Conservation at Morongo Basin Conservation Association

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 · February 27, 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.

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

Supervisors Approve RCIS Resolution without Recommended Change

Posted on MBCA News by · September 25, 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.

National Forest Bottled Water Extraction Ordered to Cease

Posted on MBCA News by · September 20, 2023 2:09 PM · 1 reaction

While the name of the company draining water from the San Bernardino Forest has changed from Nestle to BlueTriton, an order from the State Water Resources Control Board requires an end to the extraction by November 1. There have been lawsuits and public campaigns on the issue since 2015, and MBCA reported on it in 2018. The Water Resources Board determined that the company does not have water rights on this land. Read the details in this LA Times article.

Mojave Desert Land Trust Seed Bank Highlighted

Posted on MBCA News by · August 25, 2023 2:40 PM · 1 reaction

The Associated Press produced a comprehensive story with many photos about the unique desert native seed bank at the Mojave Desert Land Trust in Joshua Tree. There is a growing need for such extraordinary measures considering the devastation of desert lands in the two major fires in recent years in the Mojave National Preserve, followed by flood damage this summer.

Recommendation for Carbon Sequestration in the California Desert

Posted on MBCA News by · August 22, 2023 10:54 AM · 1 reaction

With extensive research support, the Inland Deserts Working Group (IDWG) that is connected with the California Natural Resources 30x30 planning process has produced Nature Based Solutions - Desert Sector, a report to the state recommending "conserving 100% of undisturbed non-military public lands annually based on current levels, starting in 2024." Two MBCA Board members on the IDWG believe that this document is a definitive report proving the high value of the undisturbed desert in achieving California's climate change goals.

Regional Conservation Investment Strategy Recommendations Sent

Posted on MBCA News by · August 04, 2023 8:41 PM · 1 reaction

MBCA is among four regional conservation non-profits recommending together in this letter that the draft of the San Bernardino County Regional Conservation Investment Strategy be edited to meet statute requirements regarding quantifiable goals and gap analysis. In addition, MBCA along with Mojave Desert Land Trust, California Desert Coalition, and The Wildlands Conservancy suggest the use of the 2012 Morongo Basin Conservation Priorities Report to enrich the evaluative data for habitat value.

MBCA Joins Appeal to BLM to Stop Cadiz Water Project

Posted on MBCA News by · August 03, 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"

MBCA Joins Request for Wildlife Protection at Border Wall

MBCA Opposes Permit for Joshua Tree Motocross Park

Fall Planting Featured on Latest MBCA Desert-Wise Landscape Video

MBCA Leads Appeal of Sienna Solar Project in Lucerne Valley

MBCA Supports Alianza's Salton Sea Trail Network

Eblast: October 20, 2025

AB 98 - Transportation Issues for the Morongo Basin

MBCA Comments on Cactus Club Development in Joshua Tree

MBCA Opposes Recission of Federal Roadless Rule