ORV tension highlighted in USA Today

The tensions between off-roader riders and homeowners is the focus of a new article in USA Today.

The ground-breaking efforts of Morongo Basin COW (Community ORV Watch) are highlighted:

In Southern California, property owners and others frustrated by illegal off-road vehicle use created Community ORV Watch, and the San Bernardino County chapter was among the voices calling for government action.

In 2006, San Bernardino County adopted an ordinance that requires off-road-vehicle riders on private property to have written permission from owners. The most controversial provision requires people planning a gathering of 10 or more riders to get a permit from the county for $155.

From January through October this year, the county issued 554 warnings and 209 citations, the vast majority for riding on private property without permission, says Randy Rogers, chief of code enforcement. Last year, the county issued 356 warnings and 133 citations, he says.

Despite enforcement and an aggressive education campaign, there's still tension. "We've found two-by-fours with nails driven in them" in the ground, Rogers says.

To find out more about ORV issues in the Basin and about COW, go to www.orvwatch.com.


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On Community ORV Watch and on the Off-Road Vehicle page of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Off-Road Vehicles.

Open Space and Economic Development

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group has posted a summary of their Dec. 16 meeting, which focused on "The Role of Open Space in Economic Development."

Green Path North opposition gaining steam

On the Green Path North front, the California Desert Coalition has been joined by a new ally: the just-formed Coachella Valley Coalition based in Desert Hot Springs.

And in other GPN news, Southern California Edison has made an offer that "bolsters the position of Green Path opponents," according to the Press-Enterprise.

Southern California Edison is offering an alternative to the Green Path North power line project that Los Angeles wants to build across San Bernardino County deserts and foothills.

Edison could add enough capacity on its power lines along Interstate 10 to carry electricity to Los Angeles from geothermal, wind and solar power projects planned in the desert, said Sandi Blain, manager of the transmission project licenses for Edison, an investor-owned utility.

However, officials with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power say they are not interested.

Any agreement with Edison would involve paying to use the power lines and could be suspended or terminated, leaving too much uncertainty for some 5 million Los Angeles-area customers, said David Nahai, DWP general manager.

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

Wonder Valley mobilizes in response to Base expansion plans

Wonder Valley is beginning to mobilize in the face of MCAGCC expansion plans. Per the Desert Trail:

Citizens concerned about expansion plans of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center will meet to explore the issues and consider options from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 at Wonder Valley Community Church, 82575 Amboy Road at Kuhn’s Road. It is the intention to organize a committee to address the expansion and its potential impacts on east Basin communities. Anyone interested in taking part is invited. For more information, call 367-7608.

The Combat Center has begun the environmental study process for the expansion, where it will compare possible combinations and alternatives to meet its expansion objectives. The study areas include over 300,000 acres of federal land and more than 70,000 acres of private lands, including to the west, south, and east of the current base boundaries. In Wonder Valley, the potential expansion lands include everything north of Poleline Road.The eastern study area extends all the way east to the Old Woman Mountains and north up to National Trails Highway, including Amboy Road, Amboy Crater, Bristol Dry Lake and several mining and farming enterprises.

The National Wilderness Areas are not included in the study zones.

“There are many questions to be answered,”said Chris Carraher, a Wonder Valley resident and one of the organizers of the meeting. “The people in Wonder Valley could be severely impacted by the expansion plans.”

An on-line discussion group about the Base expansion can be found here.

MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley, Twentynine Palms.

Yucca Valley hillside reserve in peril

There is going to be a special Yucca Valley Town Council Meeting on December 17 regarding a General Plan Amendment to rezone a Hillside Reserve to subdivide into four lots instead of one house per 20 acres.

Residents are concerned this could be a starting point to set precedence for further development of the town's remaining hillside reserves. Hillsides buffer lands and ecological linkages. Also, the proposed lot #4 is situated at the base of an alluvial fan.

This project is at the most southern end of Valley Vista at Onaga, where there have been big problems with water runoff.

More information when we have it.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: See Grading/Clear-Cutting and Land Use/Development pages on MBCA Website. Additional posts: Yucca Valley, Grading/Clear-Cutting.

Take action on Green Path and energy in the desert

Action notice from California Desert Coalition:

Take Action Now
4 Minutes From Now You Can Have Sent Important Letters
to STOP Green Path North

In the next few minutes you can help STOP Green Path North by sending the following new letters directly from our website.

Send a Letter - Effect Renewable Energy Policy in the New Administration -- go to http://www.cadesertco.org/effectrep.php

As part of transition planning for the new administration, President-elect Obama has formed an Energy and Environment Policy Team, who is seeking suggestions on what the new administration should do on this important issue.The new administration is committed to moving forward on renewable energy development, a goal that CDC supports if done in a truly green way. However, with big energy corporations pushing to destroy millions of acres of California Desert, as well as desert communities, with their utility-scale energy projects and unnecessary transmission lines, it is important that our voices be heard. We believe you will find our letter informative. It describes a better way to develop renewable energy while leaving our communities intact and preserving pristine desert for future generations to enjoy.

Send a Letter - Support Proposal to Protect California Desert -- go to http://www.cadesertco.org/supportproposal.php

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, which is threatened by Green Path North transmission lines and a new energy corridor, is one of the areas included in a proposal initiated by the California Wilderness Coalition. The proposal recommends designating much of this preserve as a wilderness area and further recommends that Big Morongo Canyon Preserve be added to Joshua Tree National Park. These additional protections would make it much more difficult to get approval for an inappropriate Green Path North transmission line and energy corridor through Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. This proposal is supported by the Friends of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, who see these added protections as a way to ensure necessary protection for the preserve. Other sensitive areas of the California Desert threatened by utility-scale energy projects are also included in the proposal. Please add your voice to the support for this proposal.

Thank you for your continuing support.

CALIFORNIA DESERT COALITION
www.cadesertco.org

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North, Morongo Valley.

Coverage of Marine expansion scoping meetings

Last week's scoping meetings for the Marine Base expansion proposal is covered in the Desert Trail as well as the Press-Enterprise. The P-E covered the Victorville meeting:

Off-roading enthusiasts and military officials appeared to be on a collision course Thursday at a meeting hosted by the Marine Corps, which plans a major expansion of its training center at Twentynine Palms.

The Marines shared five expansion scenarios for enlarging the center, but the one that works best for maneuvers and live-fire training takes in all or part of the Johnson Valley, a 189,000-acre mecca for off-roaders in the San Bernardino County desert southeast of Barstow.

The revelation didn't go over well with many of the 167 people, most of them off-roaders, who attended the meeting in a hotel conference room.

[snip]

Officials determined the Johnson Valley is best for live-fire exercises and maneuvering because it provides a natural extension of training corridors on the base, [Lt. Col. James] McArthur said.

