#morongo basin

[rjzimmerman]

Photo of my hand holding a baby desert tortoise at the Desert Tortoise Research Center at the Twenty-Nine Palms Marine Base in Twenty-Nine Palms, California:

Excerpt from this story from the LA Times:

A 3.5-million-acre swath of Mojave Desert between Ridgecrest and the Morongo Basin has received a new federal designation that advocates hope will help protect vulnerable wildlife like the Mojave desert tortoise.

The area has been named a sentinel landscape, a federally led effort to promote sustainable land-use practices near military installations.

“It’s built on partnerships,” said Phil Murray, encroachment manager for the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, one of five installations that surrounds the newly designated land. “A lot of the conservation work that’s done around the Morongo Basin or Mojave Desert is coordinated through different federal agencies, NGOs and private partners.”

The goal is to encourage a more collaborative approach, and to streamline federal assistance to the various agencies, groups and people involved, he said.

The designation doesn’t change who owns or manages the land and does not come with dedicated funding, aside from money for an implementation plan and a coordinator, Murray said. But sentinel landscapes are prioritized for funding through certain grants, he said.

The coalition is expected to support conservation efforts such as erecting desert tortoise fencing to reduce vehicle strikes, creating wildlife crossings, propagating seeds and rehabilitating habitat, including areas that have burned in wildfires, Murray said.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust expects to do much work on the ground, including helping with seed collection and outreach, said Cody Hanford, deputy executive director and chief conservation officer of the nonprofit dedicated to protecting the California desert.

“It will elevate our projects, elevate our goals, which I think in the end will help them become more accomplishable,” he said.

Other partners include various federal and state agencies, conservation groups and San Bernardino County.

The expanse of desert that received the designation is ringed by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, National Training Center Fort Irwin, Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.

It’s also the heart of desert tortoise habitat in California, said Ken MacDonald, board member at-large and former president of the Desert Tortoise Council conservation group, a partner in the new effort.

“There’s recreational interests, tribal interests, local community interests,” he said. “So coming together as a partnership, we thought, would make the coalition and the cooperation more effective than everybody chipping away and working independently in their own backyard.”

“And so really, it’s to manage the whole 3 million acres cooperatively and collaboratively and be more effective in conserving and recovering the desert tortoises, and that’s pretty much it,” he said. “Just team up and take care of these critters.”

The stretch of desert includes at least 40 other protected species, including the Western Joshua tree, which California has protected with a conservation plan, and the Mohave ground squirrel, which the state lists as threatened.

But perhaps none is as imperiled as the desert tortoise, which California recently listed as endangered.

The species is facing pressure from a number of fronts, MacDonald said. The slow-moving reptiles are vulnerable to being hit by cars. Development has carved up previously wide-open stretches of desert into parcels that are in some cases too small to allow for the breeding and genetic diversity needed to sustain their population health. Drought conditions meant the wildflowers they like to eat never grew some years, and invasive species outcompeted them in other years.

[lostinyv]

So many great donations to the local tradition – Copper Mountain College Foundation’s Festival of Wreaths.

Started in 2010, Copper Mountain College Foundation’s Festival of Wreaths has exploded into the holiday kickoff event of the Morongo Basin. The Bell Center transforms into a winter wonderland the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 24, 2024. Over 50 Local businesses, service clubs and individuals create magnificent one of a kind wreaths, centerpieces, and trees all for sale to benefit the students of Copper Mountain College.

For the price of a ticket, $10 at the door or online at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/cmcfow guests immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. Holiday music plays, plates are passed, friends visit and then the live auction kicks in with fantastical wreaths, centerpieces, and ornaments to be auctioned off to raise money for CMC students. The wreaths are not only gorgeous but also full of gift cards and certificates, jewelry, electronics, hotel stays, even cash! Also included in the activities is a silent auction, a raffle wreath, dessert auction and holiday card sale with seasonal artwork created by our college students. Doors open at 2 pm to view the unique creations with bidding beginning at 3 pm. There is a cash bar, small bites and desserts.

Check out the CMC Foundation wreath page at https://cmcfow.wordpress.com/ to view past events as well as keep up with the 2024 creations.

[collidingworldstv]

Ann Van Haney 10 Nov 2023

Meet Ann Van Haney - SAG-AFTRA Actor, Improviser, Writer, Filmmaker, Hi-DeF Fringe Producer (The Hi Desert Fringe Festival is a program of Project Sheba) and Global Health Grants Maven. She is also the creator of Remotely Sketchy+Imaginary Friends, a production company focused on making the arts of improvisation and sketch comedy accessible and approachable for adults, teens and kids in the Morongo Basin and around the world. In addition to her short films and other community works,  Ann is an inspiration for those facing cancer. Her journey of strength and courage is humbling for all.

