Elected officials, community leaders, and residents of the eastern Coachella Valley region of California joined Representative Raul Ruiz
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Coalition urges Biden to designate Chuckwalla National Monument
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Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Mecca Hills area within the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument, Bob Wick/BLM ([link removed]) .
Elected officials, community leaders, and residents of the eastern Coachella Valley region of California joined Representative Raul Ruiz at a press conference yesterday ([link removed]) to call on President Joe Biden to designate Chuckwalla National Monument ([link removed]) and expand Joshua Tree National Park.
Located to the south of Joshua Tree National Park and north of the Chocolate Mountains, the monument would permanently protect approximately 660,000 acres of federal public lands and add 17,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Park ([link removed]) . If designated, this monument will significantly contribute to the Biden administration's goal to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands by 2030.
The proposed monument and expansion include vital habitat for threatened and endangered desert wildlife ([link removed]) , including the desert tortoise, bighorn sheep, and chuckwalla, and also offer important outdoor recreation opportunities for nearby communities. The area includes the homelands of the Iviatim, Nüwü, Pipa Aha Macav, Kwatsáan, and Maara’yam peoples, and contains sacred sites and objects, traditional cultural places, geoglyphs, petroglyphs, and pictographs. The proposal offers methods for Tribes to collaborate with the federal government, including potential co-management.
“This is so exciting to me because it comes from the people, this isn't coming from me telling you this is what I'm doing, or the government telling you what to do,” said Representative Ruiz ([link removed]) . “This is coming from the young men and women who live in our communities and don't access our national parks, from the individuals in the communities like the promotoras who have worked tirelessly to help our communities with health, and now this will give access to parks where they can bring the community to and improve their health.”
New analysis shows fracking wells are using more water than ever
An investigation by the New York Times ([link removed]) has revealed that the amount of water consumed by the oil industry has surged to record levels, with much of it sourced from aquifers that are already being drained at alarming rates ([link removed]) . In particular, there hass been a sevenfold increase in water consumption by fracking wells since 201, primarily due to a new technique to first drill downward and then horizontally for thousands of feet. In total, oil and gas operators reported using about 1.5 trillion gallons of water since 2011, and the large-scale projects dubbed “monster fracks” ([link removed]) can use up to 40 million gallons per well. Currently, oil companies are not required to have
permits to drill their own groundwater wells and there is no consistent requirement for the monitoring or reporting of groundwater used for fracking.
** Quick hits
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Local leaders gather to support Chuckwalla National Monument and Joshua Tree National Park expansion
Palm Springs Desert Sun ([link removed]) | NBC Palm Springs ([link removed])
‘Monster Fracks’ are getting far bigger and far thirstier
New York Times ([link removed])
Thousands of federal firefighters face a looming pay cut
NPR ([link removed]) | Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
Deb Haaland, Tracy Stone-Manning visit proposed Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument expansion in California
Sierra Sun Times ([link removed]) | Department of the Interior ([link removed]) [press release]
Colorado River officials extend stumbling program that pays farmers, ranchers to use less water
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Biologists in slow and steady race to help North America's largest and rarest tortoise species
Associated Press ([link removed]) | Nature World News ([link removed])
Experts debate methods for addressing methane leaks in the remediated Coal Basin
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
President’s Investing in America agenda provides resources for Tribal Nations to address legacy pollution
Great Falls Tribune ([link removed]) | Department of the Interior ([link removed].) [press release]
** Quote of the day
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” If we lose our wildland firefighters, we’re going to lose our natural resources, we’re going to lose cities and towns and we’re going to lose lives. This is not just about wildland firefighters—this is about the safety of our country.”
—Max Alonzo, representative for the National Federation of Federal Employees, Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
** Picture This
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[link removed]
@grandcanyonnps ([link removed])
“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.” – Oscar Wilde
View from Grand Canyon Village, Saturday, September 23, 2023.
After a day filled with rain and fog, the storm began to clear late in the afternoon.
Pleasant conditions are on tap for the upcoming week, mostly sunny with a gradual warming trend. At this time, the potential for rain remains under 10%, however, updates to the forecast are likely. Winds will also increase Wednesday and into Thursday.
#AZWX ([link removed]) #FallEquinox ([link removed]) #GrandCanyon ([link removed]) 📷NPS/M. Quinn
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