The California Fish and Game Commission met yesterday, October 14, in an all-day zoom meeting that included decisions regarding protections of the Mohave desert tortoise and the Western Joshua tree. Reporter Heather Clisby has the details …
Yesterday, October 14, the California Fish and Game Commission gathered online to dig into various environmental issues, including two items relative to the Morongo Basin.
As part of the Consent Calendar (items approved without discussion), the Mohave desert tortoise (also known as Agassiz’s desert tortoise) was approved for a six-month extension to deliver a one-year status review report. The decision improves chances of elevating the tortoises’ status from “threatened” to “endangered.”
The commission also unanimously approved a 90-day extension of emergency regulations for the Western Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) during the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) candidacy period.
Early in the meeting, Yucca Valley property owner Kelsey Kaszas asked the commission to consider revising certain restrictions. Current city law dictates that any digging done within 10 feet of a tree must result in the removal and transplanting of said tree. Kaszas stated that in working with a local arborist, she learned that tree removal under these conditions is unnecessary and incurs more trauma. In fact, transplanted Joshua trees do not always survive.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham noted that current regulations provide some flexibility. Bonham quoted regulations stating that property development “shall avoid all ground-disturbing activities within 10 feet of a Joshua tree unless those activities will be temporary and not affect the tree or its root system and not a greater depth than 12 inches.”
The next meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission will be held mid-December.
