BLM acquires lands to southwest side of JT Park

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced the purchase of 621 acres to the southwest of Joshua Tree National Park that had formerly been considered for a large-scale residential and commercial development. The land, considered crucial to protection of the sand dunes ecosystem, will be added to the Coachella Valley Preserve.

In addition to protecting the only known habitat for fringe-toed lizards, the acquisitions also provide a linkage for bobcats, kit foxes and desert bighorn sheep to move between the national park and the Coachella Valley Preserve.

BLM Desert District Manager Steve Borchard explained, “We were able to take advantage of federal legislation that allows us to use funds from sales of unneeded public lands to purchase lands like these adjacent to specially designated areas.”

Borchard explained the BLM purchase was just part of a total acquisition of about 14 square miles near Palm Springs, made possible through the partnership of a number of organizations.

“In particular, it was through the efforts and generosity of the nonprofit Friends of the Desert Mountains,” said Borchard, “that BLM was able to purchase the final 621 acres for the Coachella Valley Preserve at a considerable discount.”

Read more in the Hi-Desert Star.


FOR MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: See the Wildlife and Land Use/Development pages on the MBCA Website. Previous blog posts: Wildlife, National Park.