EBlast January 13, 2020
Attend MBCA annual meeting Saturday January 25 2020!
Daggett Solar Power Facility Update
Survey regarding Solar Energy Development in Southern California
BLM seeking nominations for Resource Advisory Councils
Attend MBCA annual meeting January 25 2020!
This year’s annual meeting will mark the beginning of MBCA’s 51st year of advocacy for the healthy desert! The theme this year is ‘Sustainable Tourism,’ a topic that vital to our desert and to Joshua Tree National Park that has seen an explosion of visitation over the last several years. We all love our desert and value the National Park, but the increased visitation has consequences of concern for the Park and our Morongo Basin communities.We are pleased to announce keynote presentations by two highly respected voices for protecting our desert: David Smith, superintendent of Joshua Tree National Park, and Chris Clarke, the California Desert Associate Director at the National Parks Conservation Association.
Also during the meeting we are so pleased to be able to distribute our just-published book to every attendee: Celebrating the Past – Envisioning the Future. This 68-page book documents the 50 years of environmental and community activism by MBCA and recognizes the many people that have guided MBCA, and continue to do so.
The Morongo Basin is home to many groups and organizations that work to protect the desert environment for the benefit of us all. Some of these organizations will be in attendance with information about their work, including: the Mojave Desert Land Trust, The Wildlands Conservancy, Joshua Tree National Park Association, The California Native Plant Society – Mojave Chapter, The SummerTree Institute, The California Desert Coalition, and Sky’s the Limit Observatory and Nature Center. We will be serving refreshments and a light vegetarian lunch. In the interest of sustainability we are striving to make this a zero-waste event and we encourage attendees to bring their own drinking vessel and utensils, although we will have glasses and utensils available.
When:
Saturday, January 25, 2020 10:00am to 1:00pm
Where:
The Yucca Room
Yucca Valley Community Center
57090 Twentynine Palms Highway
Yucca Valley, CA 92284
Annual Meeting 2020 Press Release
Daggett Solar Power Facility Update
On December 10, 2019, The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the construction of this massive 3,500-acre development within the rural communities of Daggett and Newberry Springs. MBCA spoke to the Supervisors and contended that there are deficiencies within the Environmental Impact Report as well as unacknowledged impacts on the residents within the neighboring communities. (Read our May 2019 news story that includes a link to the comprehensive MBCA comment letter.) The Newberry Springs Community Services District and the Friends of Newberry Springs have now filed a lawsuit against the County within the allowed 30-day period.
The basis of the lawsuit is clearly and thoroughly described within the filings, and among other issues challenges the approval that the development complies with San Bernardino County’s Development Code, Chapter 84.29 Renewable Energy Generation Facilities. This code was adopted within the last 5 years and was crafted to specifically address the effects of inappropriate industrial scale developments within our rural communities. The approval of the Daggett Solar Power Facility by the Board is a clear warning that in spite of our declaring a victory with the passage of Section 4.10 of the Renewable Energy and Conservation Element of the County Wide Plan, the rural communities of San Bernardino are not safe from the many deleterious effects and the scourge of industrial scale renewable energy developments.
Survey regarding Solar Energy Development in Southern California
And now on to the perfect segue: please take the opportunity to complete this online survey about your opinion on the development of solar within Southern California. This survey is being conducted by Jennifer Bernstein, a lecturer in Geographic Information and Science Technology at the University of Southern California. Some of the issues raised by the approval of the Daggett project are included within this survey. This is an opportunity to have your voice considered.
BLM seeking nominations for Resource Advisory Councils NEPA changes
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for Resource Advisory Councils (RAC), including the California Desert District RAC. These Councils “provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the national System of Public Lands within their geographic areas.” Nominations are due Feb 24, 2020. Here is the Federal Register Notice or go directly to the RAC application.
I’m looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming meeting, where we will also welcome two new Directors, Janet Johnston and Arch McCulloch.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year and perfection in 2020!
Steve Bardwell
Your MBCA Board:
Steve Bardwell, President Pat Flanagan, Director
David Fick, Vice President Meg Foley, Director
Laraine Turk, Recording Secretary Janet Johnston, Director
Marina West, Treasurer Mike Lipsitz, Director
Sarah Kennington, Past President Arch McCulloch, Director
Ruth Rieman, Director
Desert Large-Scale Solar Projects Update
EBlast December 8, 2019
Appeal of Daggett Solar Power Facility to be heard by Board of Supervisors Tuesday December 10
Fish and Game Commission to consider listing of Joshua Tree as a threatened or endangered species
MBCA monthly Board Meeting venue change
Hold the date for or annual meeting January 25, 2020
Appeal of Daggett Solar Power Facility to be heard by Board of Supervisors Tuesday December 10
On September 19, 2019 the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for this massive, 5-1/2 square mile solar energy development, was certified by the San Bernardino County Planning Commission. Subsequently the Newberry Community Services District appealed this decision and the appeal is to be considered by the Board of Supervisors at their upcoming meeting.
