 PM
As the California Legislative session draws to a close, MBCA has joined with 93 other organizations signing a letter opposing efforts to "gut and amend" legislation that would weaken environmental protections without public input.
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Video Examines Aratina Solar Project Approval and Joshua Tree Destruction

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 08, 2024 4:56 PM
A new YouTube video explores the history of protection for Joshua trees and the controversially approved destruction of 4000 Joshua trees for the Aratina Solar Project in Kern County.
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Two Morongo Basin Gas Stations Designated "Green"

Posted by Laraine Turk · July 09, 2024 10:25 AM

The “Rocket”/76 gas station in Joshua Tree and the Chevron station in Twentynine Palms have both appeared for the first time on a list of “Green Mojave Gas Stations,” a program of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. The designation requires that “pollution prevention and reduction techniques are successfully employed as part of routine operating procedures.” There are 24 Mojave Desert gas stations currently meeting the requirements.
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MBCA Joins Group Comment on Jurupa Valley Warehouse and Ancient Oak

Posted by Laraine Turk · June 24, 2024 3:54 PM
MBCA was among 14 Inland Empire non-profit groups supporting a comment letter concerned with the Rio Vista Specific Plan for the Riverside County City of Jurupa. The Plan includes a warehouse and other industrial development that, in addition to air quality, water, and urban heat impacts, would endanger the over 13,000 year old Jurupa oak, among the oldest living things on the planet. The letter contains extensive analysis of problems with the plan and offers two alternatives. Read this Los Angeles Times article for more background.
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MBCA Comments on E Solar Project in Twentynine Palms

Posted by Laraine Turk · March 29, 2024 3:28 PM
MBCA's comment letter on the proposed 184-acre E Solar Project in 29 Palms questions some aspects of the plan and cites concerns with fugitive dust, lack of local air monitoring sites, and destroying the area's carbon sequestration value, illustrated with photos and maps. The document contains links to scientific data sources, and also references documents including 1) the report "Why do birds crash into solar panels?", 2) "California Desert's Role in 30x30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity," and 3) a group comment letter with concerns about California's land classification explained in this recent MCBA News Post.
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MBCA Comment on Easley Solar Project in Support of Lake Tamarisk Community

Posted by Laraine Turk · March 26, 2024 3:02 PM
If expanded as planned, the Easley Solar Project would surround the small Lake Tamarisk Community in Desert Center, negatively affecting every aspect of their lives including air quality, views, and wildlife passage. The community has offered alternative suggestions to the developers to allow them some relief and MBCA has sent a letter in support of their plan. Read more in this article in the Coachella Valley Independent.
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MBCA Comments at County Land Use Services Open House

Posted by Laraine Turk · September 06, 2023 6:57 PM

At the County Land Use Services Open House held in Joshua Tree on August 30, MBCA's President Steve Bardwell talked at some length with Mark Wardlaw, new Director of the department. MBCA sent a followup letter outlining concerns about land use issues that affect the Morongo Basin's unincorporated communities particularly. The letter includes some specific suggestions and summarizes our concerns related to water issues, Community Action Guides, climate change, Short-Term Rental ordinances, and a number of other topics.
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Dust Issues in Mojave AQMD Rule 401

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 21, 2023 6:23 PM
MBCA's comment letter to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District summarizes the serious particulate matter issues (excessive dust) that result from large scale solar developments and requests that such situations be directly addressed in the agency's proposed Rule 401. "Currently neither the MDAQMD, or the County of San Bernardino Land Use Services require or, act upon knowledge of the soils and the hazard of blowing dust."
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Letter: Comments on Dust Issues in Mojave AQMD Rule 401

Posted by Laraine Turk · August 21, 2023 2:59 PM
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Eblast August 13, 2023
Posted by Steve Bardwell · August 13, 2023 12:42 PM
Short-Term Rentals Community Meetings

Mojave Air Quality Management District Community Meeting

Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act Information Event

County Land Use Services Open House

Pioneertown and Land Use in The Morongo Basin Item 1
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