Closure of 2,200 miles of Mojave Desert trails has some celebrating, others frustrated A federal judge has ordered the closure of 2,200 miles of off-road trails in the Mojave Desert, citing the need to protect the endangered desert tortoise and the Lane Mountain milk-vetch. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is required to mark these routes as closed with signage and fencing, while maintaining access for essential uses like emergency services and administrative needs. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, follows a lawsuit by environmental groups who argued the BLM failed to adequately assess the impact of the trails on threatened species. The trails, part of the 2019 West Mojave Route Network Project, span public lands in San Bernardino, Riverside, Kern, and Inyo counties. They connect areas like Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms, Calico, and Ridgecrest. Environmentalists claim off-road vehicle (OHV) use has significantly harmed the desert tortoise, a state reptile listed as threatened since 1990. These tortoises, which can live up to 80 years, take decades to reach maturity and reproduce. Illston’s order emphasizes that OHV activity remains a major threat to their survival. The Lane Mountain milk-vetch, a rare legume found only in the region, is also protected under the order. Environmental groups, including the Desert Tortoise Council, argue that the closures are necessary to prevent further population declines. Data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows tortoise numbers dropped by nearly 50% between 2004 and 2014, with over 67,000 estimated deaths during that period. Reactions to the ruling are divided.#federal_judge_susan_illston #bureau_of_land_management #desert_tortoise #lane_mountain_milk_vetch #blue_ribbon_coalition
