California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife exploring how to reduce financial burden of Yucca Valley sewer hook-ups

The California Fish and Game Commission met on April 16th to discuss the public feedback that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) had received on the draft Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan at two workshops they held in February. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act is the California law that was put into place in July of 2023, and it's the piece of legislation that limits what you can do around a Western Joshua Tree unless it's authorized by the CDFW. The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan is required by the Act and it serves as a plan on how to best conserve the Western Joshua Tree in the state of California. The difference between the Act and the Plan was a distinction that CDFW Director Chuck Bonham wanted to make before the presentation on the public feedback, which he says was primarly about the permitting that the Act requires. Chuck Bonham: "One of the most frequent comments we heard in those two workshops was from private residential landowner about California Environmental Quality Act barriers to whatever project they may be doing on their own private property." While the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act is statewide most Joshua Trees grow right here in the hi-desert. Particularly in its namesake community of Joshua Tree as well as the neighboring town of Yucca Valley. The Yucca Valley Town Council held their own presentation on the potential fees a property owner could face under the current guidelines for a take permit, with the range of the examples coming in in the tens of thousands of dollars for a project such as hooking your home up to a sewer system. This was a particularly relevant example which was also referenced by Director Bonham. Chuck Bonham: "The Hi-Desert Water District has a directive to complete some sewer and water line public health projects, and we think we have a concept to keep them on the pathway to get this water quality project done. We've been working through buffers and mitigation fees to deal with a second prong of this project. Eventually they need to hook up like 2,000 residents. So trying to figure out a CEQA platform, reduce impacts, instead of digging up everyone's septic tank 2,000 times, there might be a way to bury in place, keep the tanks underground, avoid the construction which would impact trees. " Currently, the plan suggests a take permit for any ground disturbance within a 50-foot radius buffer from each western Joshua Tree on your property as well as adjacent properties as well. Chuck Bonham: "The part of our communities in the Mojave region that may struggle the most could be that homeowner. They're really struggling with the cost of environmental review. So the department hasn't decided entirely, but is willing to consider preparing a programmatic EIR for that set of activities, which really could reduce the cost burden for individual landowners." The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan is due for further review in June where it is expected to contain several changes. You can can read more about the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan and Act on the CDFW's website. Read More: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Western Joshua Tree Page