MBCA submitted a letter, and directors presented oral comments in opposition to the certification. This project is proposed to be located within the disadvantaged rural communities of Daggett and Newberry Springs. MBCA contends, among other things, that the EIR has not considered the Social and Environmental Justice impacts on the residents that are adjacent to and surround this development.
The effects, both short term and over the life of the project, of grading and compacting half a million cubic yards of soil have not been adequately evaluated within the EIR. We believe the downwind residents will likely be subject to increased levels of PM10 and PM2.5 pollution that are very unhealthful to any sensitive receptors. The conditions of approval have no mandates for establishing any air quality baseline data within this specific area of our desert. The soil types within the development area are not suitable for compaction and are within a sand transport path, or linear dune, and are subject to contributing to wind blown dust and sand. The EIR instead relies on regional air quality evaluation that utilizes air monitors upwind (to the west!) of the project.
The EIR failed to address and account for the approximately 50% of intact desert containing native plants such as ancient creosote (as old as 4000 years!), salt bush and caliche that would be destroyed, releasing their sequestered carbon and eliminating their ability to continue to perform this service to the environment. The EIR has failed to recognize the important wildlife corridor that serves to connect the regions north of the I-15 and I-40 to – ultimately - Joshua Tree to the south. MBCA has been advocating for the inclusion of recognized wildlife corridors within County maps to preserve and respect these important highways for the planet’s ever-increasingly stressed species.
MBCA believes the findings justifying the approval of this project are false and that this development will in fact produce adverse effects on the surrounding communities.
MBCA recognizes that there is a critical need to eliminate carbon based electrical generation; however, the analysis utilized in evaluating projects towards this end must also reflect the urgency of climate change and the value of the intact environment that we are striving to protect. MBCA continues to advocate for distributed electrical generation on rooftops within the built environment proximate to the point of use. While portions of this Daggett site may be appropriate for industrial scale renewable energy development, the EIR has not presented a thorough scientifically defensible and complete evaluation of the effects of this development.
When:
December 10, 2019 at 10am
The item number for this issue is #55 on the official agenda . (Click on the agenda number to see the supporting documents). Of particular interest is the PowerPoint prepared by the appellant.
Where:
Video conferencing of the meeting will be available in Joshua Tree at the Bob Burke Government Center at 63665 Twentynine Palms Highway Joshua Tree, CA 92252 and at the Jerry Lewis High Desert Government Center 15900 Smoke Tree Street, Hesperia 92345.
The Supervisors will be meeting at:
San Bernardino County Government Center
Covington Chambers, 1st floor
385 N Arrowhead Ave
San Bernardino, CA 92415
United States
Fish and Game Commission to consider listing of Joshua Tree as a threatened or endangered species
As some of you are aware, The California State Fish and Game Commission is set to receive a petition to list the Western Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) as a threatened or endangered species. The agenda for the Commission hearing has been revised to add a consent item for a 30-day extension to review this item. This listing would be of significant importance to our desert environment where the Joshua Tree is under stress from the effects of climate change. I encourage MBCA supporters to follow the proceedings of this very important Commission where decisions are regularly considered that reflect our reaction to, and efforts to adapt to the rapidly changing climate and environment.
MBCA Monthly Board Meeting Venue Change
The venue for the December meeting of the Board of Directors has been changed from our usual Town of Yucca Valley meeting room to the Center for Healthy Generations on a one-time basis:
Thursday December 12, 2019
5:00 – 7:00 pm
The Center for Healthy Generations
57121 Sunnyslope Dr.
Yucca Valley, CA 92284
Our meetings are open and we welcome your attendance as we discuss and address the many important issues we must consider in advocating for the healthy desert!
Hold the date for our annual meeting January 25, 2020
Please mark your calendars and hold the date for our annual meeting. This will mark the 50th anniversary of MBCA and we will be celebrating this milestone with the publication of a book of our past accomplishments and our plans for the future!
Hoping your Holiday Season helps to brings you joy and happiness and the opportunity to get outdoors and experience our beautiful desert!
Steve Bardwell
Your MBCA Board:
Steve Bardwell, President Pat Flanagan, Director
David Fick, Vice President Meg Foley, Director
Laraine Turk, Recording Secretary Mike Lipsitz, Director
Marina West, Treasurer Ruth Rieman, Director
Sarah Kennington, Past President
Riverside Supervisors Deny Paradise Valley
EBlast September 26, 2019
Paradise Valley to be heard by Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Workshop Teaches New Skills to Empower Community To Defend The California Desert: Part Two.
Paradise Valley to be heard by Riverside County Board of Supervisors
It appears that the fate of this long-considered and grossly inappropriate development will finally be determined at a public hearing by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday November 5 in Riverside. The Riverside County Planning Commission has recommended DENIAL of Specific Plan No. 339 that would allow the development of a new city of 1,848 acres with 20,000 residents and 1,380,000 square feet of commercial development directly on the southern border of Joshua Tree National Park. MBCA encourages our members to write to Riverside County and to attend this hearing in person to encourage the Supervisors to DENY approval of this project. Those wishing to carpool to the hearing in Riverside should contact me and I will endeavor to coordinate and offer transportation.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 10:00 am
WHERE: 1st Floor Board Chambers
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street Riverside, California 92501
Comments may be submitted to the County Project Planner Russell Brady:
by phone: (951) 955-3025
by Email: rbrady@rivco.org
Workshop Teaches New Skills to Empower Community To Defend The California Desert: Part Two
MBCA is pleased to be partnering with the California Desert Coalition, in organizing this workshop to focus on the role the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA) plays in guiding development throughout the State. This is part II of a series that began with understanding the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Also supported by the Center for Biological Diversity, Mojave Desert Land Trust, The National Parks Conservation Association, the Conservation Lands Foundation, and faculty from the University of Redlands, this workshop will inform participants on CEQA: how it works and how to analyze a development and to craft substantive comments that must be considered by decision makers.
