The Daggett Solar project northeast of the Morongo Basin near Daggett and Newberry Springs proposes a five-and-a-half square mile array that would bring more damage than benefit to the area's residents and to the Mojave Desert. In MBCA's April 29, 2019 comment letter, Pat Flanagan outlines the issues and illustrates through photos and maps how the project is flawed despite proposed mitigations. Also noted as likely outcomes are a reduction in human quality of life, for reasons of fugitive dust with health consequences and reduced viewsheds affecting tourism. Potential damage to wildlife and birds, increased temperatures from heat island effects, and reduced panel effectiveness due to dust accumulation are other situations explored in the richly illustrated letter.
MBCA Asks County for Clarification on LoveMore Ranch Lot Density
The proposed LoveMore Ranch housing development in Joshua Tree describes a plan to develop 64 lots for single-family residences. MBCA's letter to the County notes that the acreage of the project should limit the number of units to about 54 maximum, based on San Bernardino County codes. The project is also under scrutiny for water-related issues that have not been resolved.
MBCA Recommends Rejection of Lovemore Recirculated Initial Study
.In the most recent action related to the proposed Lovemore housing development in Joshua Tree, a Superior Court Judge released a decision on the petition filed against the project in May 2025 by Joshua Tree Village Neighbors (JTVN). While not supporting all allegations of the petition, the decision agreed there were problems with water issues, especially wastewater and storm runoff. The project developers then responded with a Recirculated Initial Study...
County Mining Ordinance Revision Hearing Continued to October
The San Bernardino County Supervisors meeting on August 18 drew a large number of commenters on item 76: "Conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed ordinance to repeal and reenact local surface mining and land reclamation regulations." Commenters expressed strong concerns that through the proposed changes, the County was handing over environmental review to the recently greatly weakened federal environmental review process. After the comment period, Chair Dawn Rowe...
2025 Western Joshua Tree Legislative Report Published
This annual report required by the legislature is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). It covers the Western Joshua Tree issue from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The legislative report includes an update on CDFW’s role in the implementation of the Western Joshua Tree Conservaiton Act, information on permits issued, fees collected, conservation implemented, and more. Here is the report and you can find more...
MBCA Joins Qualified Support for AB 53 Tribal Lands Bill
MBCA was among seven organizations sending a qualified statement of support for AB 53, a bill intending to provide a pathway for the transfer of public lands in California to original tribal stewardship for conservation purposes. The letter requests that the bill be reintroduced in the next legislative session to provide time to elaborate and clarify the complex conditions of land transfer for best possible outcomes. There is little time...
With a focus on health concerns in addition to support for other commenters' concerns with tourism, MBCA sent a comment letter opposing the Supervisors' August 18 impending vote to approve a recommendation that would remove the county from the permitting of mining operations with federal approval. Federal environmental guidelines have been changed to reduce effective review. The specific concern addressed is fine particles of the radioactive element Thorium unearthed in...
Development in the Morongo Basin
ATTEND the Appeal of Mercury Dry Camp Project on August 4
Renewable Energy in San Bernardino County
Federal Attacks on Environmental Protections
Attacks on California Environmental Quality Act
Good News! Balcony Solar Advances in California
Climate Stewards at University of California Riverside Palm Desert
Voluteer to support MBCA in our Adopt-a-Highway
The Initial Study for this proposal to create twelve 5-acre Rural Living-zoned lots in the Pioneertown area contains many conflicts with the County Wide Plan that are outlined in MBCA’s comment letter to Land Use Services. MBCA objects to the County's support of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project and urges a full Environmental Impact Report be completed. MBCA's comment letter and appendices describe a number of critical oversights...
Showing 1 reaction
Sign in with
Facebook Twitter