The "open house" format of the meeting was controversial. Again per the P-E:

Meeting participants were asked to make their comments in writing at several tables or to speak to a court reporter, who would create a transcript.

Marie Brashear, a rock collector from Lucerne Valley, said the comment format was self-serving for the military.

"The only purpose is to defuse and disarm people who may be opposed to the expansion," she said.

Helen Baker, director of the Partnership for Johnson Valley, said she liked the format because it prevents a few vocal people from taking over.

MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley, Twentynine Palms.

Open Space Group meeting next Tuesday

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group is meeting next Tuesday, December 16th, from 1 pm to 3pm at the Yucca Valley Community Center, Yucca Room.

The program topic is “The Role of Open Space in Economic Development.”

You can view the Agenda at the MBOSG Website.

How to use this blog

New to blogs? It's easier than you may think. Here's a guide to using the MBCA blog.

This blog follows a standard format. Posts are in descending chronological order, meaning the newest post is at the top, and as you scroll down you will find older and older posts. You can keep up on the news by scanning the first several posts every day or each week.

The posts are also ordered by Category. If you're interested in a specific topic you can find all the posts connected with that topic collected together under a Category label. You'll find the Category labels for each post listed at the bottom of the post.

You'll also find a list of the Categories in the sidebar. If you're interested in, say, Twentynine Palms, look in the sidebar at the Category list and click on "Twentynine Palms." That will bring up all the posts that have been labeled "Twentynine Palms."

Want to get the news without coming to this site? You can subscribe to an Atom feed that allows you to automatically receive our posts in a Reader. Learn more here.

In the sidebar are also lists of Organizations that might interest our viewers. There is a Blogroll, as well, with links to other blogs.

Finally, at the top of the sidebar you'll find links to the MBCA Website, including to our Calendar and our Home, Meeting, Join, and Contact pages. And if you want to cut right to the chase, click on the Alerts! link for the latest important action that needs your attention.

Special note: We have many links on our blog to articles in the Hi-Desert Star. In December 2008 the Star began charging for access to archived articles. We will be adjusting our approach to referencing Star articles in the future and apologize for any inconvenience this causes readers of our past posts.

We hope you enjoy the MBCA blog. Please feel free to send us items you'd like us to consider posting. Thanks!

MBCA meets Thursday, December 11

The next regular board meeting of the Morongo Basin Conservation Association is December 11, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. at PFF Bank & Trust in Yucca Valley.

Please join us and add your voice and experience.

Visualizing the energy impact

Coyote Crossing has a nice post summarizing the size of the impact on the Mojave should the numerous solar and wind proposals now before the BLM come to pass. Most useful is the BLM map showing the location of proposed projects.

Note the overlap of energy projects in some places with the study areas proposed for the Marine Base expansion. At this week's Base expansion scoping meeting, it was clarified that the "segregation" enacted by the Marine Corps has preempted those projects. The Base will get "first dibs", even though those energy proposals had already been submitted.


MORE INFO ON THESE TOPICS: On the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts: Energy, Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley, Twentynine Palms.

Energy update

The desert as Ground Zero for the alternative energy future of America continues to take shape.

The Joshua Tree-based Alliance for Responsible Energy Policy have issued their latest newsletter.

And centered up in Antelope Valley, a High Desert Region Green Jobs Initiative is forming. Their goal, per their Website, is to "bring green industries to the high desert region with the purpose of growing our economy and using green jobs to create positive pathways for youth and unemployed adults. The Initiative will be achieved through public/private partnerships and guided by a collaboration of the private sector, government, community-based organizations, labor, educational institutions, youth, and unemployed adults."


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts: Energy.

Watch out for your waste

In an article on catching illegal dumpers with hidden cameras, the Hi-Desert Star outlines some of the realities of dealing with desert waste.

A typical first-offense penalty to a guilty dumper is $330 to cover criminal and civil penalties. Fines can range up to $10,000 and six months in county jail for a third conviction. If perpetrators take code enforcement’s advice and clean up their trash, that fact is noted to the judge, but the criminals aren’t off the hook for their illegal act.

There is a potential financial incentive associated with identifying a dumper. Successful prosecutions can net a tipper up to a $1,000 reward.

[snip]

Disposers of green waste like tree limbs or other organic material are put on notice that code enforcement makes no distinction between yard waste, furniture, appliances, building material,
hazardous waste and whatever else gets tossed. “A dump site is still a dump site,” [code enforcement officer] Romage stated simply.

So what should desert dwellers do with their waste?

A tip for people who hire contractors for yard clean-up or renovation work that requires refuse removal: Agree to make payment after the contractor produces a receipt verifying the load was delivered to the dump that day.

Regarding used tires, the ideal situation is for responsible residents to accept the responsibility for the $5 per tire disposal fee (no rims.) Failing the ability (or desire) to pony up the fee, the county operates a drop-off location for used tires at the Copper Mountain Community Center from 8 a.m. to noon the first and second Saturday of each month or by appointment. The service is for residential, not business disposal. The site has taken in 20,000 tires so far this year.

Report illegal dumping to Code Enforcement.


FOR MORE INFO ON THIS ISSUE: See the Waste page on the MBCA Website.

Marine Base expansion: New discussion group

Dear desert neighbors,

As you may know, the Twentynine Palms Marine Base (MCAGCC) is planning to expand. The expansion could involve as many as 400,000 acres, including private as well as federal lands. Areas under consideration include lands to the west, east, and south of present MCAGCC boundaries. There could be many potential effects on Morongo Basin residents.

As part of the environmental review process (NEPA), there will be public Scoping meetings this coming week, including December 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Twentynine Junior High School, Hay's Gym, 5798 Utah Trail.

Because this is such a large and complex issue, involving many stakeholders and agendas, a new Google Group has been formed for local residents to inform one another on the issues. You are invited to join the Group and add to the discussion (see instructions below). There is no cost, and members can easily set when or if they want to receive email updates or just visit the site at their leisure. Also, anyone may simply view the Group posts and pages without joining.

Group Home page: http://groups.google.com/group/desertneighbors.

To join: From home page click on "Join this group" in the Sidebar. If you do not yet have a Google account you will be directed how to join.

To view more information on the expansion plans, including links and maps, as well as how to participate in the Scoping process, go to the Group Home page and click on "Pages" in the Sidebar.

I sincerely hope you will consider joining the Google Group, so that we may all learn from one another in the face of this major impact on the Morongo Basin.

Best wishes,

Chris Carraher
Communications Director
Morongo Basin Conservation Association


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley, Twentynine Palms.

Mojave Max down for the count

It ain't easy being slow.

The threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizzi), which had thrived for more than three million years and is the California State Reptile, is on the ropes, battered by incursions into its ancient habitat and a respiratory disease connected to human contact. Now, a translocation program at Fort Irwin, moving long-established tortoise populations out of newly designated combat training grounds and onto other public lands, has encountered grave morbidity as at least 15% of the tortoises have already died after just a few months. The military has suspended the relocation program for now.

Coyote predation at an unusually high rate has been blamed.

Biologists theorize the problem may be connected to severe drought conditions, which have killed off plants and triggered a crash in rodent populations. As a result, coyotes, which normally thrive on kangaroo rats and rabbits, are turning to tortoises for sustenance.They also point out that translocated tortoises tend to wander, sometimes for miles, making them lumbering targets for hungry predators.

Gashes and tooth marks in the shell of one translocated tortoise discovered in April by federal biologists indicated that it had been ripped out of the front of its carapace.

Other threats include vehicle traffic and an infectious respiratory disease. The disease was prevalent in the relocation area, and now the newcomers are catching it. - Los Angeles Times

Translocation is a highly controversial mitigation practice that has been rejected on previous occasions. Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a prepared statement quoted in the Times: "We predicted that the translocation of tortoises from Ft. Irwin's expansion would be disastrous and, unfortunately, we were proven right....This whole debacle needs to be significantly rethought. The loss of so many tortoises is certainly not helping this threatened population."

Two environmental groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and Desert Survivors, sued the Army and the Bureau of Land Management in July, contending that the move exposed healthy tortoises to diseased animals and placed them in a poorer-quality habitat.

Ileene Anderson...said...that the relocated tortoises are more vulnerable to coyotes and other predators because, once they are dropped off, they try to return to their homes. Under normal circumstances, they would seek refuge in their burrows, she said.

"It makes them more visible on the landscape, and it makes it easier for coyotes and other predators to spot them and kill them," Anderson said. - Press-Enterprise

Read more in the Press-Enterprise and the Los Angeles Times.

PE.com columnist Cassie McDuff reviews these issues and questions the potential of more "unintended consequences" in a military expansion closer to home:

Now the tortoises face another threat. The Marine Corps wants to expand the Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center onto an off-road recreation area. If displaced off-roaders push the government to open desert land now closed to off-roading, more tortoise habitat could be lost.

If that happens, creatures that coexist with them including burrowing owls could be lost, too. That must not happen.

Efforts to educate a new generation about the tortoise and its desert world continue, however, in the selection of a new "Mojave Max." Per the Las Vegas Sun:

A 10-pound successor to the Mojave Max legacy at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area has been selected to carry on educating people about their role and responsibility in the health of the Mojave Desert.

[snip]

On June 30, the first Mojave Max died of natural causes at an estimated age of 65 years old at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

The Mojave Max Emergence Contest encourages students to study the conditions of the Mojave Desert and the behaviors of desert species and then predict when the live Mojave Max will emerge from his burrow each spring. The original Mojave Max emerged as early as Feb. 14 and as late as April 14 during his nine-year tenure.

FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: See the Desert Tortoise and Education pages on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Wildlife, Marine Base.

Commercial zoning for Pioneertown

According to the Hi-Desert Star, the County of San Bernardino is moving to change Pioneertown's downtown zoning "from residential to commercial to allow more businesses to locate in this former Western-movie backdrop."

Dave Dawson, a senior planner with San Bernardino County’s Land Use Services Department, said county staff is working on the process to change the land designation from special development residential to special development commercial.

It will affect 30 acres bounded by Rawhide Road on the north, Curtis Road on the east, Tom Mix Road on the west and Pioneertown Road on the south.

The zoning change would have to be approved by the planning commission in a meeting that probably won’t happen until February 2009 or later, Dawson said.

The zoning change was requested last year while the county was updating its General Plan, he said.

Some residents are apprehensive about the move and are drafting a petition of opposition. Read more here.


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website.

Renewable energy subject of Executive Order, will impact local area

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an Executive Order to streamline California's renewable energy project approval process and increase the state's Renewable Energy Standard to 33 percent renewable power by 2020, according to a State press release.

"I am proposing we set the most aggressive target in the nation for renewable energy-33 percent by the year 2020-that's a third of our energy from sources like solar, wind and geothermal," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "But we won't meet that goal doing business as usual, where environmental regulations are holding up environmental progress in some cases. This executive order will clear the red tape for renewable projects and streamline the permitting and siting of new plants and transmission lines. With this investment in renewable energy projects, California has a bright energy future ahead that will help us fight climate change while driving our state's green economy."

[snip]

In addition to the EO announced today, the [California Energy Commission], [Department of Fish and Game], U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a coordinated approach with our federal partners in the expedited permitting process. This coordinated approach will significantly reduce the time and expense for developing renewable energy on federally-owned California land, including the priority Mojave and Colorado Desert regions.

According to a related article in The Desert Sun, Twentynine Palms has been identified as a key area for California's wind and solar development in the newly released draft plan of the Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative.

Imagine a sea of glass lining the 60-mile stretch of Interstate 10 from the edge of Joshua Tree National Park to Blythe.

That's what's being envisioned in a statewide renewable energy plan that identifies sections of Palm Springs, Twentynine Palms and eastern Riverside County as key for California's solar and wind development.

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts: Energy.

CDC reports on progress in battle to stop Green Path North

The California Desert Coalition recently held a community meeting in Yucca Valley to report on progress in the fight against Green Path North. For summaries, see articles in the Hi-Desert Star and the Desert Sun.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

Poste Homestead dedication November 22

MBCA invites you to join us in beautiful Wonder Valley on November 22!

Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area: local groups and the BLM collaborate to protect a special place

(Wonder Valley, California) -- A coalition of community groups have joined with the Barstow Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect an invaluable historical and natural resource in Wonder Valley.

The Poste Homestead Historical and Natural Area contains the adobe ruins of a 1923 homestead occupied by local historical figures David and Anna Poste, owners and operators of the Virginia Dale Mine. In 1952, a commercial hog ranch was built at the site and the area became known as "The Pig Farm." The expanse of sand dunes are home to a variety of desert creatures and is famous for its magnificent displays of wildflowers in the spring.

"The Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office is looking forward to the posting of the interpretive signs at the Post Homestead on November 22nd. This area is of historical importance to many in the 29 Palms and Wonder Valley area. I would like to thank our partners the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Morongo Basin Conservation Association, 29 Palms Historical Society and Community ORV Watch for their work in this endeavor. The Bureau of Land Management places great importance on creating partnerships," said Jim Shearer, Bureau of Land Management
Archaeologist.

