Among the more than 700 people who attended the BLM public hearing on the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument in Indio on June 14 were a number of MBCA Board members. Dozens of public comments were made to the BLM, emphasizing the many environmental, cultural, and climate change advantages to conserving about 627,000 acres of desert land in southeast California. The Bird Singers of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians performed, and Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Jane Rodgers received enthusiastic applause! A detailed report on the meeting can be found at the Protect Chuckwalla website.

Pictured below are MBCA Board member Pat Flanagan, Steve Bardwell, and Sarah Kennington; Pat and Sarah with Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Executive Director Kevin Wong; and the Bird Singers performance.