By ordering new land-use plan, Trump could spark a fight in California deserts (LA Times)
Los Angeles TimesMarch 16th, 2018 5:00 am
It looks like a barren no man's land, but the vast desert outside Indio, Calif., has many suitors. Conservationists see its acres of creosote bush and cholla cactus as a rare habitat for tortoises, pronghorn antelope and an elusive variety of mule deer. Energy companies view its sunbaked plains and windswept ridgelines as prime perches for solar panels and wind turbines. Dirt tracks that wiggle across its sandy washes are testament to its popularity among off-road motorsports enthusiasts...