In this letter to San Bernardino County Senior Planner Maryn Wells, MBCA expresses concerns about a proposed Development Code amendment that would permit expansion of the generating capacity of wind turbines Countywide. With the potential for placement of 100-foot tall wind turbines within the Rural Living Zone, MBCA is calling for the imposition of a Conditional Use Permit for the permitting of wind turbines throughout the County. Especially in desert communities, the installation of 30 to 40 foot diameter turbines presents health and safety concerns as well as threats to wildlife and the natural environment.

MBCA is one of 495 organizations which have signed on to this letter from the National Parks Conservation Association to Senators and Congressional representatives. The letter requests immediate reversal of the recent federal workforce reductions, "particularly those individuals who had been employed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), USDA Forest Service, (USFS) and the National Park Service (NPS). The letter states that the reductions "will have devastating effects on the protection and management of (public lands) and cause economic hardship to the communities that surround them." 

Keynote Speaker Bernadette Del Chiaro provided an audience of over 70 gathered on January 25 for MBCA's Annual Meeting with a message that "Rooftop Solar Is Essential To California’s Clean Energy Goals." She provided detailed and incisive information (view her PowerPoint slides) about California's power distribution system and the imbalance between utility company profit goals and the need to speed up renewable energy with rooftop and distributed solar. Compelling evidence was presented showing blatant misrepresentations by utilities in their efforts to slow the adoption of rooftop solar while encouraging utility scale projects.

MBCA Board member Allan Songer presented an overview of emergency battery power options, and provided a handout of some available products.

Steve Blackledge, Director of Conservation Campaigns for Environment America, focused on wildlife conservation issues in his presentation. Geary Hund, Board member of Mojave Desert Land Trust, augmented the presentation with news of progress toward the possibility of wildlife crossings on Highway 62.

    

Geary Hund speaks about possible future wildlife crossings on Hwy. 62.

For a more complete overview of the presentations at the annual meeting, here is a report (with photos) in the Morongo Basin's non-profit publication The Desert Trumpet and as reported on local radio station Z107.7.

And, a recording of all presentations and Q&A sessions is available on MBCA's YouTube channel.

Despite having to reschedule the official signing ceremony due to extreme winds in southern California, President Biden today designated Chuckwalla National Monument in the California desert and also Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California. (Enjoy this PBS video of the actual ceremony on January 14.) The Chuckwalla designation honors the cultural significance of desert lands for several Tribal Nations as well as securing over 600,000 acres of carbon-sequestering land from inappropriate development. Using the Antiquities Act in lieu of stalled Congressional action, the designation is the culmination of concerted and committed efforts by many "desert defenders" and Tribal Nations, including MBCA's Board and supporters. MBCA attended the launch of the Monument designation effort in September 2023, and also participated in the Public Hearing in June 2024. 

A federal judge has ruled that the West Mojave Route Network Project (WEMO) presented in 2019 by the Bureau of Land Management does not adequately protect the threatened (endangered in California) desert tortoise. The lawsuit against the Plan filed in 2021 was brought by six environmental organizations. While not all the lawsuit’s claims were granted, the judge found that the off-road routes could not be shown to adequately protect the tortoise and other endangered species. Additional details can be found in articles in the Los Angeles Times and Desert Sun. MBCA's 2018 commented on the project in 2018.

For the third time in two years, MBCA has addressed both continuing and changing concerns about the proposed Sienna Solar and Storage Project in the Lucerne Valley area. The latest letter emphasizes unaddressed points made in our September 22, 2022 letter, as well as significant changes in the latest project proposal compared to the 2017 Planning Project Notice. Our letter also includes references and links to the Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity document that includes significant contributions by MBCA Board members, and a letter of concern from MBCA and local residents in April 25, 2022.

A new video highlighting Joshua Tree's Desert View Conservation Area has been produced by San Bernardino County, whose Special Districts department oversees the preserved acreage. This free daytime recreation area north of Joshua Tree National Park has received improvements for visitors in recent years and additional educational signage is planned.  

There are reports in various locations of the Morongo Basin of dead rabbits and hares likely dead of the hemorrhagic disease that was virulent several years ago. Read this information from the state for recognizing and handling dead animals that might carry the disease. It is important to note that this type of virus is only known to affect rabbits and hares, not other animals or humans.

In a community-generated Town Hall, more than 50 Twentynine Palms residents spent a recent Saturday morning sharing ideas and thoughts about the City's future. Hosted by non-profit publisher The Desert Trumpet, with support from The Desert Trail, speakers included Chris Clarke of 90 Miles from Needles, the Desert Protection Podcast; Paul Razo, Business owner, Member, Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC); and Carrie Williams, Co-owner, Jeanine Beauty Supply, CEO Women of Color Global 29. The Desert Trumpet has published the meeting's high points in three issue-focused reports. Part 1 focuses on Creating an Affordable and Sustainable City; Part 2 on Balancing Development with Maintenance of the Desert Ecosystem; and Part 3 on Creating an Affordable and Sustainable City. A transcript of each session is also provided at the end of each report.

The latest regulations and protocols for California's Western Joshua Tree Relocation program were issued on July 1. A public comment session on the latest version of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan was offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on July 11. The prior comment session from April 4 is available on YouTube.  When available, the video for July 11 will also be linked here.