San Gorgonio | Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.



THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN (DRECP)THE HISTORYThe DRECP is a land use plan designed to allow renewable energy development on least conflict public lands, and balance that with conservation and recreation on public land -- uses that are critically important to Desert communities and their economies. 410527595250WHAT THE PLAN DOESThe DRECP created 400,000 acres of “development focus areas” on federal lands for renewable energy, (none of them in the Coachella Valley). The state of California has said this is more than enough to meet renewable energy goals. It also designated 4.2 million acres of the Desert’s most sensitive natural and cultural landscapes and designated 3.6 million acres for recreation, such as hiking, camping, rockhounding, and off-road recreation. These include many of the lands you love, like Panamint Valley, Juniper Flats, Chuckwalla Bench, the Amargosa Basin, Conglomerate Mesa, Fossil Falls, and more. This is an incredible achievement for conservation and recreation in the California desert.THE THREATNow, the Trump administration is taking aim at the California Desert by reopening this landmark plan. However, reopening the plan will put conservation and recreation priorities at risk by upsetting the balance achieved in the current plan.That Administration has it wants to see more areas open to large scale renewable energy and other extractive land use activities that would irreparably harm public access, iconic landscapes, and critical habitat.-228599161925WHY WE NEED TO KEEP THE DRECP INTACT - SHARE THE MESSAGEReopening the plan will destabilize the balance and put the desert lands we love at risk. TELL THE ADMINISTRATION TO LEAVE THE PLAN INTACT!The DRECP was one of our region’s most important achievements. The final plan struck a balance between the interests of industry, conservationists, recreationalists, government, and local residents. The effort to reopen the plan shows disrespect to hundreds of thousands of people who worked to achieve that balance, and threatens areas that Desert residents love.The DRECP protected 4.2 million acres of the Desert’s most sensitive natural and cultural landscapes and designated 3.6 million acres for recreation, such as hiking, camping, rockhounding, and off-road recreation. Development would destroy these lands and reduce opportunities for local residents to enjoy them. Preserving the DRECP is about preserving our quality of life – Desert residents don’t want to see these places inappropriately developed.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSWho had input in the development of the DRECP?The DRECP is the result of 8 years of collaboration between state and federal agencies, renewable energy developers, conservationists, recreationalists, and other stakeholders, extensive scientific study, and 16,000 public comments. How does the DRECP protect the desert?The DRECP protects a large swath of CA desert lands, including important plant and animal habitats and diverse recreation areas, from industrial-scale renewable energy development. The plan ensures that lands in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, such as as Big Morongo and Chuckwalla Bench will be preserved and can continue to be accessed and enjoyed as they are today. 4362450485775Does the DRECP restrict access to public land for recreation?The plan supports multiple use recreation, both motorized and non-motorized, through land use designations such as conservation lands and recreation management areas. All of the lands designated in DRECP are open to public access and all existing off-road routes remain open.Has the DRECP hurt other activities in the desert?The DRECP has not shut down a single road, trail, mine, or grazing allotment. Why should we keep the DRECP intact?Reopening the DRECP will create uncertainty for ALL desert residents and users by destabilizing the balance of the current plan. It will open the plan to new battles, redundant rounds of study, and waste many more years and tax dollars. Reopening the DRECP could result in a lot more large scale renewable energy and other development in areas of the desert that residents have already said they want protected. It could destroy dark sky communities, wildlife corridors, rock collecting sites, off-road areas, and other treasures.Preserving the DRECP is about preserving our quality of life –we don’t want to see our beautiful lands inappropriately developed.Outdoor tourism on lands protected for conservation and recreation by the DRECP is powering our rural desert economies, and the DRECP ensures they will continue to do so by preventing industrial-scale renewable energy development in inappropriate MENTS YOU CAN MAKEReopening the DRECP is NOT GOOD for Desert communities. I want the administration to leave the DRECP intact.8 years of study and comment went into the DRECP already. I want the administration to respect this input and leave the plan alone.The DRECP provides more than enough opportunity for renewable energy already, so it’s totally unnecessary and destabilizing to reopen the plan now. I think the administration needs to leave the DRECP as it is.The people already spoke up loud and clear over 8 years, and as a result the DRECP currently protects public lands in the desert for conservation, recreation, and public access that could be irrevocably lost if the plan is reopened. I don’t want any of these protected areas harmed or compromised - leave the plan alone. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download