Destruction of public lands

Destruction of our wild lands. Our public lands are under threat from huge industrial solar complexes, data centers, excessive groundwater extraction, political pressure to sell and privatize, and more. Much of our groundwater was recharged during the Pleistocene, and is not being recharged at the rate it’s being extracted. If springs dry up we will have no wildlife. Old-growth desert vegetation is extremely difficult if not impossible to re-establish once it’s been destroyed. Invasive species such as cheatgrass usually take over. Many areas where solar facilities are proposed have ancient desert pavement soils that will be lost essentially forever. Massive projects are planned in habitat critical to endangered and threatened species such as the desert tortoise and sage grouse.