Public Lands
Joshua Tree National Park Ranger Anna Marini awarded for success with Preventative Search and Rescue Program
JTNP Ranger Anna Marini Photo: Joshua Tree National Park To educate and assist some of the 3.27 million visitors exploring Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP) annually, JTNP Ranger Anna Marini created the Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR)…
July is Disability Pride Month, celebrating access for everybody on our public lands
July is Disability Pride Month - celebrated since 1990 when the American with Disabilities Act or ADA was passed into law which prohibits discrimination based on disability. It’s the "ADA" in ADA compliance - a regulation that creates…
Be on the lookout for tortoises seeking shade under your tires
If the sizzling sun has you seeking shade when soaking in the sites and sounds of the summer’s seasonal splendor - then you aren’t alone. The Mojave Desert Tortoise can be a rare site to see out in the open desert, and as summer hits us with…
Three search & rescues on Sunday highlight importance of being prepared in the hi-desert
You’ve heard us and everyone else talk about it - triple digit temps continue to batter the Basin with unrelenting heat during the day, with barely a reprieve at night. The National Weather Service, National Park Service, State and County…
Campground prices set to increase in Mojave National Preserve, public comments sought
Four developed campgrounds in the neighboring public lands to the north are slated for a fee increase, and the Mojave National Preserve wants to consider your comments before making the change permanent. This would be the first fee increase in…
The Desert View Conservancy Area: a more accessible and quieter alternative to Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree’s Desert View Conservation Area, also known as Section 6, is an underrated annex to the National Park that makes an easily accessible alternative for locals and tourists alike who’d prefer to avoid the traffic going into the crowds…
Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act input
The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (WJTCA ) was enacted with the aim of protecting the culturally and ecologically important tree while supporting the state’s renewable energy and housing development priorities. Part of this effort is…
Whitewater Preserve parking lot limited due to overcrowding
Whitewater Preserve visitors should be aware that the Preserve’s paved parking lot is now limited to just the bridge crossing area. The Preserve says that the overcrowding of parked cars and recreating families has led to multiple safety hazards…
Free California State Park pass program saved from budget cuts
A popular State Park Library pass program has been saved from being cut due to the budget shortfalls. The California State Library Park Pass needed $6.5 millions dollars to continue its mission of providing free State Park admission passes to…
Joshua Tree National Park intensifies fire restrictions amidst rising wildfire risks
During the June 21 'Up Close' show, hosted by Gary Daigneault, Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Jane Rogers, calling from a remote location, discussed the stringent fire restrictions and the park's proactive measures to…
Tips to Stay Safe in Joshua Tree National Park during the hottest months
Anna Marini is the Search and Rescue Coordinator for Joshua Tree National Park, and during a recent interview with on the June 21st episode of "The Up Close Show," she and Joshua Tree National park Superintendent Jane Rodgers went over…
Bighorn sheep get a drink from hi-desert volunteers hauling water and muscle to the Mojave National Preserve
Last month The Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep put out the call for volunteers to haul water into the Mojave National Preserve and Sheephole Mountain Wilderness. Large water collection and storage systems called “guzzlers” provide…
Fire restrictions begin in Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park has implemented fire restrictions beginning on Saturday, June 15 through Tuesday, October 1 due to the hot, dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger. The restriction covers the entire park, including all…
The hi-desert is surrounded by abundant public lands, both state and federal
California’s newest state park, Dos Rios, officially opened to the public on Wednesday, June 12. Located about 8 miles west of Modesto in the San Joaquin Valley, the approximately 1,600-acre Dos Rios property is the largest public-private…
Protect California Deserts holds info session ahead of Friday’s BLM meeting on Chuckwalla Nat. Monument
Members from Protect California Deserts (PDC) met last night to give an overview of the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument located south of Joshua Tree National Park, which also served a primer for a Bureau of Land Management-led community…
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“The Desert Nutcracker” dances on stage this weekend at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center
A local organization is working to bring more organized, low-cost dance…
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