From the weekly newsletter The Revelator, published by the Center for Biological Diversity, here is a list of recent news stories focused on the negative effects of light pollution. 

• Young Clownfish Likely to Die Faster When Exposed to Artificial Light, Study Finds
• Noise and Light Pollution Changes Which Species of Birds Visit Our Backyards
• Fireflies Need Dark Nights for Their Summer Light Shows – Here’s How You Can Help
• Turning Off Half of City Lights at Night Could Cut Bird Mortality By Up to 60 Percent
• Dark Sky Havens: Where Can I Find One?
• Orbital Debris Creates a New Problem: Light Pollution

A workhorse of a shrub for Morongo Basin gardens is the native Sugar Bush (Rhus ovata). Use this plant as a windbreak, for hedging or by itself as a specimen plant. It enjoys full sun and plenty of space to spread out. 

A recently-published research project by UC Irvine scientists reviewed 34 years of satellite data to analyze vegetation changes in the Sonoran Desert and nearby southern California mountains. They found a "widespread decline in perennial vegetation cover," that is, a significant reduction in even the hardiest desert plants. Researcher Stijn Hantson commented that "They're (desert plants) already so badly beaten by drought or heat that they're at the brink of existence." Read more in the Desert Sun article or view the research study, which includes a "Plain Language Summary." 

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved an urgency ordinance at their June 22 meeting that significantly increases fines for illegally-operating short term rentals in unincorporated areas. The rural residential lifestyle in a healthy desert environment that MBCA works to preserve has been negatively affected by the proliferation of short-term rentals in the Morongo Basin. One problem is poorly managed or illegal properties with problematic guests and another is the greatly reduced availability of reasonable long-term rental housing for local residents. Articles in the Hi Desert Star and Desert Sun and KCDZ 107.7's report interview local hosts and residents and explore the problems and status of this issue.

The Special Districts Department of San Bernardino County is applying for a grant to install electric vehicle charging stations at the Joshua Tree Community Center. MBCA has submitted an enthusiastic letter of support for the project to Frank Haggard, Recreation Supervisor of the Special Districts, based in Joshua Tree. 

The deadline for comments in support of the revised Light Trespass Ordinance for San Bernardino County is Friday, June 18. Send them to: [email protected]

We have revised our recent News item on this subject with new video footage. The presentation video (one hour) now includes post-presentation interaction of our presenters with the Commissioners, and we now have the full video of the meeting including timestamps for public comment via video from the Joshua Tree Government Center and for an oppositional presentation by a Newberry Springs resident. All these links and information are here.