One of the most rewarding aspects of being part of the Protect California Deserts coalition advocating for the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument has been the opportunity to involve our local youth in this effort. #NuestroDesierto students during the September 2023 campaign launch.

Indio hit 116 on 6 Oct, which was the highest, latest temp on record in CA. Death Valley's latest 116+ degree reading on record was 116 on 9/27/2003. Palm Springs did 117 on 10/1/2024, 116 on 10/2/1980, and 115 on 10/5/2024. Mecca did 117 on 10/2/1980 and 116 on 9/29/2001.

WCB is holding workshops around the state to discuss our 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. Join us for an informal, interactive, open house-style workshop to learn about WCB and help us chart our future. Please stop by anytime. We hope to see you there! wcb.ca.gov/WCB-Strategic-…

Hey plant lovers! This is our last chance to tell the BLM to save Tiehm’s buckwheat! The Rhyolite Ridge Mine would put this species in the crosshairs & literally sitting at the edge of an open pit mine. Stand up to save Tiehm’s buckwheat now! act.biologicaldiversity.org/JXOFGyWDLk61qi…

In honor of #VeteransDay on November 11, we invite all Americans to visit any National Park Service site for free. Learn more at: nps.gov/orgs/1207/cele…

New research shows global warming has become the dominant driver of worsening droughts in the Western U.S. Scientists say the severity of future droughts will be determined largely by how much more planet-heating gases humans release into the atmosphere. latimes.com/environment/st…

Thank you Priya Nanjappa for helping me out way back when, when I needed to change my flights! In an effort to pay it forward, I created a scholarship for girls, women, and non binary people interested in herpetology. earynmcgee.com/findthatlizard…

Together, let’s re-imagine the future of Jefferson Street north of Interstate 10! Join us for an Online Community Workshop on Thursday, November 21 at 6 pm. Can’t make the meeting? Visit the website to learn more about the Project. To learn more: bit.ly/JeffersonStree…

Join us from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 16, 2024 at Palm Springs High School for the annual Kewet: Native American Learning Day & Market. All are welcome to this family friendly free event! Register at: aguacaliente.org/kewet

Chuckwalla National Monument is about more than land—it’s about jobs, heritage, and honoring service. That’s why I joined Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez to share in The Press-Enterprise why our region stands behind this designation. Full op‑ed:

🧵“American soldiers came to this region to prepare for desert warfare, and if you visit the monument, you can still see remnants of their camps and be reminded of their sacrifices... pressenterprise.com/2025/11/11/jef…

Applications for the Desert Sands & Sky Island 2026 spring course are now open✍️Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join our growing community of certified #naturalist Visit lnk.bio/CactusToCloud to complete your application & register for the information sessions today!

Thanks for joining us and supporting Chuckwalla National Monument, Team Gonzalez 🦎

We are proud to announce that CactusToCloud Institute have been selected as a REI Cooperative Action Fund partner for 2025 and 2026🥳 This fund will help us expand our programs to get more people outdoors! You can learn more at REIfund.org Photo by Jen Parnell