[kylo-wrecked]

Forecasters warn there could be historic flood impacts, especially for San Bernardino and Inyo counties, with Death Valley and Morongo Basin expected to see the most major flooding.

Roads could be closed in Death Valley and Highway 62, which runs along the northern edge of Joshua Tree National Park.

In Los Angeles County, the area of overall highest risk will be in areas like the San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley, where there is high risk for dangerous and damaging floods on roads, creeks and in neighborhoods. The rain could also trigger landslides, debris flow, mud flows and rock slides; some buildings could face shallow flood waters.

But L.A. metro areas are highly vulnerable as the worst of the storm moves through Sunday afternoon and evening. “We expect widespread flooding,” said Joe Sirard, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “When I say widespread flooding, I mean, like, potentially countywide flooding.”

Some rain rates could exceed one inch per hour, even up to 1.5 inches per hour. A couple of projections show up to 2 inches per hour, forecasters said. Rain rates of 1.5 inches per hour is torrential rain, which can result in catastrophic flooding over a desert, mountain or valley.

{ source }

HEY CALIFORNIA PEOPLE!

HURRICANE ADVICE FROM A FLORIDIAN!

Make sure you've got shelf-stable food and water for everyone in the house, including pets. The rule of thumb is a gallon per person per day. Freeze water bottles if you want cold water.

Make sure you have enough meds!

Make sure you have batteries, candles, flashlights, and a manual can opener. 

Make sure your electronics, including backup batteries, are charged. Unplug things you don't want fried in case of a power surge. 

Don't tape your windows, it doesn't help and you'll just be stuck scrubbing goo off of them later.

Put a mug of frozen water in it in your freezer with a quarter on top of it. If your freezer defrosts, the ice will melt and the quarter will sink and tell you you need to throw things out.

Get everything that's not nailed to a foundation out of your yard. That dead branch hanging on by a thread? Time to get it down (it was probably time to do that three days ago, but now’s better than never).

Park away from powerlines and trees if you can. Rain makes the ground soft and then trees fall over.

Have an evacuation plan to a shelter. Evacuate if they’re telling you to.

If you start to flood, don't go in your attic. You'll get trapped if the water rises too high and you can't hack through your roof. This happened to a lot of people in Texas and Louisiana. Get ON the roof.

Be safe, be well <3 

[trendingnews2024]

Joshua Tree National Park

“You can’t see anything (in the desert) from a car; you’ve got to get out of the… contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees, over the sandstone and through the thornbrush and cactus. When traces of blood begin to mark your trail, you’ll see something, maybe.” – Edward Abbey, from “Desert Solitaire.”

This past October in the Mojave Desert’s Morongo Basin – season of the tarantula and turkey vulture migrations – came in like a lion with record heat and went out like a lion, too. When 95-degree temps dipped overnight, yielding to a massive dust storm, icy winds and the grit of sand in everyone’s teeth as they awoke to a cold autumn morning before the air slowly cleared and our mountain-rimmed views reappeared.

Full Video

[pobitramech]

Morongo Basin Braces for Heavy Rain and Flooding Threat as Tropical Storm Hilary Nears

Anticipated Heavy Rain and Potential Flooding Forecasted for Morongo Basin Amid Tropical Storm Hilary’s Inland Progress The Morongo Basin region is bracing for substantial precipitation and the risk of flooding as Tropical Storm Hilary makes its way inland. Over the next few days, certain areas of the desert could witness a volume of rainfall equivalent to an entire year’s worth. According to the…

[dcnewsroom]

The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., issued a noise advisory on Tuesday for Morongo Basin while Marines and Joint Forces participate in a series of events known as Service Level Training Exercises. [Full story]

[keepingitneutral]

Casa Mami, Pioneertown, California, United States,

Created by Working Holiday

[all-roads]

Morongo Basin travel article by Janelle Pietrzak for Bust Magazine, featuring All Roads Stordio.

[youngtough]

Cottonwood Ranch Properties cartoon map

[actifithealth]

Morongo Basin Community Health Center Pediatrics

Morongo Basin Community Health Center Pediatrics

Morongo Basin Community Health Center Pediatrics. Morongo basin community health center provides an array of health services to the residents of the morongo basin. Dental care for adults and children; MORONGO BASIN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER from http://www.hidesertclinics.org Morongo basin community health center provides an array of health services to the residents of the morongo basin. Dental…

[lostinyv]

Join the Local Tradition: Copper Mountain College Foundation’s Festival of Wreaths!

Kick off the holiday season at the Copper Mountain College Foundation’s Festival of Wreaths, a cherished tradition in the Morongo Basin since 2010. This year, the Bell Center will be transformed into a winter wonderland on Sunday, November 24, 2024, promising an unforgettable afternoon filled with festive cheer.

