Contact
Public Affairs Office
601-634-3188
BARSTOW, Ca – ERDC Construction Engineering Research Laboratory’s (CERL) David Delaney recently chaired a workshop funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) Legacy Program on Mohave ground squirrels in Barstow, Calif.
The Mohave ground squirrel is a California-listed endangered species and is a Priority 1 species for the Army. The squirrel was petitioned in 2005 for federal endangered species listing, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently declined the request.
It is possible that another federal listing petition will be submitted for this species based on new evidence from renewable energy development projects.
In anticipation of a new petition, it is important that DOD and non-DOD resource managers, regulators and other interested stakeholders meet to discuss current and future use of the west Mojave Desert relative to renewable energy and other land uses.
The purpose of the workshop was to seek the participants’ viewpoints on developing better detection protocols and methods of determining density and distribution of Mohave ground squirrel populations as part of a long-term conservation strategy for the species.
Additionally, the workshop provided an important opportunity for people to meet and discuss ways to improve collaboration/ cooperation between their respective agencies/organizations.