The News from Joshua Tree

Joshua Park-Flood Damage Causes Temporary Closures

Strong thunderstorms that passed across the north central area of the park on August 4th caused flooding that damaged park facilities and forced a number of temporary closures. Due to flash flood damage, a section of Indian Cove Road, the Indian Cove campground and group campsites, the Rattlesnake Canyon day use area, and a five-mile-long segment of the North Entrance Road from the North Entrance to the Pinto Wye junction were all closed. The North Entrance Road has now reopened, with a temporary graded road through the flood area.

Sticky fingers target cactuses in Palm Desert to resell for barrels of money

PALM DESERT -- Someone is swiping the cactuses in this upscale desert city.

Over the last six months, there has been an epidemic of thefts. Officials say they have lost nearly $20,000 worth of the plants. The main target is the golden barrel, which, depending on its size, can fetch anywhere from $100 to $800 each.

The problem is so bad that surveillance cameras have gone up near large concentrations of cactuses in urban landscaping, and authorities expect to implant microchips into the barrels soon to track their whereabouts.

Comparing Cellphone Reception in National Parks

Now that it's officially summer, Californians are running for the hills, mountains, deserts and oceans for a bit of vacation time. But if you're one of those people for whom vacation means obsessively checking Gmail on your BlackBerry, the time away can be maddening.

That cottage in the mountains is charming enough until Day 3 without cellphone reception.

So we did some homework for those of you considering excursions into the boonies this summer. We compared the coverage maps of the big four cellphone providers (available on their websites) with the boundaries of five of California's most popular national parks: Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia, King's Canyon and Yosemite.

Don’t trash Joshua Tree National Park

Which word doesn’t belong with “national park?” Wildflowers, wildlife, hiking, night sky, garbage dump? No doubt you answered “garbage dump,” yet the biggest landfill in the United States may be developed right next to California’s Joshua Tree National Park.

Fortunately, a lawsuit filed by the National Parks Conservation Association and others is trying to halt this misguided proposal. The lawsuit, currently under appeal in the federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, argues that the landfill fails to serve the public interest, that a land exchange making the dump possible was improper, and the environmental impact statement flawed.

"Who would have thought that a federal agency that is supposed to be looking out for the best interests of U.S. citizens would have allowed this ridiculous proposal to come this far?” says Ron Sundergill, Pacific Region director of the National Parks Conservation Association.

Packing heat in parks? Bill fires up controversy

A 60-day comment period has opened on a controversial Bush administration proposal to allow loaded, concealed firearms in the nation’s national parks, said Mike Cipra of the National Parks Conservation Association.

If passed, the legislation will allow an individual to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges if that person is permitted to carry a concealed weapon and is authorized to do so on similar state lands in the state in which the national park or refuge is located.

Under existing laws, guns can be transported through parks, but they must be stored out of reach and unloaded. The NPCA, which opposes the plan, said the proposed change is being orchestrated by the National Rifle Association.