CaliforniaDesert.gov - Come and Explore America's Great Outdoors

  • CaliforniaDesert.gov - Part of America's Great Outdoors
  • CaliforniaDesert.gov - Part of America's Great Outdoors
  • CaliforniaDesert.gov - Part of America's Great Outdoors
  • CaliforniaDesert.gov - Part of America's Great Outdoors
  • CaliforniaDesert.gov - Part of America's Great Outdoors
CaliforniaDesert.gov Visit the Desert Mangers Group website Calendar of Events Find Recreational Acitivities Places of Interest Trip Planning Desert Conservation About Us Interactive Map

California Desert Conservation

The California Desert Protection Act, passed in 1994, doubled the amount of desert wilderness protected in California. The Act created Mojave National Preserve, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree national parks, along with nearly 5 million acres of designated wilderness.

Within these expansive boundaries, the bill preserves geologic wonders, plant and wildlife habitats, ancient archeology and modern history, and provides opportunities for learning and research, recreation, and relaxing.

But even on these protected lands, serious issues remain. For instance at Mojave National Preserve, mining is still permitted in places, and managers wrestle with issues of how to practice low-impact mining. Grazing also continues, and as with mining, decisions regarding acceptable levels must be made. A radioactive dump has been proposed for Ward Valley, just west of the Colorado River.

The Salton Sea, once a body of fresh water, is now 25 percent more salty than the ocean. The reasons? Agricultural run-off and evaporation. This extremely salty water, combined with the toxic algae blooms fueled by fertilizer in the run-off, has killed thousands of fish and migrating water and shore birds.

And water is always an issue everywhere in the desert.

Our desert lands are a natural treasure. You can be part of preserving them.

  • When you visit, always travel lightly. Let the desert leave its mark on you, don't leave your mark on the desert. "Leave no trace," as they say.
  • Behind its rugged face, the desert is fragile and slow to heal.
  • Learn more and get more involved by contacting organizations involved in desert issues.
  • Begin at home by recycling and reusing what might otherwise end up in a desert dump.

 

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