Comment on the Ivanpah Solar Energy Generating Station
Thursday, February 11th, 2010 Posted in Public Lands, mojave, renewable energy | 7 Comments »For the potential interest of Desert Blog readers, here are the comments I submitted today on BrightSource Energy's proposal for a giant solar power generating station in the Ivanpah Valley, just outside the Mojave National Preserve. (Obligatory disclaimer: The opinions ...
Provisions of the California Desert Protection Act of 2010
Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 Posted in Desert Politics, Public Lands, mojave, off-road vehicles, renewable energy, wilderness | 1 Comment »DPC supports Senator Feinstein’s introduction of the CDPA 2010. The bill, S 2921, adds protective status for large swaths of the California deserts and we applaud the Senator for crafting legislation to preserve our beloved California Desert. There are, however, ...
Off-Road Vehicles Thrashing State Park Lands, Report Shows
Monday, December 14th, 2009 Posted in Anza-Borrego, Public Lands, desert wildlife, off-road vehicles | 1 Comment »New damage to desert pavement in the Desert Cahuilla Prehistoric Area — SCS Engineering photo Off–road vehicle (ORV) use continues to damage both cultural and natural resources in the Desert Cahuilla Prehistoric Area (DCPA), according to a report [PDF]released today by ...
ORV tracks in Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Monday, August 24th, 2009 Posted in BLM, Public Lands, mojave, off-road vehicles | 1 Comment »Harper Dry Lake, in the western Mojave between Barstow and California City, is not exactly wilderness. The lake is an historic airstrip serving the former town of Lockhart. It is ringed by alfalfa farms, most of them either fallow or ...
Urgent Parks Alert: Your Letters Needed
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 Posted in Anza-Borrego, Public Lands | 1 Comment »Passing along an appeal from our colleagues at the California State Parks Foundation: Dear Friend, Yesterday the Governor signed a revised Fiscal Year 2009-2010 state budget, based on the package of bills sent to him by the Legislature on July 24. In ...
Comment deadline on Solar Energy Study Areas extended!
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 Posted in BLM, Public Lands, renewable energy | Comments OffBarbara Boyle at the Sierra Club informs us that the BLM is granting a 45 day extension on public comment on Interior's Solar Energy Study areas. Those comments had been due by the end of this month. The new comment ...
California’s lucrative wildlife
Thursday, July 16th, 2009 Posted in Anza-Borrego, Public Lands | 1 Comment »The US Fish and Wildlife Service released a study this week that examined the benefit to the US economy from birding, indicating that the popular hobby contributes $36 billion annually to the nation's economy. The report was issued as an ...
California State Parks Still in Danger of Closure
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 Posted in Public Lands, off-road vehicles | 8 Comments »While the California legislature works this week to find alternative sources of funding for our irreplaceable state parks, there is a significant source of funds they should be urged to tap: the OHV Trust Fund. The state's Off-Highway Vehicle Division ...
Interior fast-tracks Big Solar on public lands
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009 Posted in Desert Politics, Endangered Species, Public Lands, renewable energy | 3 Comments »The Department of the Interior announced Monday that 676,048 acres of public lands — 24 tracts in five Western States — are being fast-tracked for development by the solar electrical generation industry. The tracts, called Solar Energy Study areas, will be scrutinized to ...
Victory for Indian Pass
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 Posted in Public Lands | Comments OffGreat news for desert wilderness in Imperial County! The NAFTA Tribunal found that the U.S. government has the right to deny Glamis Gold's proposed mine at Indian Pass, an area sacred to the Quechan tribe and adjacent to the existing ...
