Very promising efforts have recently been instituted to more closely examine local air quality, especially as impacting the National Park.20 Results of these endeavors are anticipated to illuminate the nature of the problem and hopefully suggest possible remedies. In the meantime, the following is offered as a first step toward meeting the challenge of reversing the unfortunate trend of ever advancing pollution into this once pristine locality.
The exact contribution of local sources of air pollution in Joshua Tree is somewhat uncertain. There is anecdotal reporting of increased local haze coinciding with periods of heavy use of dirt roads.21 Best likelihood is that the majority of larger (PM10) particulate matter is locally generated. In any case, serious effort toward reduction of local air pollution is obviously mandated.
Recommendations for this objective are the following:
- Eventual paving of all major dirt roads or dirt roads bearing a large fraction of local traffic. Another possibility to be given serious study and consideration is the use of recently developed road-stabilizing compounds in lieu of paving.
- Request that the Mojave Air Quality Management District approve a regulation banning non-essential activities that generate unduly large quantities of dust.
- Maintain close scrutiny of any manufacturing, industrial or similar activity having potential for generation of pollution, emphasizing strict enforcement of all existing air quality regulations.
- Request that the Mojave Air Quality Management District adopt a policy of environmental justice to ensure that all land-use decisions, including enforcement, are made in an equitable fashion in order to protect residents, regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or geographic location, from the health effects of air pollution.
- Maintain careful awareness of potential local pollution sources upon those having special sensitivity such as schoolchildren, elderly, and hospital or other such institutional residents.
- Initiate a study to determine the full impact of off-road vehicle generated pollution on the area. This study should distinguish between recreational vehicles and other use vehicles in determination of priority or need for controls and regulation.
- Require that all California guidelines and regulations be strictly followed in relation to building construction, grading operations during periods of high wind, and conservation and energy efficiency throughout the Morongo Basin.
- The efforts toward pollution control by the MBTA are to be commended and all similar transportation services in the region are encouraged to follow suit.
- Present efforts by the military base toward pollution control are recognized and should be regularly consulted as part of the regional program of monitoring and enforcement.
- The community of Joshua Tree is on record as fully supporting all efforts of Joshua Tree National Park to improve monitoring, enforcement, and all other measures to mitigate existing air quality problems in the Park.
The problem of pollution transport from the Los Angeles basin must continue to be rigorously studied and fully recognized for its effect on the entire Morongo Basin. However controversial or troublesome, influence should be brought to bear upon the contiguous Los Angeles urban areas to account for the transport of air pollution into the desert. Improvement of greater Los Angeles basin air quality should not be regarded by them as a sole criterion if there is no improvement, or worse, further degradation of desert, and in particular, high-desert air quality. These concerns should be explicitly brought to the attention of all relevant Federal, State, and Local governments and agencies, through effort of San Bernardino County as part of its stated mission of, “ … providing service that promotes the health, safety, well-being, and quality of life to residents…”22
9A. Natural Hazards
Historically there has been well-known serious damage to property, homes and businesses due to floodwaters originating at the higher elevations of Joshua Tree and the National Park. The problem of yearly flooding in downtown, which has an obvious adverse effect on much of what is being mentioned in this document, needs to be addressed. A channeling system for floodwater runoff should be designed and implemented. At minimum, this should consist of diverting berms and curbs along county maintained roads to assure that runoff is concentrated in established flood channel locations and easements and away from private property. Even though many roads are not county maintained, the consequences of uncontrolled runoff are extensive and can have serious economic and other devastating impacts throughout the community. For these reasons the county should move toward installation of culvert systems under major roads as well as other properly engineered flood control measures appropriate to the region.
Considering the lack of emergency services and agencies and the limited vehicular access routes, development should be planned with the utmost care and consideration regarding the natural hazards in Joshua Tree. Development should be prohibited in flood zones and on known earthquake faults. There will be no development in areas until adequate fire protection, water sources and emergency communications are assured. No new construction should alter natural flood run off.
The most effective strategy for keeping development out of natural hazard areas is to provide information in the form of area-wide mapping which “red-flags” potential problem areas to property owners, government officials and neighbors before development is planned.23
The county should encourage the use of pervious paving materials on all commercial, industrial and institutional parking areas, where feasible. A known procedure is to use landscaped areas as depressions to receive and percolate runoff for large parking areas.24
Prompt re-vegetation of land disturbed during construction should be required.
A need exists for a flood control channel under State Route 62 at La Contenta. This would also complete the continuous wildlife corridor to and from Joshua Tree National Park and to and from the BLM lands to the north.
County flood maps must be updated and improved (see the land-use section).
Strong consideration should be given to extending the distance from residential areas where firearms may be discharged.25
9B. Animal Control
It is hoped that further county resources will be devoted toward the problem of stray animals. Among other concerns, special means should be established for mitigation of packs of stray dogs which are known to cause serious problems. On the other hand, residents are also strongly urged to fulfill county requirements of licensing and immunization as well as proper individual control of domestic animals. We acknowledge that concomitant with desire for county services, citizens should additionally observe their responsibilities toward community expectations and validly established government assessments and regulations.
9C. Emergency Preparedness
A number of resident accounts suggest that existing preparedness plans be closely reviewed and necessary development of disaster and emergency preparedness be accomplished through coordination by local agencies. In particular, area maps have been found to be inadequate or sometimes inaccurate for emergency use. Preparation and updating of reliable maps for emergency services, understood to be now in process, is clearly imperative and should be accomplished no later than January, 2005.
9D. Water Quality
Joshua Tree’s water needs are currently served by the Joshua Basin Water District. Residents have expressed a concern for maintenance of aquifer protection and groundwater quality in general. Means for groundwater safeguards are commonly specified in community plans such as for Jackson, Wyoming and we anticipate that every professional effort will be made to apply such methods to the similarly emerging needs of this region as it develops. This community plan endorses the continued local management of Joshua Tree’s water resources by the district.
10.A. Community Facilities
Residents and visitors alike think of Joshua Tree as having a unique and special quality. Almost universal opinion is that the downtown area in particular should reflect or reinforce its singular characteristics of scenic and desert character, and at the same time be a definable living community that is consistent with and promoting of these attributes. To these ends it is felt that Joshua Tree should have an appropriately conceived downtown plaza/ civic center/ meeting place, and provisions for equestrian traffic, bicyclists and safe pedestrian passage. The community has expressed a desire for downtown demonstration gardens with native plant life. Location of outdoor artwork by local artists is suggested in the downtown area.
It is suggested that an urban design program be established to capture and encourage a central theme for the downtown area.
10.B. Governmental
Expansion and renovation of the county Joshua Tree Library is strongly recommended in view of likely population growth.26
A satellite county office should be established to specifically serve the community of Joshua Tree and other nearby unincorporated areas. This should include a fire/police dispatcher, long overdue in this region.
- Development funds should assume a fair share of funding for construction, maintenance and operation of existing and future public buildings and facilities.27
10.C. Parks and Recreation
Existing regular public park facilities should all be developed at the earliest opportunity.
As population increases in the Sunfair area, development of a regional community center and park is encouraged.
- Preservation of CSA20’s (Joshua Tree’s) Park and Recreation’s “Section Six” as a day use only natural conservation area is seen as a priority. No development should occur there.
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