A press conference will be held at the site at noon on Saturday, November 22nd and will feature speakers from the BLM and the coalition of organizations formed to protect the area. Speakers include: James Shearer, Archeologist, Bureau of Land Management; Al Gartner from the 29 Palms Historical Society; David Fick from the Morongo Basin Conservation Association; Nancy Karl from the Mojave Desert Land Trust; and, Phil Klasky from Community ORV Watch. Interpretive signs educating the public about the natural and historic features of the area will be unveiled at the press conference.

"The dedication of the Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area is an excellent example of the successful collaboration between federal land use management agencies and the community. This beautiful site is certainly a place worth protecting," said Nancy Karl of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and stewardship of natural areas in the Mojave Desert.

The Poste Homestead site currently suffers from dumping, vandalism and illegal off-road vehicle damage to both the historic ruins and the surrounding vegetation. ORV riders continue to remove signs closing illegal routes and breach barriers placed to protect the sand dunes. Stewardship of the site by the Mojave Desert Land Trust and the community will help ensure its continuing protection, and increased patrol by local and federal law enforcement will help save this invaluable public resource for generations to come.

"We applaud the BLM for their support in establishing this historic and natural resource. Poste Homestead has become an illegal ORV open area with a spider's web of illegal routes through fragile sand dunes. Riders have even damaged the adobe ruins, an invaluable historic resource that should be preserved for everyone," said Phil Klasky from Community ORV Watch, a local group of residents and businesses working to stop ORV abuse of private and public lands.

The Poste Homestead has been selected by the Bureau of Land Management as the next site for a massive clean-up, closure of illegal routes and repair of off-road vehicle damage as part of the 2009 National Public Lands Day.

Driving Directions to the Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area:

From downtown Twentynine Palms (Hwy 62 and Adobe Road) drive 7 miles East on Hwy 62 to Godwin Road. Turn left on Godwin, drive 2 miles to Amboy Road. Turn Right on Amboy and continue for 5 miles to the Palms Bar & Restaurant (look for the buffalo on the sign). The last mile of travel to the Poste Homestead is on an unpaved road with loose sand, so drivers without four wheel drive capabilities are encouraged to park at the Palms and car pool to the site in four wheel drive vehicles.

From the Palms Bar & Restaurant, continue east 4.3 miles to Chadwick Road. The county may not have replaced the missing street sign, so watch for a yellow flag. You will pass Midway Road a mile before you reach Chadwick. Turn right on Chadwick Road (this is where the sand starts) and drive almost a mile to a smaller road branching to the right. Follow this road about 1/4 mile to the grove of trees.

HDWD wastewater plan open house

The Hi-Desert Water District is moving ahead with plans for a wastewater treatment plant and water reclamation facility and will host a community open house to share information on the project this Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Town Center Mall.

More information in the Hi-Desert Star.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Water and Waste pages of the MBCA Website. Related blog posts: Water, Yucca Valley, YV water/waste/sewage.

MBCA meets Thursday, November 13

The next regular board meeting of the Morongo Basin Conservation Association is November 13, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. at PFF Bank & Trust in Yucca Valley.

Please join us and add your voice and experience.

Yucca Mesa strikes back

The citizens of Yucca Mesa are responding to a preliminary annexation effort by the Town of Yucca Valley with a stiff campaign of opposition.

A preemptive strike is being mounted against the Town of Yucca Valley by the unincorporated community of Yucca Mesa. Reacting to the Town Council’s decision to file applications with the county Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to expand its sphere of influence, citizens of the Mesa are filing petitions to LAFCO in opposition.

The petition states: “We the landowners and voters of Yucca Mesa oppose the application for sphere of influence expansion by the Town of Yucca Valley. We urge the Local Agency Formation Commission for San Bernardino County to deny the Town of Yucca Valley’s application for sphere of influence expansion.”

"We don’t trust them,” contended Cliff Carlson, vice president of the Yucca Mesa Improvement Association. “We don’t want them to come over and assume jurisdiction over us. We want our government on the other side of the mountain.”

Read more in the Hi-Desert Star.

For more background and links on this issue, see this previous post.


MORE INFO ON THESE TOPICS: On the Land Use/Development, Communities, and Water pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Yucca Mesa, Water.

29 Palms moves forward with General Plan update

The City Council of Twentynine Palms has given "unanimous approval to move forward with a comprehensive update of the city’s General Plan."

[Hogle-Ireland consultant Nelson] Miller’s recommendations, which were later turned into a motion by Councilman Joel Klink, included directing city staff to initiate a comprehensive update of the General Plan, and requesting Hogle-Ireland to prepare for City Council consideration a proposal to update the plan and prepare an environmental impact report to address implementation and coordination of programs already engaged in by the city.

Referring to initial research conducted by City Manager Michael Tree, Miller said the cost of typical general plan updates throughout California have averaged $1.2 million.

Miller then indicated that the Twentynine Palms update would probably come in “somewhere under a million,” considering that “much of the work is already done,” including the forthcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and recent work by consultant Frank Spevecek and consulting firm RSG related to reviewing the vision and build-out population of the General Plan, identification of natural resources to be protected, and input from community workshops and a survey conducted in May 2008.

Read the rest in the Desert Trail.

To learn more about the General Plan process and how you may take part, see the How Planning Systems Work page on our Website, or visit A Citizen's Guide to Planning.


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Twentynine Palms.

Election results

For election results in the Morongo Basin, go to this page and scroll down to San Bernardino County Races.

ADDENDUM: For semi-official results in the local contests:

• Hi-Desert Star
• Desert Trail

Community Meeting: Green Path North

Community Meeting: Green Path North Transmission Line Project Update

On Thursday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m., the California Desert Coalition (CDC) will hold a public meeting at the Yucca Valley Community Center to provide updated information on the Green Path North transmission line project proposed by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP).

CDC Chair April Sall says, “ A lot has happened in the fight to stop the power lines since LADWP held a community workshop meeting in Yucca Valley on July 19. Community participation at that meeting significantly changed the conversation with LADWP going forward.”

Following an introductory video, CDC will discuss the current status of the project and the coalition’s successes to date in its efforts to stop LADWP from establishing its transmission lines through the communities and lands between Desert Hot Springs and Hesperia.

A key topic at the meeting will be the new 2- to 5-mile wide energy corridor that, according to Bureau of Land Management records, would be designated through the high desert in conjunction with the Green Path North Project. All future transmission line projects in the region, as well as all oil, water, and gas line projects, would be built in what would then be this approved corridor. This prospect alarms Ruth Rieman, CDC Vice Chair, who says, “It is unimaginable what even a 2-mile swath of energy projects would do to our desert communities and environmentally sensitive conservation lands.”

“What We Need To Do Next” will be another topic of discussion.

