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We are on Cahuilla, Chemehuevi/Mission,Serrano,
Southern Paiute, Quechan Native Land
Tambien, Esta Tierra fue Mexico
Guided Ecological Observation Tours
The Desert Experience
30 mins east of Indio, CA
50 mins east of Palm Springs
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Desert Stewards Observations and Notes regarding Chuckwalla NM Environmental Protection
The following projects are in process of organization and funding. We hope to have greater direction, information and progress reports as the projects manifest.
If you or someone you know would like to volunteer or provide support, please call or email to discuss. We are grateful.
I10, CalTrans, Freight drivers, dumping and Trash - So much activity on the highway needs to be addressed. These are notes from Desert Stewards regarding the highway and traffic.​
Desert Stewards has taken active steps to partner with Chiriaco Summit and Caltrans Adopt-a-highway program to help clean Exit 173. ​
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Project Recommendations:
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Desert Campaign to bring awareness and hold accountability to the freight and trucking industry. Lit signs and traffic notification of California Beautification Campaign.
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Highlight penalties for dumping, keep your trash in your vehicle until you find a trash can.
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"Human Waste is Hazardous Waste" - Don't Litter or dump your waste in our desert.
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Cactus City Rest Area upgrade potential. for a larger capacity of trucks to stop overnight, to lighten the interchanges at Exit 168 and Exit 173 where there are no services directly on the highway.
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Cooperation with CalTrans to install barriers and signs indicating where is acceptable to park or stop, and where it is unsafe and unacceeptable. I.e. the ramps coming off the highway are packed at night with trucks pulled off to sleep. This is where they dump their trash and human waste containers.
Illegal OHV Use - Orocopia Mountains Wilderness
The Orocopia Mountains have three main routes for OHV recreation. Red Canyon Trail and Meccacopia trail, and the Bradshaw trail. Amy's Wash and a couple numbered toutes off the Bradshaw Trail are ways that vehicles are entering the wilderness on existing routes that have been created illegally over the past 15 years.
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What does the management want to do about this use?
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Recommendations: ​
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Campaign to alert all OHV traffic at main access point to the wilderness that it is illegal to go into the wilderness, except on foot, and fines and penalties for doing this action.
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Post new signs at all trailheads and washes along the entire perimiter of the wilderness. Education of Tortoise, Sheep and other wildlife, Responsible use,
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Hire an interim Ranger to govern the monument, particularly this active area from the Mecca Hills, through the Orocopia Mtns, and the south side of Joshua Tree NP.
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There is only 1 BLM ranger for the whole Coachella greater valley.
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Transects - Ecological observations and land monitoring
Utility roads transecting the Desert Tortoise Linkage Reserve offer an opportunity to monitor the public and private lands .
The following benefits can be gained by scheduled and emergency monitoring and engagement with Low Speed Electric Vehicles offered by Desert Stewards ecological transportation services, as well as a hybrid or electric trucks with larger range.
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Project Highlights:
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Private and Public Land monitoring (including ohv use, camping, dumping, scouting, land evaluation, other issues or threats.
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Environmental observations and digital mapping (including wildlife sightings, invasive plants plant health, climate monitoring,
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Hydrological observation and data collection for understanding climate change and resilience of the ecosystem
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Trail signage and Kiosks at key intersections and along the roads and trails. Highlights are speed limits, sensitive habitat, wildlife information, discourage nighttime driving, slow signs.
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Utility monitoring and transportation access if needed for emergency or routine checks.
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Potential Partners: The Living Desert, BLM, Private land owners, utility companies, Desert Stewards and Non-profit conservation partner for funding.
Desert Tortoise Linkage Reserve Unit Management Suggestions
1. Speed Limit policy suggestion for BLM and Private Land owners. Create or draft policy for speed limit, get it approved with BLM and or Private Land owners, Implement enforcements and signage notifying the public. Cooperation with Tread Lightly?
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2. Night Driving policy suggestion for BLM and Private Land Owners. Is it currently policy at BlM to discourage night riding, and or speed limits? Draft and get it approved and implement enforcement with signage notifying the public. Also with Tread Lightly?
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3. Trail signage
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4. Create and support Hiking trails accessed by OHV into the Wilderness, to help stop the illegal OHV use. Hiking is more passive and is in line with the Wilderness concept, as well as people parking to hike, can help report illegal use.
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5. Critter Cams at trails, hidden to take pictures or video and upload to the cloud in order to get realtime abuse sightings and alerts.
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6. Hire a monitor or ranger to partol the area daily, or weekly and get alerts when there is an OHV violation, in order to be able to head them off at the pass or when they return. This person can be stationed at Chiriaco Summit, for easy access, or in Mecca. Or both, 2 rangers to help monitor the new monument and existing wilderness areas.
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