WHEN: SATURDAY November 2, 2019, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
WHERE: THE YUCCA ROOM
TOWN OF YUCCA VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER
57090 Twentynine Palms Hwy Yucca Valley, CA 92284
Lunch will be served, and while the workshop is free, a donation of $10.00 is suggested. Please rsvp to Claudia Sall as soon as possible: sallwildlands@gmail.com
Looking forward to seeing you as MBCA continues to advocate for the healthy desert!
Steve Bardwell
steve@infinityranch.net
818-516-1437
Your MBCA Board:
Steve Bardwell, President Pat Flanagan, Director
David Fick, Vice President Meg Foley, Director
Laraine Turk, Recording Secretary Mike Lipsitz, Director
Marina West, Treasurer Ruth Rieman, Director
Sarah Kennington, Past President
Preserving the Future of Joshua Trees at MDLT
New Petition Filed for Joshua Tree Protection
The Desert Sun reports that the Center for Biological Diversity recently filed a petition with the state's Fish and Game Commission for protection of the Western Joshua Tree from climate change by listing it as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act. The news article provides scientific and political background on the issue. The Commission has 10 days to certify the petition and send it to the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which then has 90 days to provide an initial recommendation. Here is the LA Times story on this topic."Water for the Morongo Basin: The Next 50 Years" Program Report
A keenly interested audience of almost 60 attended MBCA’s Fall Desert-Wise Living Lecture on September 28. 
Mojave Water Agency’s General Manager, Tom McCarthy, provided not only a clear presentation about MWA's history and processes, he also responded patiently and instructively to a number of detailed questions. 
He has provided MBCA with his PowerPoint presentation (a PDF version). While the slides in this version and without Tom's in-person explanations aren't as comprehensive as his full presentation, you will find a number of illustrations, maps and charts that are informative.
Thanks once again to the sponsors of MBCA’s Desert-Wise Living Series (see below) and especially to the volunteers and Board members who helped set up and manage the event.
This lecture was part of MBCA’s Desert-Wise Living Series, and was made possible through the generous funding of the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, Golden State Water Company, Hi-Desert Water District, Joshua Basin Water District, Mojave Water Agency, Southern California Edison, and Twentynine Palms Water Agency.
Two Important Meetings Thursday
On Thursday, October 3, there are two important meetings we'd like to bring to your attention. We hope you'll consider attending one or both and offering your input.
9:00 AM - At the Government Center in San Bernardino and ALSO VIDEO-CONFERENCED IN JOSHUA TREE will be the San Bernardino County Planning Commission meeting. Of concern on the Agenda is Item #3, a proposal for a 55-Airstream trailer "suite hotel" just outside downtown Joshua Tree. Take a look at the Staff Report for all the details and we especially suggest you check pages 69-87 for the pro and con comments already submitted. Consider making your own 3-minute public comment during this meeting. See all the details and links in our MBCA Calendar listing.
6:00 PM - At the Bell Center of Copper Mountain College will be a Joshua Tree National Park Community Meeting (one of 3, the only one in the Morongo Basin). The Superintendent and other Park personnel will share information about the state of the Park and request your input on future planning. See all the details and read the Park's press release in our MBCA Calendar listing.
Your MBCA Board:
Steve Bardwell, President Pat Flanagan, Director
David Fick, Vice President Meg Foley, Director
Laraine Turk, Recording Secretary Mike Lipsitz, Director
Marina West, Treasurer Ruth Rieman, Director
Sarah Kennington, Past President
EBlast September 20, 2019
Join us on Saturday morning, September 28, for MBCA's Fall Desert-Wise Living Program. We are pleased to have the General Manager of the Mojave Water Agency, Tom McCarthy, delivering the keynote "Water for the Morongo Basin - the Next 50 Years."
A sampling of breakfast treats from Boo's Organic Oven in Joshua Tree will be offered during the opening reception from 9-9:30 AM. The program will begin at 9:30 and conclude by 11 AM.
As September 28 is National Public Lands Day, we will celebrate and salute the 25th Anniversary of the California Desert Protection Act as we concurrently celebrate MBCA's 50th Anniversary with historical documents and photos on display.
More details can be found in our Press Release about this event. We hope to see you there!
This lecture is part of MBCA’s Desert-Wise Living Series, and was made possible through the generous funding of the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency, Golden State Water Company, Hi-Desert Water District, Joshua Basin Water District, Mojave Water Agency, Southern California Edison, and Twentynine Palms Water Agency.