Comments submitted: Persistence Mine Reclamation Plan Notice of Availability and Notice of Intent
August 18, 2025
Endangered Species List
Persistence Mine Reclamation Plan Notice of Availability (NOA) and Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
The project proposes to extract gold from semi to unconsolidated gravels, sands, and silts (sediments located within placer mining claims managed by the BLM. The sediments have been extensively tested and show economic gold grades suitable for surface mining extraction down to a tested depth of 24 feet, covering approximately 106 acres on 267 acres, across two non-contiguous pits. These two pits are referred to as the western and eastern pits. The proposed operation capacity is to process up to 96,000 cubic yards of material per month.
San Bernardino county has issued the Notice of Availability (NOA) and Notice of Intent (NOI) stating that the project's environmental review meets the State requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.
The MGSCC provided more current data regarding Mohave ground squirrel observations near the proposed project site.
The comment document can be downloaded below . . .
New Paper Published: Daily activity patterns of Mohave ground squirrels in a camera trapping study.
May 21, 2025
Barbara Leitner
CA Department of Fish and Wildlife journal 111:e9
Abstract
We conducted a regional camera trapping study in 2021 to assess the distribution of the Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis; MGS) that resulted in 2,754 detection events. Here we analyze temporal and environmental factors influencing MGS activity, as well as some aspects of our methodology. During 8-day operational periods in two sessions at 55 study sites (total n = 550 cameras), first detections of MGS at individual cameras were most numerous on days 1 and 2, but first detections continued through Day 8 during both sessions. On a daily basis, 99% of all MGS detections began at least 2 hours after sunrise and 98% ended at least 1 hour before sunset. Temperatures recorded by unsheltered trail cameras were an unreliable measure of shaded air temperature. However, data from two weather stations were comparable over a large area and were adjusted based on elevation to estimate air temperatures at nearby study sites. MGS detections were numerous during the warmest daily temperatures throughout the study, underscoring the importance of closing live-traps during warm weather to ensure animal safety. Detections were lower on relatively cool days, especially in early spring. Collectively, these results illustrate the critical importance of ambient temperature to MGS activity patterns and, by extension, their energy budget. Although no comparisons showed significant differences, a test of bait presentation suggested that peanut butter had no particular benefit as an MGS attractant. Activity patterns demonstrate that bait tubes are effective attractants for at least one week. Although MGS activity at cameras can be quantified in various ways, the most comparable metric across investigations is simply presence or absence.
Read/Download the entire paper . . .
Photo: Allie Anderson
URGENT - DATA REQUESTED. Mohave Ground Squirrel 5-Year Species Review
May 8, 2025
CA Department of Fish and Wildlife
In August of 2023, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife initiated a five-year species review for the state threatened Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) to inform the California Fish and Game Commission's decision on whether to retain or change the status of the species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). As part of this process, the department is seeking information or data on Mohave ground squirrel. To submit information or data, or to provide questions or comments about the review process, please email the Wildlife Diversity Program and include “Mohave ground squirrel” in the subject line.
Read the entire bulletin . . .
Petition submitted to list the Mohave Ground Squirrel on the Endangered Species List
December 13, 2023
Endangered Species List
On December 13, 2023, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee and the Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council filed a petition with the Department of the Interior to list the Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) as a threatened species and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing.
“Recent presence/absence trapping summaries by Dr. Phil Leitner have shown that the Mohave ground squirrel’s range is shrinking in all directions except from the northwest, and that hybridization with the common round-tailed ground squirrel is threatening the species from the east as far west as Harper Lake Road. This new information since the previous two petitions provides evidence that federal listing is warranted,” said Ed LaRue, board member of the Mohave Ground Squirrel Conservation Council. “With federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, proactive conservation of the species on our large military bases within the range – particularly Edwards Air Force Base, Fort Irwin and China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station – is necessary to avoid extinction.”
Copies of the petition documents can be downloaded using the links below . . .
MGS Species Distribution
Distribution
The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis) is a species of ground squirrel found only in the Mojave Desert in California. This squirrel inhabits the western Mojave Desert in portions of Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties. It can occupy Joshua tree woodlands, creosote scrub, saltbush scrub and mojave mixed woody scrub. Typical forage plants are those that meet nutritional and water content requirements. These can include shrubs such as winterfat, spiny hopsage, and boxthorn (Lycium spp.).
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