CDC sees the task of fighting an organization as powerful as the LADWP as large in scope and long in duration, but ultimately winnable with the continuing support of the communities and people who would be affected by the proposed transmission lines and new energy corridor.

Following the video and speaker presentation, a CDC panel will answer questions from the audience. Refreshments will be served.

WHO: California Desert Coalition
WHAT: Community Meeting: Green Path North Transmission Line Project Update
WHERE: Yucca Valley Community Center
57090 Twentynine Palms Highway
Yucca Valley, CA 92284
WHEN: Thursday, November 6, 7:00 p.m.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

Desert Protective Council awards Wilshire and Nielson

The venerable Desert Protective Council held their 54th Annual Membership Meeting and Desert Gathering on October 26 at the 29 Palms Inn. Among other activities, Awards of Merit were presented to Bill Powers and to keynote speakers Howard Wilshire and Jane Nielson.

Wilshire and Nielson's new book is The American West at Risk: Science, Myths, and Politics of Land Abuse and Recovery. These two distinguished scientists have a long history of research in the desert, and the DPC's DesertBlog reports on their address:

With dramatic slides showing a variety of types of destruction, the authors took the audience on a virtual tour of the ways we are degrading the environment, and how this destruction will affect our society’s future. The purpose of their book, they said, is to provide solid evidence to those concerned with these issues, and particularly those engaged in any particular environmental battle. The science behind these problems is clear, they said, as are the solutions, but cultural factors prevent these science-based solutions from being implemented.

The authors laid the causes of these problems at the door of our overly consumptive way of life, and the amount of waste that lifestyle generates. That includes not only excess CO2 that is now heating the planet, but a variety of other waste products from plastics to spent reactor fuel. In fact, our country’s largest product, they said, is waste. Other abuses include lack of protections for water quality, soil losses that threaten both agriculture and water quality, and excessive suburbanization fueled by ever-increasing house sizes (though our economy seems to have brought that kind of expansion to a halt for now!).

DesertBlog writes, "If this sounds like too much gloom and doom, links on the authors’ website point to organizations leading the way into a more sustainable, less consumptive future."

MBCA congratulates the Desert Protective Council on 54 years of success in defending the wild desert and their continuing important work.

CDC update, meeting Nov. 6

The California Desert Coalition, opponents of Green Path North, have issued the following update and confirmation of their next community meeting on Thursday, November 6, 7 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Community Center:

CDC Supporters,

With election day almost here, a CDC community meeting in the next week, and a video recently released of Los Angeles Radio KPFK interviewing CDC and David Nahai, we urge you to visit our website (cadesertco.org) for further information on these issues and event.

NO on Proposition 7
Proposition 7 would seriously impact CDC's ability to fight Green Path North transmission lines. The proposition is so poorly written that, ironically, both utility companies and environmental groups are opposing it. Proposition 7 would fast track utility-scale energy projects, overlooking the cumulative environmental impact, and would bolster the use of eminent domain, threatening homeowners. Proposition 7 is the wrong way to increase renewable energy in California.

CDC Community Meeting Nov. 6, 7:00 PM
A lot has been happening in the fight to stop Green Path North. The community response at LADWP's July community meeting in Yucca Valley has had a significant impact on LADWP. Join with CDC and its supporters at this public meeting and get the latest news on the continuing battle to protect our homes, our health, and our desert environment.

Video of LA Radio KPFK Interviewing CDC & David Nahai
On September 26, LA Radio KPFK's Sherry Beall interviewed CDC Chair April Sall, CDC Vice Chair Ruth Rieman, and LADWP General Manager David Nahai. CDC made a strong case against Green Path North, with April pointing out that Green Path North would be a 2- to 5-mile-wide energy corridor through the desert. Watch the station's video of the program.

Hope to see you Thursday (Nov. 6) at the community meeting in Yucca Valley.

California Desert Coalition
cadesertco.org

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

County postpones recommendation on Marine Base expansion

San Bernardino County Supervisors last week postponed discussion of a resolution by Sup. Brad Mitzelfelt (1st District) of a proposal that the Marine Base expand preferentially to the east, rather than the west, and "in support of maintaining the status of the BLM Johnson Valley Open Area and maintaining all current uses therein.”

The matter was "indefinitely postponed until a later meeting, as county officials would like to further examine the consequences of backing an eastern expansion plan," per the Lucerne Valley Leader as posted on The Guzzler.

“I have expressed my concern with expansion into the Johnson Valley open area. But the eastern expansion currently could very likely close Amboy Road, which is a very significant highway. That is very worrisome to me and I think we need to address that as well in our position. As a former Marine, I'm very familiar with the type of training they do there. They do need more space, but we do need to study the impact on our constituents,” Mitzelfelt said at Tuesday’s meeting.

David Zook, spokesman for Mitzelfelt said that the Supervisor still believes that an eastward move away from Johnson and Lucerne Valleys is the way to go, but the county as a whole has not decided on a position.

[snip]

"Johnson Valley is ... providing economic benefits to the surrounding communities and opportunities for off-highway vehicle enthusiasts and many others to enjoy recreation in the desert,” the recommendation said. “Additionally, Johnson Valley is a popular site for photography and filming of movies, commercials and other productions which generates additional economic benefits.”

As to the push to move east, the report goes on to say that they are “mostly unpopulated, are not heavily used for recreation, and have been used in the past for military training. They do not have surrounding communities as is the case in the Johnson Valley, and they would provided a viable alternative to the original proposal.”

Now, looking at possibly having to close Amboy Road, which leads to Interstate 40, officials are saying they need more time to secure their position.“

Obviously we need to study a little bit more,” Mitzelfelt concluded.

Read more analysis of the issue and the County's response here.

In further coverage of last week's public information meeting in Twentynine Palms on the expansion, the Press-Enterprise states that desert residents said they fear the Marines Corps plans will "take their homes, curtail their off-road recreation and destroy wildlife habitat."

The article quotes Wonder Valley artist Thom Merrick: "It's like living next to a giant that knows no end to its hunger."

[MBCA Boardmember] D-Anne Albers, who lives in Wonder Valley and works with Defenders of Wildlife environmental group, said the expansion area includes prime desert tortoise habitat north of Johnson Valley and bighorn sheep habitat east of the training center.

"The expansion could take territory the animals need at a time when desert wildlife habitat elsewhere is being claimed for solar and wind projects, Albers said."It would be very bad. The desert is just getting eaten up."

An earlier article in the Press-Enterprise quotes a study published this month by a North Carolina State University professor: "The military's contention that the training grounds are needed for national security isn't necessarily a slam-dunk justification."

"The government can no longer rely solely on the 'war on terrorism' and 'national security' as arguments to maintain a crisis situation where local people willingly sacrifice protection of their 'homeland,'" Kenneth Zagacki said in a university news release.

