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.