by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on January 30, 2025
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.
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by Stephen Bardwell
341sc
on January 21, 2025
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on January 07, 2025
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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by Stephen Bardwell
341sc
on December 27, 2024
- Plan to Attend MBCA Annual Meeting
- Scenic 247 and County Long-Range Multimodal Transportation Plan
- Lighting and Dark Sky Workshop
- Cadiz Water
- 2025 Desert Wise Living Landscape Tour
Read more
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on December 23, 2024
The Tortoise Research and Captive Rearing Site at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms was
recently highlighted in the
Los Angeles Times. Details and official documents outlining the evolution of the program since 2013 can be found on the Base's
website.
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on December 20, 2024
The State Lands Commission on December 17
terminated a long-term pipeline right-of-way lease for the Cadiz Water Project, providing another setback in the company's plan to drain a major desert aquifer for profit. Cadiz has
publicized its claims that their latest plans with California tribes will provide a beneficial public-private partnership that would benefit "communities in need." Environmental justice advocates argue convincingly against the touted benefits of the plan, as outlined in this
City Watch news story. Tribal perspectives inform coverage of desert water issues by KPFK's
Creative Frontline program, such as
this podcast that includes dialogue with MBCA Director Pat Flanagan. For recent and historical news on the project, search for
Cadiz in the
Climate & Environment section of the
Los Angeles Times.
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on December 06, 2024
The Morongo Basin Conservation Association has added a specialized and comprehensive new Desert-Wise Living section to our website. It is focused entirely on desert-wise landscaping and is packed with videos, text, photos, animated illustrations, and helpful links. The new content builds on MBCA’s fourteen-year history of in-person and video landscape tours of water-wise and creative properties in the Hi Desert. Read our Press Release and visit the new Landscaping How To's section.
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on October 19, 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.
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on October 07, 2024
MBCA contributed to and signed this comprehensive
letter initiated by the
Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, demonstrating that the proposed communications tower in Morongo Valley has unacceptable consequences for the local residents and the ecosystem. Seven local concerned non-profits contributed to the extensive data and visual aids in the letter, concluding: "
The significance of impacts has been generally downplayed through omission of key information and the use of outdated resources. Because the impacts to Public Safety, Visual Resources, Environmental Justice, and Cumulative Effects are likely to be significant and unmitigable, this application should be rejected or, at the very least, a comprehensive Environmental Impact Study should be performed."
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by Laraine Turk
1403sc
on September 30, 2024
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