The study examined how the U.S. Navy abandoned plans this year to acquire more than 30,000 acres for a landing field in rural North Carolina -- land the Navy had been saying for five years was needed for national security, Zagacki said.

Residents there opposed the expansion and put the Navy in an "awkward position" by arguing that the landing field would destroy the very homeland the military was trying to protect, wrote Zagacki, a professor of rhetoric, in his study published in the Southern Communications Journal.

MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley, Twentynine Palms.

More opportunities to meet the candidates

The Desert Trail posts a question-and-answer with the candidates for the Twentynine Palms City Council in its last edition before next Tuesday's election.

As well, the Trail covers last week's forum for candidates for the Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees.

And a reminder: You can read the words of candidates for these and three additional local races in the MBCA 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum on our Website, answering questions on conservation issues as submitted by you, our members.

Not so scary after all...

Perhaps you've seen them striding across your property at sunset. It's tarantula mating season, and the shy but impressive creatures are particularly visible now, just in time for Halloween.

Journalist, naturalist, and MBCA boardmember Mark Wheeler writes not about tarantulas but rather the summertime "creepy crawlies" in an article in today's Hi-Desert Star. Learn more about living with black widows, recluse spiders, and scorpions, and the ways in which they are and are not dangerous:

Mountain lions have size, strength, teeth and claws to use for hunting and self defense. Spiders and scorpions, on the other hand, have venom and some means for getting it into something they want to eat — usually an insect or another arachnid — or into something they perceive as an attacker. Humans are, of course, injected by spiders and scorpions only in the latter case, and only if it appears to the little perceiver that it doesn’t have a flight option. After all, even though renewable, venom is a precious resource and is best conserved for hunting purposes.

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Wildlife page of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Wildlife.

Homestead Valley takes actions

According to Maryan Barkley's "The Hilltopper" column in the Oct. 25 print edition of the Hi-Desert Star, the Homestead Valley Community Council took action recently on three controversial items:

• They will welcome the developer of the Flamingo Heights Ranch proposal (243 homes) to build if he adheres to the Rural Living Plan adopted by San Bernardino County (view pdf), which means no more than one house per 2-1/2 acres.
• They "took a stand against the possible annexation of Yucca Mesa by the Town of Yucca Valley" and are gathering signatures to forward to LAFCO. (Read more about the annexation attempt and LAFCO in this post.)
• They "lined up against the requested rate increases by Bighorn-Desert View Water."

MORE INFO ON THESE TOPICS: On the Land Use/Development, Communities, and Water pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Yucca Mesa, Flamingo Heights, Homestead Valley, Water.

Base expansion study area includes private property in 29 and Wonder Valley

The Hi-Desert Star covers the Base expansion public information meeting held Oct. 23 in Twentynine Palms in this article.

“As this process goes on, it’s important to know what the stakeholders’ concerns are and as they look at proposed parcels, what they think the impacts will be,” [Lt. Col. James McArthur] said.

“It’s important for us to sit down at the table and answer people’s questions,” he added. “We’re eager to work with the community on this."

The project is still in the study stage as an environmental impact report is constructed. Formal public meetings for the EIS process will be held in December. McArthur expects the entire process will take at most two years.

The environmental report, which will identify several alternatives to expand the Marine base or abandon the project, will be given to the Secretary of the Interior.

Ultimately, the expansion will be approved or denied by the United States Congress and then signed by the president of the United States.

Of note, the map on view at the meeting made it clear that Twentynine Palms would be affected. The expansion study area in Wonder Valley and Twentynine Palms would include the entire area of land north of Poleline Road between the Cleghorn Lakes National Wilderness Area on the east and the current Base southern tip on the west, including private residences.

Larry Johnston drove from Upland to Thursday’s meeting because he and his family own property on land in the Wonder Valley area that falls within the expansion proposal.“I’m very concerned,” said Johnston.

“My dad homesteaded five acres up here probably 50 years ago.” Now, he said, Johnston, his siblings and their cousins all own homesteads on adjoining properties there. “We’ve been coming up here since we were kids.”

Read more about expansion plans, with links to maps, in this previous post.


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley.

Correction: No JBWD Forum on Saturday

Notice that we were given incorrect information and apparently there will NOT be a forum of the candidates for the Joshua Basin Water District board at Coyote Corner this Saturday as had been reported in the previous post.

Again, you may read the words of the candidates for JBWD on the MBCA 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum here.

More candidates forums

More opportunities this week to learn where the candidates stand:

• A Joshua Basin Water District Candidates Forum will to be held at the Coyote Corner stage on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m., sponsored by the Joshua Tree Highlands Owners Association. CORRECTION: APPARENTLY THIS INFORMATION WAS INCORRECT AND THERE WILL BE NO JBWD FORUM ON SATURDAY.
• Candidates for the Copper Mountain Community College board of trustees will appear at a forum sponsored by the Associated Students of Copper Mountain College at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27 in Room 11 at the Joshua Tree Campus on Rotary Way north of Twentynine Palms Highway. More coverage in the Desert Trail.
• All four official candidates for the Twentynine Palms City Council spoke at a breakfast meeting of the Twentyine Palms Kiwanis Club on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Read what they had to say in the Desert Trail.

As well, you can read the candidates' own words on conservation issues on the MBCA 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum.

Call the Governor on Sunrise Powerlink

Sunrise Powerlink can be seen as the San Diego Gas & Electric version of the LADWP's Green Path North - only Sunrise Powerlink threatens the wilderness of Anza Borrego Desert State Park instead of the backcountry of the Morongo Basin.

[SDG&E parent company] Sempra wants to run the Sunrise Powerlink through remote bighorn sheep habitat in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, bringing heavy construction equipment in to build towers and right-of-way roads and bringing latrines and noise and diesel exhaust into wilderness. It would be the first time wildland in California is removed from wilderness designation for a private industrial project. [Emphasis added.] It would be devastating to Anza Borrego’s bighorn, whose habitat in California’s part of the Sonoran Desert is already fragmented to hell and back.

The folks opposing Sunrise Powerlink have been leading the way on the fight for a rational energy policy that won't sacrifice rural and wild areas unnecessarily for the convenience of the urban areas. Now you can help by making a call to Gov. Schwarzenegger.

So why call Schwarzenegger today? Because the Final EIR for the Sunrise Powerlink is out, and SDG&E is mobilizing supporters to call the Governor’s office, and because Arnold has some historic campaign funding ties to Sempra that are complex enough to cause Federal Election Commission investigators to scratch their heads, so he may well be leaning in a pro-Sempra direction. The more people like us he hears from, the easier it will be for him to do the right thing.

Learn how to make that call, and more of the story and the power-math of Sunrise Powerlink, on Coyote Crossing. Green Path North may be next in line.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.

