Morongo Basin Conservation Association

Annual Meeting Saturday January 21, 2012

2012-01-15T09:03:00.000-08:00

All MBCA members and supporters are encouraged to attend our Annual Meeting on Saturday morning, January 21, at the Joshua Tree Community Center, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. What will you learn? You’ll hear what MBCA accomplished last year, what we’re planning for 2012 (and how you can help!), and as a bonus, a very timely update from members of the Morongo Basin Dark Skies Alliance. The alliance is

Issues: Year in Review

2012-01-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

Our annual meeting is Saturday, January 21st from 9AM-1 PM at the Joshua Tree Community Center. The first part of our program will focus on our 2012 goals, followed by a presentations on Dark Skies and Lighting Ordinances. We have an interesting meeting planned and many challenges ahead---Please join us! Part of planning for the future is evaluating past efforts. In 2011, a number of concerns

Monthly Board Meeting

2012-01-09T13:49:00.001-08:00

The next regular board meeting of the Morongo Basin Conservation Association is Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 5:00 PM at 7491 Barberry Avenue in Yucca Valley (NE corner of Pueblo Trail and Barberry Avenue). Please join us and add your voice and experience.

Update on proposed Joshua Tree casino

2011-12-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

On November 19, Cheryl Schmit of the group “Stand Up for California” gave a very knowledgeable and comprehensive presentation about the issues of Indian gaming facing us in Joshua Tree and the Morongo Basin. We learned that several other California communities are facing this same off-reservation casino issue as the aftermath of recent approvals of such casinos in Yuba and Madera Counties. “

The Economic Relationship Between Natl. Parks and Gateway Communities

2011-12-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Joshua Tree National Park and Joshua Tree Gateway Communities Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend speaker series "The Economic Relationship Between National Parks and Gateway Communities", featuring National Park Service and Gateway Community experts. December 6th,

Why we need dark skies

2011-11-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Morongo Basin Dark Skies Alliance is one of several local groups working hard on a new county ordinance that would reduce light pollution and enhance our night skies. Why do we need dark skies? Effective use of outdoor lighting that casts light onto the ground (and not up into the air) is important for a number of reasons: 1. Save money and energy. 2. Improve security. Bright lights create

Annual Meeting Saturday January 21, 2012

2011-11-19T18:46:00.001-08:00

Please mark your calendar for our Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 21, 2012. We are planning another pertinent and high quality program focusing on aspects of conservation and wise living in the desert. You may have attended our 2010 “Take the Step: Go Solar” presentation, or last January’s initial desert-wise landscaping presentation by Robin Kobaly. Details for the January 2012 program

News on Federal Lands Protection

2011-11-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Thursday supported the legislation proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein that would include Mojave Trails National Monument and Sand to Snow National Monument, north and west (respectively) of the Morongo Basin. An article in the Riverside Press-Enterprise states: “Though the White House’s recommendations Thursday are simply an endorsement of the

Succesful native plants workshop

2011-11-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

The last in our 2011 series of Desert-Wise Landscape Events, held on November 5th at the JT Community Center, was well attended and enthusiastically appreciated. Thank you to everyone who helped make this workshop a success! Robin Kobaly’s engaging presentation and hands-on displays of soils, plants, and landscape design and planning tools accented the lecture in addition to the DVD and workbook

Eagle Mountain dump developer files bankruptcy

2011-11-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

After twenty-five years of struggle, it looks like the Eagle Mountain mine landfill project is dead. Kaiser Ventures (Mine Reclamation LLC) has filed for bankruptcy. Read more in the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Donna and Larry Charpied, who have been in the forefront of the battle to stop the dump, sent a note to their supporters that includes this cautionary note: We MUST now be diligent. We

Free workshop: “Take the Step to Go Solar”

2010-01-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

The Morongo Basin Conservation Association invites the public to “Take the Step to Go Solar” with a free workshop on how to use solar energy to produce the power for our homes and businesses. The workshop will be held Saturday, January 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst in Joshua Tree.The workshop is an opportunity for residents to learn practical steps

Super Wal-Mart defeated in court!

