Today, David Bernhardt was confirmed as Deputy Interior Secretary, the second ranking position in the Department of the Interior. Bernhardt’s career as a lobbyist, and work at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck for Cadiz Inc, a company that aims to drain water from an aquifer in the Mojave Trails National Monument for use in coastal communities, makes his appointment a direct threat to the health and well-being of the Mojave Desert. As second in command at DOI, Bernhardt will have the power to ease regulations on the same interests he has been paid to represent.

Rimrock Ranch, founded in 1947 and located 5 miles from historic Pioneertown, will host a fundraiser for the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) featuring Academy Award, Grammy Award, and Golden Globe-winning musician Ryan Bingham. Bingham will perform an acoustic set on the 11-acre property to a sold-out limited audience on July 22, 2017. Joshua Tree Coffee Company and Hangar 24 Craft Brewery will also donate coffee and beer, respectively, to the show in support of MDLT.

Representative Cook has not communicated with his constituents about the Trump Administration’s Executive Order to review select national monuments. Despite his lack of a public statement, Rep. Cook expressed his position in a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Zinke, encouraging that the Mojave Trails National Monument be reduced in size.

Yesterday, the Department of the Interior (DOI) closed its public comment period for the review of the national monuments designated under the Antiquities Act. The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) submitted 1,259 public comments in support of the two California desert national monuments under review: Mojave Trails and Sand to Snow. In response to April’s executive order threatening the national monuments designations, MDLT launched its Desert Defenders campaign to rally community members in support of the three California desert national monuments. Since May, they have held 5 rallies in locations across the desert, including Barstow, Indio, and Redlands.

Today, Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) hosted a final rally at their headquarters in Joshua Tree with over 100 attendees standing up in support of the California desert national monuments. On April 26, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of the Interior to review the designations of national monuments under the Antiquities Act. MDLT launched its Desert Defenders campaign to rally community members in support of the Mojave National Monuments in response to the federal attacks to their protection.

In June, the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) finalized the acquisition of a 60-acre parcel of land containing Samuelson’s Rocks, a unique cultural site inside Joshua Tree National Park. A long-time favorite spot for local hikers, the property is best known for its eight boulders carved with quotes from John Samuelson, a homesteader and Swedish immigrant who worked in an area goldmine starting in 1927. Samuelson carved his philosophies into the boulders around his property.

Yesterday, Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) hosted a Monuments for All rally at Idle Spurs Steakhouse in Barstow. The event had around 35 attendees standing up in support of the California desert national monuments. The rally featured live music and inspirational speeches from community leaders, including David Lamfrom, Director of the California Desert and National Wildlife programs at the National Parks Conservation Association, and Carmen Hernandez, Mayor Pro Tem of Barstow.

In response to the Trump administration’s Executive Order to review national monuments, California legislators today passed Assembly Joint Resolution 15, a bill in support of the California State Legislature to continue protecting national monuments. The bill received bipartisan support in the legislature, with four Republican Assemblymembers and one Republican Senator voting in favor. The national monuments protect ecosystems, preserve local cultural heritage, and provide economic opportunities for surrounding communities.

Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved David Bernhardt as Deputy Interior Secretary, the second ranking official in the Department of the Interior. Bernhardt has conducted legal work for Cadiz Inc., a company that aims to drain water from an aquifer in the Mojave Trails National Monument for use in coastal communities. He was approved in a 14-9 vote and will proceed to a full Senate hearing.

Today, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international climate change agreement addressing greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. Without the United States’ commitment to reducing greenhouse gases emissions, scientists predict that the Earth is likely to hit dangerous levels of warming sooner than expected.

Today, the California State Assembly passed Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 15, a bill to protect federal public lands, maintain the integrity of the Antiquities Act, and honor the designation of national monuments designated since 1906. The bill is a response to the Department of the Interior (DOI) review of the national monuments designated using the Antiquities Act.

Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved David Bernhardt as Deputy Interior Secretary, the second ranking official in the Department of the Interior. Bernhardt has conducted legal work for Cadiz Inc., a company that aims to drain water from an aquifer in the Mojave Trails National Monument for use in coastal communities. He was approved in a 14-9 vote and will proceed to a full Senate hearing.

Today, the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) launched the next phase of its Desert Defenders campaign to protect the new California desert national monuments. MDLT has led local organizing in response to President Trump’s executive order that threatens the protected status of Sand to Snow and Mojave Trails National Monuments. On the morning of the executive order, they launched their Desert Defenders campaign to encourage supporters to call their representatives and show support for their national monuments.

Today, Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) hosted a rally with over 250 attendees standing up against the federal attacks on the California desert national monuments. The rally was held in response to the executive order signed April 26, 2017, instructing the Department of the Interior to review the designations of national monuments under the Antiquities Act. The executive order threatens the protections for the three California Desert national monuments – Castle Mountains, Sand to Snow, and Mojave Trails.

Today, President Trump will sign an executive order instructing the Department of the Interior to review the designations of national monuments under the Antiquities Act. This executive order threatens the protections for the three California Desert national monuments – Castle Mountains, Sand to Snow, and Mojave Trails – designated in 2016 using the Antiquities Act.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) recently received a grant to support its work with Outdoor Outreach to bring youth to Joshua Tree National Park for a weekend of camping and outdoor education. The grant is part of the National Park Service and the Outdoor Foundation’s 2017 Challenge Cost Share Program, which supports projects that promote urban outreach, youth engagement and connecting people to the outdoors. The partners selected 19 projects, from 134 applications, and will award more than $360,000 that will be matched by an estimated $760,000 in direct and in-kind contributions from recipients.

Today, the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) hosted its annual Spring Open House at Amboy Crater, an extinct cinder cone in the Mojave Trails National Monument. MDLT’s Spring Open House is an opportunity for both newcomers to learn about MDLT’s projects and returning community members enjoy the activities. The event was “Backyard BBQ” themed and featured related crafts and guided hikes along the rim of the crater.

This weekend, the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) partnered with the Joshua Treenial to launch Reading the Landscape, a set of guidelines to help artists make informed decisions about engaging with desert lands and their delicate ecosystems. The tips served as a resource to advise artists throughout their creative processes and ensure that each step is done in a way that will preserve the landscapes for future generations. This year’s Joshua Treenial, its second iteration since the first festival in 2015, was weekend of art, installations, and performances highlighting the artistic inspiration drawn from the desert lands.

Today, the California Conservation Corps’ (CCC) Veterans Conservation Corps joined the Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF), Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for clean-up and restoration in the Sand to Snow National Monument. The work was funded by a $35,000 grant from Edison International to support training, mentorship, and paid job opportunities for post-9/11 military veterans. The crew worked with MDLT volunteers on Hondo Wash, located along the north side of Black Lava Butte near the Flamingo Heights neighborhood. Veterans spent the morning posting signs to mark trails and restoring habitats by planting native flora.

 This Saturday, a group of veterans and students joined the California Wilderness Coalition, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California, and Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) for a tour of Camp Iron Mountain, one of the best-preserved World War II training facilities from the 12-million-acre Desert Training Center (DTC) located in the Mojave Trails National Monument. The three Mojave National Monuments – Sand to Snow, Castle Mountains, and Mojave Trails – were designated in 2016.