by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on July 22, 2024
Among its many programs to create and build community among veterans, service members, and civilians,
Mil-Tree has a program teaching how to create vegetable gardens in the desert, with group instruction and activities twice a week. The demonstration garden is based at the
Joshua Tree Retreat Center. This
video highlights the development of the gardens.
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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on July 12, 2024
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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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on July 12, 2024
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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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on July 11, 2024
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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on July 09, 2024
The “Rocket”/76 gas station
in Joshua Tree and the Chevron station
in Twentynine Palms have both appeared for the first time on a list of “Green Mojave Gas Stations,” a program of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District. The designation requires that “pollution prevention and reduction techniques are successfully employed as part of routine operating procedures.” There are 24 Mojave Desert gas stations currently meeting the requirements.
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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on June 27, 2024
The expected destruction of thousands of Joshua trees for the Aratina Solar Project in Boron and the subsequent social media outrage has triggered a number of media stories. Riverside Press-Enterprise columnist and well-known desert writer Ruth Nolan published a column "
Honoring the Joshua trees of the Mojave Desert town of Boron." A Los Angeles Times story focuses on "
rescue plans" for the trees.
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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on June 26, 2024

Loving Joshua Tree, an episode of
Earth Focus that debuted in April on PBS SoCal, examines many of the issues MBCA regularly follows. The approximately half-hour video focuses on
Joshua Tree National Park and its growing popularity and visitation due to social media; the desert's biodiversity and wildlife; the
Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act; and issues of short-term rentals and local housing needs. Interviewees include many folks well-known to MBCA supporters, including Chris Clarke (
Desert Advocacy Media Network), Frazier Haney (
The Wildlands Conservancy), and Park Superintendent Jane Rodgers. Additional perspectives come from Laura Crane (
Nature Conservancy); Alicia Pike (Chris Clarke's former partner on the 90 Miles from Needles podcast); Glen
Steigelman & Steve Halterman, proprietors of
The Station in Joshua Tree; local journalist and STR owner
Hilary Sloane; and
Crossroads Cafe restaurant employee Tiffany Hopkins. MBCA is mentioned in Chris Clarke's comments about our impact on the development of
AutoCamp starting at timestamp 20:42.
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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on June 24, 2024
MBCA was among 14 Inland Empire non-profit groups supporting a
comment letter concerned with the
Rio Vista Specific Plan for the Riverside County City of Jurupa. The Plan includes a warehouse and other industrial development that, in addition to air quality, water, and urban heat impacts, would endanger the over 13,000 year old Jurupa oak, among the oldest living things on the planet. The letter contains extensive analysis of problems with the plan and offers two alternatives. Read this
Los Angeles Times article for more background.
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by Stephen Bardwell
341sc
on June 24, 2024
- Aratina Solar poised to kill 4,000 Joshua Trees
- Support Renewable Energy Legislation SB-59
Read more
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by Laraine Turk
1401sc
on June 24, 2024
Senate Joint Resolution 16 in support of Chuckwalla National Monument successfully passed a floor vote in the California State Senate and now moves to the Assembly for a final vote this summer. MBCA has strongly supported the establishment of the Monument. This measure would urge the President to use the Antiquities Act of 1906 to establish the Chuckwalla National Monument, and to establish a National Park Service managed Joshua Tree National Monument adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park.
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