Listen here:
David Smith joined Gary Daigneault on the “Up Close Show” last week to talk to outgoing Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent David Smith. One of the many things they discussed was the recent collaboration signed between the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians and the National Park Service.
“The NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act) dictates that I need to collaborate and talk to all 15 of the tribal groups that that have a legacy to Joshua Tree, and because Twentynine Palms is our closest reservation often they take the lead in a lot of these discussions. Chairman Mike has reached out to me and said ‘you know what we are developing property along the boundary of the park at our reservation site you know how can we work together so that what we’re doing is compatible with the parks trying to do?'”
The agreement will allow the tribe to use the land behind Tortoise Rock Casino to build a trail that loops into the park, as well as a campground and a tortoise rescue area. The trailhead and campground should allow more people to experience the park, especially on busy days.
The long-in-the-works collaboration also provides mutual aid with access to federal law enforcement, EMS, search and rescue, and fire.
The planned tortoise rescue area would serve as a place where people could safely drop off a tortoise that they can no longer care for – as respiratory diseases spread from human contact makes them incompatible with native tortoises in the national park.
The agreement has been in the works for a couple years, and Smith says the partnership is going to be a positive one for both parties.
“I saw this as win, win win across the way, and the right thing to do.”
Previously Reported:
