California Senate Bill 307 is a commonsense solution to protect Mojave Trails National Monument’s springs, groundwater and wildlife.
May 17, 2019 - SACRAMENTO – Defending vital desert water resources, the California Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday advanced SB307, a commonsense solution to protect Mojave Trails National Monument’s springs, groundwater and wildlife. The legislation now advances for a full Senate vote by May 31, 2019.
Authored by Senator Richard Roth, SB 307 responds to the immediate need for groundwater safeguards in California’s Mojave Desert, which sustains legally-protected wildlife and millions of acres of national parks and other public lands. The Trump administration has threatened such resources by removing long-standing regulations applying to the Cadiz Inc. groundwater mining proposal
Statement by David Lamfrom, California Desert and Wildlife Director for the National Parks Conservation Association
“The National Parks Conservation Association commends California Senators Toni Atkins and Anthony Portantino for taking an important step today in supporting science and communities, and defending one of our state’s most beautiful and imperiled places, Mojave Trails National Monument.
“SB 307 stops the Trump administration from draining our desert water and in turn threatening our national parks, monuments and tourism economy in the Mojave. It’s game over if we lose the ancient Bonanza Spring and other water sources in the region, sacred to desert tribes, crucial to migrating wildlife across the desert and connected to national parks including Joshua Tree and Mojave National Preserve. The full State Senate is now in a position to take immediate, timely, and rightful action to stand up and resist federal threats to our desert water, for the benefit of generations to come.”
Statement by Kim Delfino, California Program Director for Defenders of Wildlife
“Defenders is pleased to see the Senate Appropriations Committee vote to pass SB 307 so it can keep moving towards the Governor’s desk. This bill is critical to protect the fragile desert wildlife and lands from the Trump rollback that greenlighted the destructive Cadiz groundwater mining project.”
About National Parks Conservation Association: For 100 years, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.3 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org/100.
Source: National Parks Conservation Association
