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Land trust gaining on Nolina Peak purchase
By Mark Wheeler / Hi-Desert Star
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK — With an eye on the clock, Mojave Desert Land Trust is working hard to preserve one of the best viewsheds in the western part of the Morongo Basin. By the first of May, the new land trust group plans to close escrow on Nolina Peak, which overlooks the northern tip of the Little San Bernardino Mountains where they border the outlet of Lower Covington Flats, and which give eastbound motorists leaving Yucca Valley their first glimpse of the wide-open desert where it breaks over into Joshua Tree National Park.
It is, in fact, the national park’s own interests that originally inspired Mojave Desert Land Trust to buy the property, even though the group knew the conditions of purchase didn’t provide much time for fund-raising.
Two-for-one deal
Part of the park’s boundary runs along the south end of the Nolina Peak property. This connection means the property can be donated into the park’s possession if a willing owner, like the land trust, chooses to do so. Moreover, if the Mojave Desert Land Trust can buy and donate the 639-acre property to the park, the park’s boundary will connect with the next northernmost property — identified as section 10 — which is an isolated Bureau of Land Management holding.
Congressional law permits the two federal agencies to transfer management responsibilities for public properties under certain circumstances, if boundaries connect.
According to land trust directors, the BLM has already agreed to deed its section to the park if the Nolina Peak donation can be achieved.
In this way, purchase and donation of a single section will result in a net gain for the national park of two new sections, minus one acre where a cellular tower is located and maintained by utilities.
Considering the potential for urban expansion in the Basin, additional lands anywhere on the park’s northern boundary will serve as a valuable buffer for lands deeper within the park environment. Land trust board of directors member Paul Smith gave this buffer factor credit for exciting his group’s interest in the project. However, he also stated it was just as important to maintain Nolina Peak in its natural state because of its significant aesthetic value to residents and visitors to the Hi-Desert and the park.
“This is a good opportunity for us to preserve a classic and historic viewshed that has defined the character of this place and its people for many years,” Smith said.
Complementing Smith’s comment, National Park Conservation Association Desert Representative Deborah DeMeo added her own observation: “A scenic view like this one benefits everyone; as it dramatizes the landscape, it creates tourist appeal and could even help earn Twentynine Palms Highway a scenic highway designation in the future.”
National budget
another boost
DeMeo was able to suggest yet another public gain that might be realized with donation of the property to Joshua Tree National Park. Part of President Bush’s proposed budget to Congress for 2008 contains a provision called the “Centennial Challenge.”
In addition to other funding mechanisms, the proposal calls for the government to match, dollar-for-dollar, donations made to the National Park Service by members of the private sector.
Nolina Peak’s purchase price is approximately $700,000. Giving it to the national park could, therefore, trigger a matching $700,000 grant that would also go to Joshua Tree National Park.
DeMeo and Smith both pronounced this is a three-for-one bargain for the park and for the public.
Cautioning that the legislation is only now being written for the Centennial Challenge provision in the budget and it won’t be a sure thing until passed, DeMeo said her organization’s Washington, D.C., office reports strong support for the proposal on Capitol Hill.
In the meantime, the land trust is busy looking for the $600,000 more it needs to buy Nolina Peak by first of May.
Writing for grants and searching the philanthropist network for potential donors, the land trust group is also conducting an active local campaign.
“We are local and this cause is local,” Smith stated, expressing his confidence that, “Our neighbors here know that peak belongs to the Hi-Desert’s heritage.”
For information about making donations, call 361-6401 visit www.
mojavedesertlandtrust.org.
It is, in fact, the national park’s own interests that originally inspired Mojave Desert Land Trust to buy the property, even though the group knew the conditions of purchase didn’t provide much time for fund-raising.
Two-for-one deal
Part of the park’s boundary runs along the south end of the Nolina Peak property. This connection means the property can be donated into the park’s possession if a willing owner, like the land trust, chooses to do so. Moreover, if the Mojave Desert Land Trust can buy and donate the 639-acre property to the park, the park’s boundary will connect with the next northernmost property — identified as section 10 — which is an isolated Bureau of Land Management holding.
Congressional law permits the two federal agencies to transfer management responsibilities for public properties under certain circumstances, if boundaries connect.
According to land trust directors, the BLM has already agreed to deed its section to the park if the Nolina Peak donation can be achieved.
In this way, purchase and donation of a single section will result in a net gain for the national park of two new sections, minus one acre where a cellular tower is located and maintained by utilities.
Considering the potential for urban expansion in the Basin, additional lands anywhere on the park’s northern boundary will serve as a valuable buffer for lands deeper within the park environment. Land trust board of directors member Paul Smith gave this buffer factor credit for exciting his group’s interest in the project. However, he also stated it was just as important to maintain Nolina Peak in its natural state because of its significant aesthetic value to residents and visitors to the Hi-Desert and the park.
“This is a good opportunity for us to preserve a classic and historic viewshed that has defined the character of this place and its people for many years,” Smith said.
Complementing Smith’s comment, National Park Conservation Association Desert Representative Deborah DeMeo added her own observation: “A scenic view like this one benefits everyone; as it dramatizes the landscape, it creates tourist appeal and could even help earn Twentynine Palms Highway a scenic highway designation in the future.”
National budget
another boost
DeMeo was able to suggest yet another public gain that might be realized with donation of the property to Joshua Tree National Park. Part of President Bush’s proposed budget to Congress for 2008 contains a provision called the “Centennial Challenge.”
In addition to other funding mechanisms, the proposal calls for the government to match, dollar-for-dollar, donations made to the National Park Service by members of the private sector.
Nolina Peak’s purchase price is approximately $700,000. Giving it to the national park could, therefore, trigger a matching $700,000 grant that would also go to Joshua Tree National Park.
DeMeo and Smith both pronounced this is a three-for-one bargain for the park and for the public.
Cautioning that the legislation is only now being written for the Centennial Challenge provision in the budget and it won’t be a sure thing until passed, DeMeo said her organization’s Washington, D.C., office reports strong support for the proposal on Capitol Hill.
In the meantime, the land trust is busy looking for the $600,000 more it needs to buy Nolina Peak by first of May.
Writing for grants and searching the philanthropist network for potential donors, the land trust group is also conducting an active local campaign.
“We are local and this cause is local,” Smith stated, expressing his confidence that, “Our neighbors here know that peak belongs to the Hi-Desert’s heritage.”
For information about making donations, call 361-6401 visit www.
mojavedesertlandtrust.org.
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