Conservation at Morongo Basin Conservation Association

Media Reports Tensions around Giant Rock in Landers

Posted on MBCA News by · June 24, 2024 10:28 AM · 1 reaction

The iconic and unique history of Giant Rock brings visitors including ufologists, climbers, ragers, and spiritual seekers, sometimes to the disturbance of the site and its Landers neighbors. The LA Times reports on Giant Rock's unusual history as well as current tensions related to gentrification, short-term rental developments, site damages, and cleanup efforts.

MBCA President Bardwell Featured in Podcast on Dark Skies

Posted on MBCA News by · June 23, 2024 8:18 AM · 1 reaction

MBCA President Steve Bardwell shares the story of the years-long effort to improve San Bernardino County's regulations on lighting with 90 Miles from Needles podcast host Chris Clarke and local night sky photographer Mitch Miller. The episode was recorded during an art show with a night sky theme at MazAmar Art Pottery in Pioneertown. The 46-minute podcast is available here.

MBCA Joins Coalition Supporting Bi-Directional EV Requirement in California

Posted on MBCA News by · June 17, 2024 3:52 PM · 1 reaction

Joining with 113 state and national organizations, MBCA signed onto a letter in support of California's AB 59, a bill which would mandate that future electrical vehicles be bi-directional, providing a source of power to households when needed. As noted in our June 24 Eblast, "With the many recent setbacks to rooftop solar, this legislation would serve to encourage rooftop solar and micro-grid DG generation, while providing resilience to our increasingly stressed electrical grid."

Video Offers Current Update on Dark Sky Science

Posted on MBCA News by · June 07, 2024 4:04 PM · 1 reaction

This YouTube video from Dark Sky International features an excellent presentation about the state of the science of determining and reducing light pollution. The report compiles and provides easy access to thousands of recent research studies on dark sky issues. The presenter, John Barentine, is an astronomer who was an important source of assistance in early dark sky efforts right here in the Morongo Basin when he was a staff member at Dark Sky International. John also outlines 5 issues he believes are of growing concern, and for which research efforts are increasing.

The Water Flows Always - Native American Land Conservancy Video

Posted on MBCA News by · March 09, 2024 4:30 PM · 1 reaction

Tuhaymani'chi Pal Waniqa or The Water Flows Always is a video from the Native American Land Conservancy and the Wayfinders Circle highlighting tribal connections to water in the desert and documenting the Cadiz corporate water mining project in particular. A father-daughter family story is also portrayed.

MBCA Joins 21 Groups to Correct Inaccurate Desert Land Classification in California’s Climate Smart Strategy

Posted on MBCA News by · March 04, 2024 2:09 PM · 1 reaction

In a recent update to California’s Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, a group of 22 organizations including MBCA have replied to the state’s request for comment with serious concerns about how desert lands are inappropriately classified as “Sparsely Vegetated Lands.” This inaccurate classification greatly reduces the carbon sequestration and other critical values gained by conserving desert lands in the state’s response to climate change. Our February 27 letter clearly states and scientifically corroborates four arguments for separating deserts from the “sparsely vegetated” designation. The letter was written by the Inland Desert Working Group (IDWG), which has been “the voice of the desert” in the ongoing state activities seeking to protect and conserve 30% of California’s lands by 2030. The IDWG also recently authored the comprehensive report The California Desert’s Role in 30X30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity. The California Natural Resources Agency website also contains a great deal of background and links to videos about the Climate Smart Strategy.

Supervisors Approve RCIS Resolution without Recommended Change

Posted on MBCA News by · September 27, 2023 9:28 AM · 1 reaction

A resolution to support the Regional Conservation Investment Strategy was on the September 26 agenda of the San Bernardino County Supervisors. While MBCA joined other organizations in supporting the RCIS in an August 2023 comment letter, one of the provisions in the Supervisors’ resolution negated much of the value of the plan. Comments from MBCA and the SummerTree Institute, among others, requested deletion of Provision 7, which would disastrously limit the types of vegetation to be conserved. The comments emphasized the importance of preserving the desert’s ability to sequester carbon, provide essential biodiversity, and enable the future translocation of the endangered Western Joshua trees. The resolution was approved by the Supervisors unanimously without change.

Chuckwalla National Monument Effort Launched

Posted on MBCA News by · September 26, 2023 10:32 AM · 1 reaction

MBCA was well-represented at the launch of the campaign to designate Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park. At the event held at the 29 Palms Spotlight Casino in Indio, Representative Raul Ruiz announced he will sponsor a bill for creation of this monument and will encourage the use of the Antiquities Act by President Biden should passage of a bill not be possible. (Ruiz is pictured with MBCA Board member Pat Flanagan.) Expanding Joshua Tree National Park will also part of the bill. Tribal leaders, government leaders, community leaders, and many non-profit conservation group representatives attended.

Letter: Supervisors Approve RCIS Resolution without Recommended Change

Posted on MBCA Takes a Stand by · September 25, 2023 8:40 PM · 1 reaction

MBCA Joins Appeal to BLM to Stop Cadiz Water Project

Posted on MBCA News by · August 25, 2023 3:28 PM · 2 reactions

Once again MBCA and many other concerned organizations have made an appeal to prevent the export of precious desert water by Cadiz, Inc. They have again requested permission from the Bureau of Land Management for right-of-way access to an existing pipeline. The letter signed by MBCA and 45 other groups summarizes the harm that would be caused and notes a previous denial of permission that had been granted under the Trump administration and requests another denial. (You can read a number of prior MBCA News posts about Cadiz by using our SEARCH function.)

Pages tagged "Conservation"

New Joshua Tree Research Uses iNaturalist Data

MBCA Joins Appeal against Weakening California Environmental Protections

Video Examines Aratina Solar Project Approval and Joshua Tree Destruction

MBCA Questions Joshua Tree Housing Development Proposal

Morongo Basin County Code Enforcement Update

Desert View Conservation Area Highlighted

MBCA Joins Coalition Supporting Bi-Directional EV Requirement in California

MBCA Joins Group Comment on Jurupa Valley Warehouse and Ancient Oak

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Fever Disease Rising in Morongo Basin