John Wohlmuth, executive director of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, stands in the Coachella Valley Preserve, which is protected from development.
(The Press-Enterprise/David Olson)

The award named after the woman who lobbied to protect Joshua Tree National Park back in the 1930s is being given this year to John Wohlmuth and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.

The Joshua Tree National Park Association is bestowing the Minvera Hoyt California Desert Conservation Award to Wohlmuth, the agency's executive director, et al. for developing the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.

HCPs, as they are known, are controversial in some circles because they allow the destruction of some species and their habitat, while protecting them elsewhere. Others say they are the best way of allowing development to occur while protecting species, their habitat and wildlife corridors. The Inland region has a similar plan in western Riverside County and the High Desert in San Bernardino County and a bunch of smaller ones scattered around.

Under the Coachella Valley plan, 240,000 acres of open space will eventually be preserved and 27 threatened and endangered plants and animals across the Coachella Valley will be protected. I put a call into Wohlmuth this morning but he wasn't in.

Coincidentally, Wohlmuth was at the symposium last week at the Mission Inn in Riverside that examined how to make cities more environmentally friendly. One point he raised was that perhaps more areas should consider banning development in areas prone to fire, flood or other natural hazards and preserve them for endangered species whose habitat often fall on those landscapes. He noted that's the case with the San Andreas Fault that runs along the north end of the valley, where water comes up to the surface and provides habitat. The fault, for instance, runs through the Coachella Valley Preserve, pictured to the right.

Past recipients of the Minerva Hoyt award include The Wildlands Conservancy, which bought thousands of acres in the desert and gave them to the federal government for preservation; and Donna and Larry Charpied, who have long fought the effort to build a large landfill near Joshua Tree National Park.

Any thoughts on habitat conservation plans and whether they are worthy for such an award?

1 Comments

Daniel Cozad on January 29, 2008 5:25 PM said:

Completed Habitat Conservation Plans are worthy of awards. Like other regional plans they are difficult, long and technical plans that help both the environment and the planning for the entire community. As a document that has lots of input, they do not always end up as what everyone wants but what everyone can agree upon. Regional planning is not easy but when done well can be the backbone of regional success in environmental and economic areas. John, his board, committees and staff are worthy, thanks for the hard work.

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