More than 45 local businesses, service clubs, and individuals will showcase their creativity by crafting magnificent, one-of-a-kind wreaths, centerpieces, and trees—all available for purchase to benefit the students of Copper Mountain College.

For just $10 (available at the door or online at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/cmcfow), guests can immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. Enjoy festive music, delicious bites, and the company of friends before the live auction kicks off at 3 PM.

The auction features not only stunning wreaths but also delightful items filled with gift cards, jewelry, electronics, dining experiences, and more! Additionally, guests can participate in a silent auction, a raffle wreath, a dessert auction, and a holiday card sale featuring seasonal artwork created by our talented college students.

Event Details:

• Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024

• Doors Open: 2 PM (view the unique creations)

• Live Auction Begins: 3 PM

• Cash Bar: Available with small bites and desserts

To view past events and stay updated on this year’s creations, visit the CMC Foundation wreath page at https://cmcfow.wordpress.com/.

Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the holiday season while supporting a great cause. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, please contact the CMC Foundation at 760-366-3791 ext. 4200.

[catsofcalifornia]

Pancho from Morongo Basin Humane Society in Joshua Tree, California

Click here for more information about adoption and other ways to help!

Click here for a link to Morongo Basin Humane Society’s main website.

[beardedmrbean]

Three people claiming to be "sovereign citizens" were arrested Saturday morning after live ammunition and explosives were found in a vehicle they were driving and at their remote compound, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies had conducted a traffic stop for suspected vehicle code violations Saturday just after 10 a.m. PT on a Ford Taurus near Joshua Tree National Park, a press release from the sheriff's department said. Inside the car were David Russell, 50, and Jeffery Russell, 46, who identified themselves to the deputies as sovereign citizens. Sovereign citizens are a fringe group whose members consider themselves exempt from U.S. law and who sometimes use violent tactics to justify their beliefs, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Authorities said a records check showed that the two men were prohibited from possessing and owning firearms. Deputies found "live ammunition, black gun powder, and an improvised military-grade explosive device" inside the car, they said, adding that the explosive device was safely disposed of.

Deputies then obtained a search warrant for a property in Johnson Valley, California, the community where the Russells reside. They discovered more military-grade explosives and ammunition, as well as firearms, at the compound; a woman at the compound, Venus Mooney, 54, was arrested.

The three were booked at the Morongo Basin Jail for possession of an explosive device and possession of a controlled substance while armed. They are being held without bail pending a court appearance.

It was not immediately clear if the three suspects had an attorney.

Sovereign citizens often retaliate through acts of "paper terrorism," which involves bombarding the legal system with frivolous lawsuits or falsified documents. Violence is the most extreme form of the movement and is typically directed at government officials, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

[lucasdeshazer]

morongo basin — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/3olZAD9

[rjzimmerman]

I am so freaking happy that the state of California is finally taking steps to stomp on the princes and princesses, mostly from LA, who come into the desert and think they can get away with fucking with the land. Joshua trees are special, and they are special to millions of Americans and they are in danger. Yet this couple decided to kill a few (36, including some toddlers) so they could build another house where a house need not be built.

A portion of the 36 Joshua trees that were unearthed during an investigation in San Bernardino County, Calif. Credit...California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Excerpt from this story from the New York Times:

A California couple who mowed down 36 protected Joshua trees to clear their land for a new house have been fined $18,000, a punishment the authorities hope will discourage others from uprooting the iconic desert plants.

A nearby landowner reported seeing Jeffrey Walter and Jonetta Nordberg-Walter bulldoze the land and bury the trees in a hole in February, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

The couple, who live in nearby Riverside County, wanted to clear the land and build a home on their property in Joshua Tree, Calif., just north of Joshua Tree National Park.

The couple told the authorities they thought they were allowed to remove smaller trees, Douglas Poston, the supervising deputy district attorney of the office’s Morongo Basin division, said in an interview on Wednesday.

A wildlife officer went to the scene after receiving the report from a neighbor and used a backhoe to unearth the buried trees, the prosecutors said.

The spiky trees, which are technically succulents, were granted temporary protection last year under the California Endangered Species Act. That means it is illegal to disturb or kill the trees, which are mostly found in the Mojave Desert in the Southwest.

The average Joshua tree lives around 150 years, according to the National Park Service. The tallest trees grow to over 40 feet tall.

The couple were charged with 36 misdemeanors for felling the trees, the district attorney’s office said. The office issued the $18,000 fine on June 22.

California’s maximum punishment for killing a Joshua tree is six months in jail and a fine of $4,100 per tree, the prosecutors said.

“The fine was low because of a lack of criminal history,” Mr. Poston said. “The defendants were cooperative, lacked sophistication and made an early admission of fault.”