Thursday's Base expansion meeting time corrected

The expansion plans of the Marine Base are continuing with the announcement that over 400,000 acres of federal and non-federal land is being "segregated" for two years, including land in the Morongo Basin. The Bureau of Land Management and the Marine Corps will hold public information meetings this week in Twentynine Palms and Victorville to discuss the segregation/withdrawal process. MBCA encourages Basin residents to attend.

IMPORTANT: Notices in local news gave wrong information on the meetings in Twentynine Palms. There will be ONLY ONE MEETING in Twentynine, from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23. This was confirmed with Stephen Razo, official BLM contact. If you know anyone who is planning on attending that day, please make sure they know the correct time.

The meeting in Twentynine Palms will be at Twentynine Palms Junior High School, 5798 Utah Trail, on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 9 p.m. There will also be two meetings in Victorville on Friday, Oct. 24, at Hilton Garden Inn, 12603 Mariposa Road, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. See the BLM press release for additional details.

To recap, the lands are being segregated in preparation for beginning the NEPA/CEQA environmental study process. The study lands do include a portion of northern Wonder Valley; a part of Johnson Valley and the OHV area; and lands to the east of the Base, across the dry lake and out towards Cadiz. Both federal and non-federal lands are affected.

Per the official Notice:

The proposal seeks the transfer of jurisdiction and the withdrawal of approximately 365,906 acres of public lands and approximately 507 acres of Federal subsurface mineral estate from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws, including surface entry, mining, mineral leasing, and the Materials Act of 1947.

This notice temporarily segregates for two years the public lands and mineral estate described from settlement, sale, location, or entry under the public land laws, including the mining laws, and the operation of the mineral leasing laws and the Materials Act of 1947. In addition, the surface estate of the 507 acres of mineral estate and the surface and mineral estate of an approximately 72,186 acres of other non-federally owned property in the proposed withdrawal area, if they should be acquired by or returned to the United States by any means, would also be included in the proposed withdrawal and subject to the temporary segregation authorized by this notice.

The public comment period ends December 15. To learn more about the "segregation" process, view the full BLM announcement.

Also, you may view the maps and read more about the plans on the USMC 29 Palms Training Land/Airspace Acquisition Study website.


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley.

Hi-Desert wastewater plan reviewed by Board

"The Hi-Desert Water District Board of Directors received a fast-paced, information-filled update about the district’s planned wastewater treatment plant and water reclamation facility at a workshop Wednesday."

Read more about the meeting in the Hi-Desert Star, including a briefing by Tom Dodson, a "geographer and environmental consultant":

To sum up, in Dodson’s professional opinion, the collection system and treatment plant will not significantly affect the area’s air or water quality, traffic flow, noise or natural or cultural resources.

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Water and Waste pages of the MBCA Website. Related blog posts: Water, Yucca Valley, YV water/waste/sewage.

"Katz-Funded Group Attacks JT Water Candidates"

The following press release was issued by Joshua Tree Development Oversight Group (JTDOG):

Katz-Funded Group Attacks JT Water Candidates
Big Money Brings Ugly Campaign Tactics To Local Race

KB Construction of Warrington, PA, owned by the family of developer Steven Katz, has contributed a total of $7,500 since June to a group called Taxpayers For Good Government, according to information posted on the California Secretary of State website. The group, which is based in Pomona, is a registered Political Action Committee heavily funded by developers and builders, and active in San Bernardino County politics.

Days after receiving the latest donation from KB in September, the group registered an Internet domain and subsequently launched a website devoted to personal attacks on Michael Luhrs and Iona Chellette, two candidates for Joshua Basin Water District board seats. The two have made their opposition to Katz’s proposed 2,700-home development in Joshua Tree central to their campaign.

The professionally designed website is registered anonymously, but credits Taxpayers For Good Government as its sponsor, listing a Joshua Tree PO Box. Using a Halloween theme to make its point, the website portrays the candidates in ghoulish fashion and urges voters to “be very afraid”. The site does not discuss issues, but rather levels personal attacks, claiming the two “have set their sights on gaining control” of the Water District. While not supporting any candidate, the website urges voters to “Vote No” on Luhrs and Chellette. In fact, voting “no” is not an option in this race, which allows only votes in support of candidates. There are four seats up for grabs.

A mailer using the same graphics as the website has been received by many Joshua Tree voters.

Joshua Tree Development Oversight Group (JTDOG) does not endorse any candidates, but strongly condemns this injection of ugly negativity into the race. JTDOG calls on all candidates to condemn the action of Taxpayers For Good Government.

“This ugly campaign is the work of a special interest group exercising its influence in the worst possible way,” said George Kopp, president of JTDOG. “Thanks to California’s campaign disclosure laws, it is easy for anyone to ‘follow the money’ and see who is funding Taxpayers for
Good Government.”

In its role as an oversight group, JTDOG feels it is vital that the community knows what role Steven Katz’s money is playing in our water board election. While all the candidates have categorically denied taking contributions from Katz, he has nonetheless found a way to inject his influence. This is not Katz’s first contribution to this PAC. According to election filings, in 2006 KB Construction donated $25,000 to Taxpayers For Good Government. Another contributor that year was Wal-Mart, which donated $39,000.

You may learn more about the candidates for the Joshua Basin Water District Board in their own words on MBCA's 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum.

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: See the Land Use/Development and Joshua Tree Community pages of the MBCA Website. View previous blog posts: Joshua Tree, Katz Development/Section 33.

Open Space Group focuses on regional trails

From the Morongo Basin Open Space Group:

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group will host its regular bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2008. The meeting program will focus on regional trails and connector opportunities in the Morongo Basin and a pilot community trails project being undertaken in the City of Twentynine Palms. Anne Dove from the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program of the National Park Service will participate, as will representatives from local government agencies, and groups involved in Coachella Valley trails development.

The Morongo Basin Open Space Group was created by local agencies and organizations as a forum to collaboratively protect unique natural landscapes and open spaces in the Basin through regional conservation and land use planning. Protecting the treasures of the Morongo Basin for both residents and visitors helps to keep our desert communities prosperous and vibrant while respecting our night skies, open vistas, and the fragile desert ecosystems of the Basin.

Location: Yucca Room, Yucca Valley Community Center, 57090 29 Palms Highway, at Dumosa Avenue. Time: 1:00 to 3:00 PM.

A portion of the meeting will invite input from local community stakeholders. The meeting is open to the public. For more information on this event, contact Stephanie Weigel at 760.367.5567 or sweigel@sonoran.org.

Twentynine Palms Candidates Forum

A write-in candidate has brought to five the number running for two seats on the Twentynine Palms City Council. Chris Verbel and the other four candidates appeared at a Chamber of Commerce forum on Wednesday. Read coverage in the Desert Trail.

