The
Nolina Peak Campaign
We are excited to announce
that our grass roots campaign has succeeded in securing funding
for Nolina Peak, an important section of land bordering Joshua
Tree National Park. Due to the strong response from
local residents and Mojave Desert enthusiasts nationwide,
Nolina Peak's pristine wilderness will be protected forever.
We would like to thank our more than 450 members who have
donated approximately $90,000 toward our goal. A conservation
foundation with a strategic vision acknowledged your support
and provided the additional funds to acquire Nolina Peak.
TWO-FOR-ONE View of Nolina Peak and BLM section
to the south from Pioneertown Road and Sunnyslope, Yucca Valley
The View
Driving into the Morongo Basin your eyes scan the surrounding
ridges and land on the long ridgeline to the southeast. The
mountain you see is free of building scars, but lightly thumb
tacked by communication towers. These towers mark Nolina Peak,
639 acres of untouched view shed and open space.
The mountain itself was zoned for one house
per 40 acres, but was yet unencumbered by residential structures.
The Mojave Desert Land Trust began a campaign to “Save
Nolina Peak.” The Land Trust invited residents and Mojave
Desert enthusiasts nationwide to support the campaign, become
members of the Land Trust, and help raise the funds necessary
to buy Nolina Peak.
The grass roots campaign succeeded
in securing Nolina Peak! Due to the strong response from local
residents and Mojave Desert enthusiasts nationwide, Nolina
Peak's pristine wilderness will be protected forever.
The Land Trust would like to thank our more than 450 members
who have donated over $100,000 toward our goal. A conservation
foundation with a strategic vision acknowledged your support
and provided the additional funds to acquire Nolina Peak.
Brant Diddon, fingertips at 9 feet but not reaching
the top of this ancient nolina
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Gateway to Joshua Tree National
Park
Nolina Peak (also called Section 15) is the northern
tip of Quail Mountain and the private land guardian
of the Covington Flats area of Joshua Tree National
Park. Rising 900 feet from the desert floor it is a
wild land of ancient nolinas, Joshua trees, Mojave yuccas,
pinyon pines and scrub oaks. This is a mountain ecosystem
with a full suite of plants and animals. The land carries
the scars of fire and drought as well as millions of
days of hot sun and cold night skies. Serrano Indians
have hunted its slopes and cowboys have pastured their
cattle at its base. The mountain has supported the growth
of individual nolinas for hundreds – perhaps thousands
– of years. There is no way to measure this for
certain, but a number of the trees are huge and ancient.
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CONGRATULATIONS
Land Trust Members! This is a great success!
Two-for-One
Touching the northern boundary of Nolina Peak is Section 10,
owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These 640
acres complete the Quail Mountain watershed originating in
Joshua Tree National Park. Once the Land Trust conveys Nolina
Peak to the National Park service, the BLM will then be able
to transfer Section 10 to the National Park as well. Nolina
Peak is essential to this transaction – in order for
Section 10 to be transferred the section must be contiguous
with the Park boundary. The two sections together complete
the permanent protection of Quail Mountain. Currently Section
10 is categorized by the BLM as “surplus land”
and is in danger of being sold to developers. We must not
let that happen.
(click map to enlarge)
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