Morongo Basin Conservation Association

08/29/2026

:::LOVEMORE RANCH POST:::

MBCA Board President Steve Bardwell opened a thank-you gift from Joshua Tree Village Neighbors tonight — “Protect Joshua Tree” canvas bags. 😍

JTVN also sent a heartfelt letter. They thanked us for our early guidance regarding the County Land Use Services Department’s handling of the wildly unpopular Lovemore Ranch project and for our substantive appeal that followed.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected MBCA’s appeal in April 2025 and upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of the Lovemore Ranch project.

But Joshua Tree citizens didn’t just roll over.

A group of four created the JTVN group, raised funds and sued the County and its Board of Supervisors — and won. In June 2026, a judge found that the County broke the law by violating the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and set aside the approvals. ⚖️

Looking at those bags tonight was also a reminder that we’re not through yet.

Because now the Lovemore desert hydra 🐉 has raised its ugly head again, with another attempt to push through permitting.

It’s hard to see what has changed from last time. The documents look essentially the same — almost as if the old dates were scratched out and new ones written in. 🤔

Turns out for JTVN, MBCA and friends, “Protect Joshua Tree” is still very much the assignment.

More to come.

JTVN NEWSLETTER: https://tinyurl.com/46a5a5ft

08/15/2026

ACTION: Speak Out Against The County Giving Up Its Role In Protecting Our Desert From Mining!

✅At the Board of Supervisors Meeting, 8-18-26

When comes to permitting mining Item #76 on the agenda for Tuesday’s San Bernardino County Board of Supervisor’s meeting is an overhaul of local surface mining rules. The proposed change would remove the county from the permitting of mining operations that obtain a federally approved plan of operation or authorization (such as through the Bureau of Land Management).

The proposed bypassing of county permits would remove strict local California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews, public notices, and local oversight. This would potentially impact sensitive desert areas near Joshua Tree National Park from the proposed 20,000-acre Music Valley Mine.

This mine would be operated by the same company that was recently the subject of a lawsuit requiring them to halt operations at the Colosseum Mine in the Mojave Preserve. ⁉️

The San Bernardino County Planning Commission voted to advance the recommendation after a heavily attended July 9, 2026 hearing.

The Friends of Wonder Valley have published information and a sample letter about this ill-advised proposal to revise the Development Code.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) has started a petition to Stop Automatic Greenlighting of Federal Mining Projects.

We encourage attendance at the meeting either in-person or virtually by telephone.

Visit this website for information on how to register and speak virtually by telephone:

https://publiccomment.sbcounty.gov/

➡️ Written comments should reference Project No. PMISC-2026-00029.

📧 Send to:
[email protected]

and:

[email protected]

Or show up in person & sign up there to speak 🗣️

📆 August 18, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM
🧭 SBC Government Center
385 N Arrowhead Ave
San Bernardino, California

Thanks for your ongoing support for our desert environment! 🙏

Sincerely,
Steve Bardwell

Your MBCA Board:
Steve Bardwell, President
Erin Flanagan, Vice President
Laraine Turk, Secretary
Janet Johnston, Treasurer
Stacy Doolittle, Director
David Fick, Director
Pat Flanagan, Director
Brian Hammer, Director
Sarah Kennington, Director
Arch McCulloch, Director
Joani Tremblay, Director

08/14/2026

Been losing your mind along with your electricity these hot days? “The solution to a lot of those problems is what’s known as local power. Solar panels and batteries, for instance, can reduce demand on the grid, produce electricity cheaply, and they can supply power when the grid can’t.”

Check out what Ann Arbor residents (for free!)

Sure would be great if we could get a grant from the county or the federal government to help some struggling folks out!

Electricity is getting more expensive and less reliable. Local power, like solar panels and batteries, helps solve those problems, but they’re expensive. That’s why Ann Arbor, Michigan, is installing them on homes for free.

08/12/2026

Adelanto leadership seems pro-data centers, but not everyone agrees.

(Adelanto is 75 miles away from the Morongo Basin)

Adelanto officials are eyeing new data center zoning, but some residents fear the impact on local water supplies. See link below ⬇️

📸 FILE PHOTO: JAMES QUIGG, DAILY PRESS

08/12/2026

⚒️ Stop the Extractive Economy of Unpermitted Mining ⚒️

Speak out against SBC changing the rules!

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing on the revised mining regulations at 9 a.m. on Tuesday August 18th. This is the first of two readings of the mining regulations ordinance.

If you live in San Bernardino County, please take action here and tell the board to deny the ordinance until it is revised.

For even more impact, you can give your oral comment in person or virtually at 385 N. Arrowhead Ave., 1st Floor, Covington Chambers, San Bernardino, CA 92415 or remotely by telephone. Online registration is available by clicking “Register to Speak.”

https://earthworks.org/blog/dont-let-san-bernardino-county-permit-mines-without-public-input/

08/01/2026

How is the County protecting the rural residents of the Hi-Desert? Instead of helping to preserve our way of life and our pristine Desert, they want to give up hearing the community voices related to approving mining projects.

A proposal headed to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors could eliminate local permitting authority for federally approved mining projects, severely limiting residents’ ability to challenge mines that affect their communities. This comes as the federal government is moving to accelerate mining development and reduce environmental review on public lands. Sign the petition and urge the Board to preserve local oversight and protect our communities’ voice in decisions affecting our desert, water, wildlife, and future. Thanks, MDLT for setting this up.

Certain mining projects could soon bypass local community feedback in a new proposal before San Bernardino County. The county's Planning Commission voted to advance a proposal to the Board of Supervisors that would make county permits automatic for mining projects that received federal approval. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, this proposal would eliminate the County's local permitting authority over mining operations on federal lands, significantly limiting residents' ability to challenge mining projects that directly and negatively affect their communities.

This recommendation comes at a time when the federal government is pursuing policies to accelerate mining development and bypass or accelerate environmental review for projects on public lands. Decisions affecting our desert landscapes, water resources, wildlife, and nearby communities deserve strong local input and transparent review.

Sign on and urge the Board of Supervisors to preserve local permitting authority and ensure residents continue to have a voice in decisions that will shape the future of San Bernardino County: https://secure.everyaction.com/hp7Aw1-oSku_VdJUWwOTsA2

08/01/2026

🗣️If you want to stay informed, our subscriber e-blasts contain many of the most important updates on issues affecting our community. 🗞️

Here is a link to the latest edition, written primarily by President Steve Bardwell and Board Secretary Laraine Turk.

Included Topics
—Development in the Morongo Basin
—ATTEND the Appeal of Mercury Dry Camp Project on August 4
—Renewable Energy in San Bernardino County
—Federal Attacks on Environmental Protections
—Attacks on California Environmental Quality Act
—Good News! Balcony Solar Advances in California
—Climate Stewards at University of California Riverside Palm Desert
—Voluteer to support MBCA in our Adopt-a-Highway

Looking after the environmental and economic health of the Morongo Basin since 1969

07/25/2026

KESQ news report on the Pioneertown Special Development District.

PIONEERTOWN, Calif. (KESQ) - David Corso wants to be clear about one thing, he says he is not a developer. "I'm a marketing executive, and I have a passion for Pioneertown," Corso told News Channel 3 inside the Pioneertown Soundstage, the 1940s-era movie building his company owns on Mane Street and....

07/21/2026

Local writer and conservationist Chris Clarke covers the Music Mountain Mine project in great depth on his July 10th podcast.

Check it out & subscribe/support:
90 Miles From Needles

Podcast Episode · 90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast · July 10 · 42m