2009-05-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

Dear MBCA Members and Friends,On behalf of the Coalition for Environmental Integrity in Yucca Valley, MBCA is happy to announce that the Yucca Valley WalMart SuperCenter EIR has been defeated in Superior Court in Rancho Cucamonga. His Honor Barry Plotkin found that the "Marketing Input-Urban Decay" study within the YVWSC Environmental Impact Report was inadequate (like we said all along) and the

Yucca Valley files application to annex Yucca Mesa

2009-03-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

According to the Stop Yucca Mesa Annexation Coalition, the Town of Yucca Valley has filed its application to annex Yucca Mesa to its sphere of influence. The Coalition has released the following Bulletin:The Town delivered the application for the Sphere of Influence Municipal Services Review for Yucca Mesa this morning to LAFCO. LAFCO will be reviewing it in_house for preparation for circulation

Invasive Mustard Alert

2009-01-23T09:59:00.000-08:00

The mustard is back. The invasive Saharan mustard is making an appearance all over the Basin and, unfortunately, inside the National Park, where it is coming up thickly in the eastern areas.What can you do about this destructive invader? Learn how to identify and fight Saharan mustard on the MBCA Website Invasive Mustard page.

Christmas Bird Count in JTNP

2009-01-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

Mark Wheeler gets a not-so-rare species in his sites this week: the birder. In an article in the Hi-Desert Star, he covers the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) as it took place January 3 in Joshua Tree National Park, with 23 birdwatchers helping out. Chief of Interpretation for JTNP Joe Zarki organizes the park’s count, collects the data and forwards it to the national archive. He pronounced

Annual Meeting tomorrow, Jan. 17

2009-01-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

The Morongo Basin Conservation Association (MBCA) will hold its annual meeting on Saturday, January 17, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Joshua Tree Community Center. This is an open meeting for Association membership and for anyone in the general public who wishes to learn about the MBCA.Saturday’s meeting will include a video presentation about the current efforts to stop Los Angeles Department

Stop Yucca Mesa Annexation Coalition

2009-01-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

In response to an attempt by the Town of Yucca Valley to annex Yucca Mesa into its sphere of influence, residents have formed the Stop Yucca Mesa Annexation Coalition. What the Coalition foresees if the annexation goes forward:Yucca Mesa as we know it will cease to exist. The Town of Yucca Valley may choose and LAFCO may require the Town to prezone Yucca Mesa, which could include

Stand up for the desert this Saturday!

2009-01-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

The desert as we know it is on the threshold of disappearing beneath transmission lines and massive industrial-scale energy projects. Although MBCA supports alternative energy, there are better ways to achieve energy independence than destroying the desert. You will have a rare opportunity to register your opinion on the destruction of the desert for the purpose of lighting up Los Angeles and

CDC responds to LADWP misinformation on Green Path North

2009-01-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Following is a press release from the California Desert Coalition:Los Angeles Utility Spreads MisinformationAbout Its Green Path North Transmission ProjectOn December 20, in an open letter to desert communities about the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power's (LADWP's) Green Path North transmission line project, LADWP and its partners provided false and misleading information about the

MBCA meets Thursday, January 8

2009-01-05T08:53:00.000-08:00

The next regular board meeting of the Morongo Basin Conservation Association is January 8, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. at PFF Bank & Trust in Yucca Valley.Please join us and add your voice and experience.

Yucca Valley Hillside Reserve on agenda for Thursday

2009-01-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

There has been a rescheduling to Jan. 8 of the special Yucca Valley Town Council Meeting regarding a General Plan Amendment to rezone a Hillside Reserve to subdivide into four lots instead of one house per 20 acres. That meeting had been scheduled for Dec. 17 and was canceled due to weather.Residents are concerned this could be a starting point to set precedence for further development of the

Notice of Dues Renewal and Annual Meeting, January 17, 2009

2009-01-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Morongo Basin Conservation Association Member:The MBCA 2009 Annual Membership meeting is Saturday, January 17, 2009 at the Joshua Tree Community Center, 6171 Sunburst Ave., from 10:00 A.M. to noon. This is an exciting time to address conservation issues and concerns in the Morongo Basin and beyond. The MBCA renovated website and blog have been informing visitors about MBCA's activities

Base expansion Scoping workshop in Wonder Valley

2009-01-02T09:34:00.001-08:00

Residents concerned about the expansion plans of the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center into Wonder Valley will be meeting to continue organizing a response on Saturday, January 3, 9 a.m., at the Wonder Valley Community Church, 82575 Amboy Road. Anyone interested in taking part is invited. A special Scoping workshop will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. to help residents participate in the

ORV tension highlighted in USA Today

2008-12-31T11:49:00.000-08:00

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

Open Space and Economic Development

2008-12-30T09:15:00.000-08:00

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."