Learn more about the views of the candidates of five local races in their own words on the MBCA 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum.

Coverage of PASS Eco-Summit

You can read coverage of last weekend's PASS Eco-Summit in the Hi-Desert Star.

Speakers included such experts as Bill Brown, a presenter with Al Gore's The Climate Project covering "Climate Change Solutions". Stephanie Wiegel of the Sonoran Institute talked about local efforts to preserve open space by establishing wildlife corridors. Locally recognized expert on native plants Robin Kobaly brought "edible nuts, berries and seeds from drought-resistant plants to share from her own yard."

The Eco-Summit also included a tour of local "eco-homes".

MBCA 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum now on-line

Below is an announcement of the MBCA 2008 Candidates Virtual Forum and our new Website. We thank all our members who sent in questions for the candidates; we hope the answers will help you make a more informed choice in the local races this November. We also appreciate the candidates who took the time to participate.

We encourage you to check out the rest of our newly revised Website, especially the recently added Communities and Take Action sections. We thank Cyberspike, our Web designer, for the terrific work, and we also especially thank former Boardmember Lesley Thornburg for pioneering our original Website.

Don't forget to vote!

Voters curious about the local candidates in November’s election now have a new source of information. The Morongo Basin Conservation Association has posted a Candidates Virtual Forum on their newly revised Website at www.mbconservation.org.

The electronic Forum covers five local races: The Joshua Basin and Hi-Desert Water boards, the Yucca Valley Town Council, the Twentynine Palms City Council, and the Copper Mountain College Board of Trustees.

“We asked our members to submit the questions they’d like to ask the candidates, then we edited and compiled a separate list for each race which we sent to all the candidates,” said MBCA Communications Director Chris Carraher. “Not all the candidates responded, but we really appreciate the ones who took the time to reach out to the voters this way. MBCA firmly believes that an informed electorate is key to our mission of promoting the economic and environmental welfare of the Morongo Basin.”

The Virtual Forum is only one feature of MBCA’s completely revised Website. Visitors will also find a variety of resources on issues and the communities of the Morongo Basin. Active in the Basin since 1969, MBCA brings a depth of experience and a Basin-wide scope to this move into the digital future.

Besides information on the organization and its history, visitors will find resources on such local issues as clear-cutting, invasive mustard, water and air quality, night sky, and land use and development.

“On our Communities pages you’ll find links, information, and the latest developments for wherever you live in the Basin,” said Carraher. “And in our Action section you’ll find the tools you need to get moving and start making an effective difference.”

One key addition to the Website is the regularly updated MBCA blog, where users can get the latest news on conservation issues across the Basin. But the site also features in-depth articles, such as “Urban Growth and Carrying Capacity in the Morongo Basin”, a new MBCA position paper by journalist and MBCA Boardmember Mark Wheeler.

Carraher invites Basin residents to visit the 2008 Virtual Candidates Forum and to return to the MBCA Website and blog often at www.mbconservation.org.

YV Wal-Mart referendum just shy of sufficient valid signatures

A referendum effort to force a revisitation of the approval of the Yucca Valley Wal-Mart Supercenter failed to gather sufficient signatures. Of the 1426 signatures obtained only 906 were verified to be those of registered Yucca Valley voters; 954 would have been required to move the petition forward.

The petition was sponsored in part by MBCA through the Coalition for Environmental Integrity in Yucca Valley. More information to come.


MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the WalMart page on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: WalMart, Yucca Valley.

Coverage of HD Water District canddidates forum

"Six candidates vying for three seats on the Hi-Desert Water District Board of Directors detailed their qualifications and views at a candidate forum held at the community center Tuesday." Read full coverage of the forum in the Hi-Desert Star.

MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: On the Water pages of the MBCA Website. Related blog posts: Water, Yucca Valley, YV water/waste/sewage, Meet the Candidates.

Public meetings confirmed on Marine Corps expansion

The Bureau of Land Managment and the U.S. Marine Corps have announced the details of two public meetings in Twentynine Palms and Victorville to "inform the public about the legislative withdrawal process for consideration of the proposal to expand the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center."

The proposal seeks to withdraw approximately 366,000 acres of federal public land and, if eventually acquired, approximately 72,000 acres of non-federally owned property within the proposed withdrawal area.

In Twentynine Palms two meetings will be held on Thursday, October 23, at the Twentynine Palms Junior High School gym at 5798 Utah Trail. Additional meetings will be held on October 24 in Victorville.

Two meeting times are scheduled at each location from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. (CORRECTION: THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE MEETING IN TWENTYNINE PALMS, AND IT WILL RUN FROM 4 TO 9 P.M. - ED.) to provide the public the broadest opportunities to attend, according to Roxie Trost, BLM Barstow Field Manager.

A notice published Monday, Sept. 15 segregated the public lands involved for two years, making them unavailable for settlement, sale and location of claims under the mining laws. However, the lands remain open to public access and recreation use. A 90-day comment period will closes Dec. 15.The notice, available online at www.blm.gov/ca, also explains the withdrawal process.

Read more in the Desert Trail.


MORE INFO ON THESE ISSUES: On the Land Use/Development and Communities pages of the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Johnson Valley, Marine Base, Wonder Valley.

2008 Summit on Practical Advances in Southwest Sustainability

MBCA is a proud sponsor of the 2008 Summit on Practical Advances in Southwest Sustainability (PASS Eco-Summit) to be held on October 10, 11, and 12 at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center.

We encourage you to participate in this desert regional conference and be informed of practical sustainable solutions for the desert Southwest. Check the PASS Website for Event Program (pdf) and Registration Form.

Below is an update from organizers:

The 2008 PASS Eco-Summit is FREE ALL DAY on FRIDAY October 10th. Please read below for more details on the lectures, workshops, and demonstrations throughout the day. Other FREE events include the Eco-Fair on Saturday and the Eco-Home Tours on Sunday. It’s not too late to register for the Full Conference day on Saturday.

The PASS Conference is packed with valuable information and inspiring speakers on various aspects of living and building sustainably in the Southwest. Come here progressive professionals from throughout the Southwest address topics ranging from sustainable city planning to homeowner/upgrade issues.

Download the attached current version of the PASS Eco-Summit Program to view the exciting line-up for the day, and visit the website for more info on our speakers. To reserve a space you can register on-line, mail in the attached form, or call 760-401-2858. Financial assistance and work trade opportunities are still available, but please inquire soon, as these opportunities are filling up.
To save a space for the Green Living Worskhop on Saturday from 2:00-5:30 pm please call or write us soon. If you wish to pay at the door please come 15 minutes early.