Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act
Overview
The western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) was granted legislative protection through the passage of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act as part of the state’s Public Resources Trailer Bill (Senate Bill 122) on July 10, 2023. Please review the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act for new regulations governing the species. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently developing guidance on “take” or “removal” permits. Information is frequently being updated. Please refer to CDFW’s website for the most up-to-date information.
Read on for information on reporting violations and a list of resources for those who may need the professional assistance associated with permits authorizing either the removal or trimming of western Joshua trees.
Reporting violations:
To report a possible violation, the process is as follows:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The first point of contact for reporting is California Fish and Wildlife’s CalTIP service.
https://wildlife.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip
Call CalTIP (888) 334-CalTIP/ (888) 334-2258
Documentation of violations is helpful to law enforcement. Some details that could be helpful include:
The date and time of the violation
Vehicle descriptions and/or license plates
Details of the violation – the size of the area and number of trees, is it ongoing or after the fact
Photographic or video documentation
We want to emphasize that your safety is paramount and that you should not put yourself in danger. If there is any potential for confrontation, we recommend you do not gather information/evidence, but instead, that you call law enforcement from a safe location and that you give them the location and a description of what you saw. If you can wait, meet them when they arrive, answer any further questions they have, and give them directions to the location of the violation.
Timely reporting of violations is important. If a wildlife or code enforcement office can reach the scene while the violation is taking place, it makes it much easier to prove and support.
Resources for persons seeking a permit
CDFW is now accepting WJTCA Incidental Take Permit Applications
To apply for a WJTCA ITP:
Assemble and submit documents to your regional office.
MDLT neither recommends nor endorses the individuals or firms shown here. The list is maintained as a courtesy to the public. If you would like your firm added to this list, please contact info@mdlt.org.
Joshua Tree Movers:
The Landscape Center [Arborist/Tree Mover]
Attn: Dillon Reynolds
9505 Cleveland Avenue, Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 352-8383
Joshua Tree Evaluators:
Greg Ainsworth, MCRP [Biologist/CEQA/NEPA/Permitting/Arboriculture/Restoration/Compliance-Construction Monitoring]
Natural Resources and Forestry Director
Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Environmental Scientists | Planners | Engineers
805-644-4455 x3061
818-564-5544 Mobile
805-465-9091 Direct
rinconconsultants.com
Arbor Tech Services [Warren Miller ISA #WE-2001A] [Arborist]
(760) 322-2234
carissa@arbortechservicesps.com
PO Box 2509
Palm Springs, CA 92263
Attn: Carissa Sheen
www.arbortechservicesps.com
Serving: Entire Coachella Valley, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree
Randy Arnold, Principal & Senior Biologist
RCA Associates, LLC.
15555 Main Street, Suite D4-235
Hesperia, California 92345
760-956-9212 – Office
760-244-0791 – Fax
rca123@aol.com
Mitchel Beauchamp [Biologist/CEQA/Joshua Tree Planning]
Pacific Southwest Biological Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 985
National City, CA 91951
619-477-5333
619-477-5380 fax
mitch@psbs.com
Envicom Corporation [Botanist/Biologist/Arborist/NEPA/CEQA/Land Planning/Environmental Constraints/Development Suitability/GIS/Permitting and Compliance] [CA Fish and Wildlife]
28328 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
818-879-4700
Kay J. Greeley [ISA Certified Arborist/Civil Engineer/Joshua Tree Preservation Plans]
284 Valley Gate Road
Simi Valley, CA 93065
805-577-8432
Mark Hagan [Wildlife Biologist/Botany/CEQA/Joshua Tree Preservation Plans]
44715 17th Street East
Lancaster, CA 93535
661-723-0086
Cell: 661-433-9956
Wnaturelover1@aol.com
Richard Ibarra [Consulting Arborist/Joshua Tree Impacts]
Trees, Etc.
P.O. Box 4583
Thousand Oaks, CA 91359
805-558-8733
Tip Top Tree Arborists [Arborist]
Attn: Tom Baal
P.O. Box 2107
Lancaster, CA 93539
661-942-5501
661-810-3772 cell
Marinna Wagner [Consulting / Reporting]
ISA Certified Arborist
#WE-13354A
408-307-2545 (email preferred)
marinnawagner@gmail.com
Yucca Valley, CA
Taylor Guyette [ISA Certified Arborist]
ISA #WE-13016A
760-821-5792
taymaringuyette@gmail.com
Altec Land Planning / Altec Engineering, Inc.
Randy Coleman [AICP, Certified Arborist, Certified Wildlife Biologist, CDFW: Scientific Collecting Permit #11586, PE #36292, PLS #5413, QSD/P]
Ginger Coleman [MPA, Director of Environmental Planning]
Chad Martin [Project Manager for Surveying/Topography and Grading Plans]
Planning Office: (760) 242-9917
Engineering Office: (760) 242-9900
P.O. Bo 1175
Model Home:
19531 Highway 18
Apple Valley, CA 92307
Gene Jennings [Consultant/Environmental Review and Compliance: CEQA, NEPA, MSHCP/Pre-Project Agency Consultation/Project Development/Technical Studies and Reporting]
35414 Acacia Ave Yucaipa, CA
(909) 534-4547
e-mail: gene@jennings-environmental.com
www.jennings-environmental.com
Rocks Biological Consulting
Keoni Calantas
(619) 769-4415
www.rocksbio.com
(1) Desert native plant specialist means: (A) An arborist certified by the International Society of Arborists; or (B) An individual with a four-year college degree in ecology or fish and wildlife related biological science from an accredited college and at least two years of professional experience with relocation or restoration of native California desert vegetation; or (C) An individual with at least five years of professional experience with relocation or restoration of native California desert vegetation.