Proposed rule may ban rock-hunting in Mojave Trails National Monument

Rock collecting in the Mojave Trails National Monument that includes Route 66 in southern California may become banned under a proposed rule by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The Los Angeles Times reports the BLM is nearing completion of a management plan that could declare rock collecting a form of mining. If that happens, … Continue reading Proposed rule may ban rock-hunting in Mojave Trails National Monument

Route 66 in the Mojave Desert may become a Dark Sky Sanctuary

The Mojave Trails National Monument, which includes a long stretch of Route 66 in the Southern California desert, may be designated a Dark Sky Sanctuary that could attract star-watchers from all over the globe. Travel + Leisure magazine broke the story about the possible designation. The Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave, or WISDOM, research … Continue reading Route 66 in the Mojave Desert may become a Dark Sky Sanctuary

Tribal, national parks groups file suit to protect Mojave Desert from Cadiz water project

The Native American Land Conservancy and National Parks Conservation Association last month filed a federal lawsuit that challenges the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s decision in the final days of the Trump administration that benefitted the Cadiz water proposal.  According to a news release posted in the Sierra Sun Times: The BLM issued a right-of-way … Continue reading Tribal, national parks groups file suit to protect Mojave Desert from Cadiz water project

Interior Secretary recommends no changes to Mojave Trails National Monument

Ryan Zinke, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, recommended shrinking six national monuments after a review ordered by President Donald Trump. But the Mojave Trails National Monument wasn't one of them, nor did Zinke recommend any other changes to the Southern California site in his memo. The Zinke's report to the president wasn't supposed to … Continue reading Interior Secretary recommends no changes to Mojave Trails National Monument

Interior Secretary recommends Mojave Trails National Monument be preserved

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said Thursday he's recommending none of the 27 national monuments -- including Mojave Trails National Monument in California -- under review by the Trump administration be eliminated. Although the elimination of the Mojave Trails appears to be off the table, Zinke may recommend other changes for it and … Continue reading Interior Secretary recommends Mojave Trails National Monument be preserved

Two hikers found dead near Amboy Crater

Two people hiking near Amboy Crater in Amboy, California, were found dead Saturday afternoon after apparently being overcome by the terrain's 113-degree temperatures. According to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, the people pronounced dead at the scene were Kathie Barber, 58, and Gen Miake, 60, a married couple from Yorba … Continue reading Two hikers found dead near Amboy Crater

Trump’s order to review national monuments ultimately may not mean much

President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order to review the designation of about two dozen national monuments since 1996, including the new Mojave Trails National Monument along Route 66 in Southern California. However, the order may not be as grave as environmentalists and Route 66ers fear. The president said he wanted to overturn … Continue reading Trump’s order to review national monuments ultimately may not mean much

National parks likely will offer naming rights

The Painted Desert in Arizona won't be renamed the Sherwin Williams Painted Desert anytime soon. But many other things will be up for grabs when the National Park Service begins to look for naming rights for many parts of its facilities. The Washington Post this week published a story about this development. Hard up for money because of flat funding from … Continue reading National parks likely will offer naming rights

Formal celebration held for new California monuments

The recent designation of three national monuments in California -- including the Mojave Trails National Monument that includes Route 66 -- was formally celebrated Thursday by conservationists and the Secretary of the Interior. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell attended the celebration, according to The Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs. The other two monuments are the Sand … Continue reading Formal celebration held for new California monuments

An example of why Congress is unpopular

House Republicans in Washington opened an investigation into President Obama’s recent designation of three new national monuments, including Route 66's Mojave Trails National Monument, in the California desert. Obama used his authority under the 1906 Antiquities Act for the designation, doubling the amount of land he previously set aside and setting a record. The San Francisco Chronicle … Continue reading An example of why Congress is unpopular