A delightful native wildflower for Morongo Basin is the Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia). Featuring pale purple daisy-like flowers, Mojave Aster blooms from March to May in our area. After flowering, it often dies back but will return the next year. It can also reseed and form new plants in your garden.
Several MBCA Directors were involved in creating and delivering a presentation to the San Bernardino County Planning Commission on behalf of the Third District Dark Skies Committee on May 27, 2021. This YouTube link contains the Committee's presentation, including some Q&A with the Commissioners. The entire Light Trespass Ordinance Workshop can be viewed here. At 1:27 in this full video, a presentation with an opposing viewpoint is presented by Ted Stimpfel of Newberry Springs. At 1:56 public comments from the Joshua Tree Government Center begin.
The Net Metering bill AB 1139 that would reduce benefits for home solar failed to pass a June 2 California Assembly vote. MBCA joined many organizations in March to oppose the bill. Several renewable energy industry news groups have provided information and commentary on the bill and the vote, including PV Tech, Solar Power World, and PV Magazine. While it is "off the table" for now, the bill could be reintroduced in January 2022.
Yucca Valley High School graduate Kahlena Alcantar has been awarded the 2021-22 Ruth Denison Conservation and Environmental Scholarship from MBCA. Kahlena will be studying Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has volunteered locally with the Mojave Desert Land Trust and the Wildlands Conservancy and is pictured here with MBCA President Steve Bardwell. We wish Kahlena the best as she pursues her education and career goals!
MBCA’s May 16 letter to Assemblymember James Ramos encourages his efforts to pass legislation that would establish a California Desert Conservancy within the state’s Wildlife Conservation Board. (See our January 13 News post for additional background.) Ramos introduced AB 1183 in mid-February and the bill is working through the committee review process.
MBCA's long-time Board member and science educator Pat Flanagan is part of a team of conservation advocates who have created detailed Science Briefs about carbon sequestration and biodiversity in the California desert. They will be used to educate lawmakers and state agency officials working on climate change and land use issues. Other writing team members were representatives of the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and Mojave Desert Land Trust.
County Mining Ordinance Revision Hearing Continued to October
The San Bernardino County Supervisors meeting on August 18 drew a large number of commenters on item 76: "Conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed ordinance to repeal and reenact local surface mining and land reclamation regulations." Commenters expressed strong concerns that through the proposed changes, the County was handing over environmental review to the recently greatly weakened federal environmental review process. After the comment period, Chair Dawn Rowe...
2025 Western Joshua Tree Legislative Report Published
This annual report required by the legislature is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). It covers the Western Joshua Tree issue from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The legislative report includes an update on CDFW’s role in the implementation of the Western Joshua Tree Conservaiton Act, information on permits issued, fees collected, conservation implemented, and more. Here is the report and you can find more...
MBCA Joins Qualified Support for AB 53 Tribal Lands Bill
MBCA was among seven organizations sending a qualified statement of support for AB 53, a bill intending to provide a pathway for the transfer of public lands in California to original tribal stewardship for conservation purposes. The letter requests that the bill be reintroduced in the next legislative session to provide time to elaborate and clarify the complex conditions of land transfer for best possible outcomes. There is little time...
With a focus on health concerns in addition to support for other commenters' concerns with tourism, MBCA sent a comment letter opposing the Supervisors' August 18 impending vote to approve a recommendation that would remove the county from the permitting of mining operations with federal approval. Federal environmental guidelines have been changed to reduce effective review. The specific concern addressed is fine particles of the radioactive element Thorium unearthed in...
Development in the Morongo Basin
ATTEND the Appeal of Mercury Dry Camp Project on August 4
Renewable Energy in San Bernardino County
Federal Attacks on Environmental Protections
Attacks on California Environmental Quality Act
Good News! Balcony Solar Advances in California
Climate Stewards at University of California Riverside Palm Desert
Voluteer to support MBCA in our Adopt-a-Highway
The Initial Study for this proposal to create twelve 5-acre Rural Living-zoned lots in the Pioneertown area contains many conflicts with the County Wide Plan that are outlined in MBCA’s comment letter to Land Use Services. MBCA objects to the County's support of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project and urges a full Environmental Impact Report be completed. MBCA's comment letter and appendices describe a number of critical oversights...
MBCA has joined over 120 environmental, consumer, low-income, tenants’ rights, and clean energy organizations to support legislation that would address both energy insecurity and air pollution problems in California. The legislation introduced by Senator Wiener (SB 868) would allow Californians to install portable solar generation devices known as "balcony solar" without having to connect with public utilities (as is currently the law). These small plug-in units can provide enough electricity...
Click on the photo to enjoy MBCA's latest engaging video of a local residential landscape filled with desert native plant beauty and skillful water management.
Yucca Valley High School graduate Kahlena Alcantar has been awarded the 2021-22 