Mike Lipsitz, Author at Z107.7 FM Joshua Tree

State plan for Western Joshua Tree Conservation announced by California Fish & Game Commission

February 9, 2023

Breaking: Joshua Tree Status vote to be pushed to February 2023 at California Fish and Game Commission meeting this morning

Listen here: At yesterday's (February 8, 2023) meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission in Sacramento, the decision on whether to permanently protect western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act was again continued. The unanimous decision followed the announcement of sweeping new legislation aimed at protecting the iconic species proposed late Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan proposed by the governor’s office…

Western Joshua Tree Protected-Status deliberations resume

by Mike Lipsitz

February 8, 2023

Stakeholders on both sides of the issue of whether to permanently include the western Joshua tree on the California Endangered Species Act’s list of threatened species will be closely monitoring the proceedings of the California Fish and Game Commission when it meets this Wednesday and Thursday (February 8-9, 2023) in Sacramento. The Western Joshua tree has enjoyed protected status since October of 2020 when the state’s Fish and Game Commission included it as a candidate species for inclusion on…

Joshua Basin Water District customers can expect rate increases, protest vote still open

by Mike Lipsitz

February 7, 2023

Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency meeting agenda for Oct. 11

Listen here: Folks who rely on the Joshua Basin Water District for service should plan for some stiff increases in water rates over the five years. Not yet set in stone, the proposed hikes will be the subject of a public hearing and protest vote deadline set for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15 at the district office on Chollita Road in Joshua Tree. Citing aging infrastructure, personnel costs, and inflation some rates would increase more than seventy-five percent by 2027. According to the…

Morongo Valley homes with contaminated water wells on SB County agenda

by Mike Lipsitz

February 6, 2023

At tomorrow’s (February 7, 2023) 10 a.m. meeting of the county supervisors in San Bernardino, there is just one agenda item that holds particular relevance for our Morongo Basin. Agenda item 35 authorizes the release of three-quarter-of-a-million dollars in State Water Resources Control Board grant funds to provide bottled drinking water to two Morongo Valley neighborhoods where the water wells are contaminated with naturally occurring gross alpha and uranium. The funds will pay for drinking…

Landers Thrift extends hours for King of Hammers attendees

by Mike Lipsitz

February 3, 2023

Landers scheduled power outage on Sat. 1/14 – Belfield Hall open with heat, wi-fi

Many retailers throughout Morongo Basin have grown accustomed to a boost each February as thousands of off-road racers and fans descend on Johnson Valley for the King of the Hammers competition. One retailer very close to the big event hopes to capitalize by extending hours and offering hard-to-find items. Volunteers at Landers Thrift Store have been busy cleaning, stocking, and organizing for the hoards expected to attend King of the Hammers. And now that the shelves are ready, the doors will…

Wednesday Water Roundup – Agendas and schedules for Jan. 31 meetings

by Mike Lipsitz

January 31, 2023

Wednesday Water Roundup – regular meeting for JBWD, Hi-Desert

Listen here: At 4 p.m. this afternoon (February 1, 2023) the Hi-Desert Water District will meet at the district office on the highway at Inca Trail. And in Joshua Tree, the Joshua Basin Water District’s regular meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the district office next the the demonstration garden on Chollita Road. Directors at the Hi-Desert Water District will hear a staff report on updates to the district’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. And down the highway, directors at the Joshua Basin Water…

New homes in Landers and Flamingo Heights may pay more for water hookup

by Mike Lipsitz

January 30, 2023

Listen here: Like much of Morongo Basin, the last several years have seen raw land in Landers and Flamingo Heights developed for new housing at an accelerating rate. Now a proposal before the Bighorn-Desert View Water Agency’s Board, if approved, will raise the cost of bringing water to those new homes. If approved, new water service line installs in Landers and Flamingo Heights will set new installations back $2,435 for a meter up to one inch. For installations one-and-a-half-inch and more, the…

Warren Valley Watermaster Meeting today (Jan. 25)

by Mike Lipsitz

January 25, 2023

Directors at the Hi-Desert Water District are expected to review and adopt the Warren Valley Basin Watermaster annual report for the twelve months beginning October 2021. The district assumed this responsibility as part of a 1992 court order. The judgment called for the monitoring of rainfall and purchased and reclaimed water and its use by all “major” producers in the Warren Basin. Those include Hi-Desert Water District, Joshua Tree Retreat Center, Hawks Landing Golf Course, and a well leased…

Hi-Desert Water District meets today (Jan. 18) – 400 properties still on septic face fines

by Mike Lipsitz

January 18, 2023

At 4 p.m. this afternoon (January 18, 2023), Yucca Valley’s Hi-Desert Water District will meet at the district office on the highway at Inca Trail. And in Joshua Tree, the Joshua Basin Water District’s regular meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at the main office on Chollita Road. The public is invited to attend either meeting in person or remotely. The roughly 400 properties that remain uncompliant with the Regional Water Board directive to hook up to the sewer line remain a priority concern for the…

Landers scheduled power outage on Sat. 1/14 – Belfield Hall open with heat, wi-fi

by Mike Lipsitz

January 14, 2023

Listen here: When much of Landers goes dark this Saturday (January 14, 2023) the lights at Belfield Hall will beckon friends and neighbors to drop in, sit down, and warm up. A scheduled outage will leave much of Landers without electricity from approximately 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday so that Southern California Edison can upgrade electric poles in the area. In response, the Landers Community Association has canceled the Second Saturday Craft Fair but will open the doors at Belfield Hall,…

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