New Proposal Could Protect Public Lands in the California Desert
On Nov. 10, the Bureau of Land Management issued its proposed Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) for California, which could protect significant areas of public lands in the California desert while identifying others for potential renewable energy development.
The plan provides a landscape-level approach to protecting wildlife habitat across the desert, which is home to such iconic species as bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and bobcats. Despite its overall success in protecting landscapes, however, the plan should be strengthened in the western portions of the planning area, such as in the Pisgah Valley.
Since the BLM released its first draft of the DRECP in 2014, the agency has made important, positive changes to the plan, adding more durable protections to conservation lands and removing landscapes such as Silurian Valley from potential areas of development. Adding stronger protections from development activities, such as mining, remains a priority issue for conservation lands.
Bob Wick
Bob Wick
Bob Wick
Bob Wick
File Name: Desert_Bighorn_Sheep_Joshua_Tree_4.JPG Source: WIkimedia Commons Description: Desert Bighorn Sheep(Ovis canadensis nelsoni) in Joshua Tree National Park. Photo Credit: Magnus Kjaergaard Campaign: CAW PEG Contact: Alicia LaPorte Expiraiton Date: NA Written Permission: NA Notes: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desert_Bighorn_Sheep_Joshua_Tree_4.JPG
Magnus Kjaergaard
Magnus Kjaergaard
Blooming Brittlebush in a wash east of Denning Spring, Avawatz Mountains Wilderness Study Area, CA
John Dittli
John Dittli
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) today, which would protect significant areas of public lands in the California desert—including the Cadiz and Silurian valleys, the Iron Mountains, and the Chuckwalla Bench. The plan also identifies certain areas of public lands in the desert that would be available for potential renewable energy development. Governor Jerry Brown (D) now has 60 days to review the plan before BLM can sign and implement it.
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