Letter: Group Request for Science-Based Wildfire Funding

 
Posted by on May 12, 2021

Related MBCA News follows this letter.
  • Featured post

    "Finding Balance" Event Encourages Involvement in Local Development

    Posted by · June 04, 2025 10:49 AM
    About 60 people attended the "Finding Balance" Town Hall in Twentynine Palms sponsored by Indian Cove Neighbors and MBCA on Saturday, May 31. Joining moderator Cindy Bernard and Kat Talley-Jones of Indian Cove Neighbors were Pat Flanagan and Laraine Turk of MBCA, and Rich Good, local business owner.


    Audience_at_Finding_Balance__BW_(1).jpeg

    While the Ofland Development in the Indian Cove neighborhood was a focal topic, information and discussion about other proposed developments were addressed, including the Lovemore Ranch and Joshua Tree Resort projects. MBCA Board member Pat Flanagan strongly encouraged that residents become familiar with their community's General Plan. She suggested a social approach of "Get some copies of the Plan, invite friends, add a bottle of wine, and delve into it together!"  

    Panel__Finding_Balance_town_hall_(1).jpeg

    Panelists Cindy Bernard, Kat Talley-Jones, Pat Flanagan, Laraine Turk, Rich Good
    Photos courtesy Bob Wold


    Broad interest was expressed in pressuring San Bernardino County to “Bring Back the MAC,” i.e. the Morongo Basin Municipal Advisory Council.” A MAC is a legal entity set up to communicate information and receive recommendations from residents in unincorporated areas.

    Mojave Desert Land Trust Board member Geary Hund brought news of approval for a planning grant for two wildlife crossings on Highway 62.

    Z107.7's extended online reporting on the Finding Balance Town Hall provides a thorough overview of topics covered, as does the Desert Trumpet's coverage.

    Here is a link to a full recording of the meeting.
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    MBCA Comments on Proposed Changes to Wind Turbine Specifications

    Posted by · March 04, 2025 3:53 PM
    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.
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    MBCA Joins National Parks Conservation Association Requesting Reversal of Workforce Reductions

    Posted by · February 28, 2025 8:28 AM
    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." 
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    Energy Distribution and Conservation Topics Highlight MBCA's Annual Meeting

    Posted by · January 30, 2025 10:36 AM
    DelChiaro_opening.jpegKeynote 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.

    Hund_on_wildlife_corssings.jpeg    
    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.

    Annual_Meeting_room_(1).jpeg
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    President Biden Designates Chuckwalla National Monument

    Posted by · January 07, 2025 2:07 PM
    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
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    BLM Off-Road Plan Deemed Inadequate to Protect Tortoises

    Posted by · October 19, 2024 8:51 AM

    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.

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    MBCA Outlines Ongoing and New Problems with Sienna Solar Project

    Posted by · September 30, 2024 2:55 PM
    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.
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    Desert View Conservation Area Highlighted

    Posted by · July 26, 2024 10:22 AM
    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.  
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  • Featured post

    Rabbit Hemorrhagic Fever Disease Rising in Morongo Basin

    Posted by · July 12, 2024 3:56 PM
    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.
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    Twentynine Palms Community Envisions its Future

    Posted by · July 12, 2024 11:59 AM
    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.
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