MBCA Calendar of Events

MBCA Opposes SB 607 CEQA Changes

California Senate Bill 607 was introduced in February and is intended to change some aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act in order to fast-track large-scale energy-related projects. MBCA’s letter to Senators McGuire and Caballero opposes the bill for its potential to permit "many harmful projects including pipelines, data centers and waste storage facilities (to) be built in communities without sufficient environmental review or public participation." (Note: the bill was...

MBCA Files Comments on OfLand Project in Twentynine Palms

MBCA's comment letter to the City of Twentynine Palms Planning Department about the 100-unit luxury resort project details points of conflict with the City's General Plan but also makes suggestions for change. MBCA encourages a reduction in the size of the project, and makes additional detailed points about project deficits and discrepancies on issues including "edge effects" on wildlife; the Mojave Desert Sentinel Landscape provisions; aesthetic and viewshed degradation; and...

"Finding Balance" Event Encourages Involvement in Local Development

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. While the Ofland Development in the Indian Cove neighborhood was a focal topic, information and discussion about other proposed developments were addressed,...

MBCA Joins Power in Nature Coalition Comments on 30X30

As part of the Power in Nature Coalition, MBCA joined 19 other organizations to comment on California's Wildlife Conservation Board's 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Among other recommendations were creating metrics that measure more deeply than just number of projects, taking stronger action on climate change, and more emphasis on partnerships.

MBCA Comments on Rancho Lucerne Housing Project

A housing project application was filed with San Bernardino County in late April to subdivide 4 different parcels in the Lucerne Valley area into hundreds of small parcels intended to establish thousands of housing units. The Rancho Lucerne Project was first filed and evaluated more than 30 years ago. In addition to focusing comment on the officially expired previous approvals that must be honored, MBCA's letter enumerates ten areas of...

Eblast: May 23, 2025

LoveMore Ranch Lawsuit Filed Luxury Resort ‘Ofland’ Recommended for Approval by 29 Palms Another Luxury Development! - Joshua Tree Resort Rancho Lucerne - 4,200 unit, 30-Year-Old Development Proposal New Desert-Wise Living Video Released Speak Up! Your Public Lands are Under Attack! Community Conversation on Development in Our Desert Ecosystem

Joshua Tree Village Neighbors File Petition Challenging Lovemore Ranch Approval

Joshua Tree Village Neighbors filed a petition with the County of San Bernardino Superior Court of the State of California on May 9 challenging the approval of the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Lovemore Ranch subdivision and development. (Background and a link to the appeal hearing can be found in our April 8 News post. (MBCA co-filed the unsuccessful appeal but is not involved in this legal action.) Key...

MBCA Scholarships for 2025 Announced

Morongo Basin Conservation Association has awarded college scholarships to three local graduating high school seniors. Recipients demonstrate commitments to include conservation and environmental interests in their education and career plans. Each $1,000 scholarship goes toward the student's higher education expenses in the 2025-26 academic year. MBCA's Conservation Scholarship is the continuation of our commitment to educate the next generation of conservation-conscious citizens. Jocelyn Gonzalez of Yucca Valley High School is the recipient, planning to study biological sciences...

MBCA Featured on Z107.7 Up Close Radio Show

On April 18, three MBCA Board members were interviewed on the Up Close Show (Episode 397), a weekly public affairs program of local radio station Z107.7 FM. Host and Hall of Fame Journalist Gary Daigneault conversed with MBCA's Vice President Stacy Doolittle, Board member Arch McCulloch, and Secretary Laraine Turk. While much of the hour-long discussion focused on details of the upcoming Desert-Wise Landscape Tour, the Board members were also...