Border-wall contractors have destroyed three ancient Fremont cottonwoods in the tiny community of Lochiel, Arizona. The trees, estimated to be 200 to 250 years old, stood within the path of two proposed 30-foot border walls through the San Rafael Valley. One landmark cottonwood remains—and activists have occupied it in what may be the first tree sit organized against border-wall construction.

Kate Scott joins Chris Clarke from the Casita de la Esperanza, the activists’ base in the former Lochiel port of entry. She describes the destruction of the cottonwoods, the birds and other wildlife that depended upon them, and concerns that construction continued despite evidence of active nests. She also explains why activists are demanding that the remaining tree be spared and the proposed secondary wall be stopped.

The fight is about more than one tree. For Scott and her fellow organizers, the surviving cottonwood represents the ecological richness, cultural history, and cross-border relationships threatened by wall construction throughout the Arizona–Sonora borderlands.

Episode image modified from a photo by the Center for Biological Diversity

Key Takeaways

• Contractors destroyed three of Lochiel’s four landmark cottonwoods to clear space for border-wall construction.
• Activists are occupying the remaining tree and calling for the proposed secondary wall through Lochiel to be abandoned.
• The cottonwoods provided habitat for barn owls, flickers, kingbirds, insects, and other wildlife; Scott also reports hearing a threatened yellow-billed cuckoo.
• Scott says Customs and Border Protection had promised protections for active bird nests, but activists saw no meaningful environmental monitoring during the removal.
• Organizers are using direct action alongside art, music, ceremony, and public gatherings to defend the San Rafael Valley.
• The wall threatens not only wildlife movement but also a historic border community, neighboring ranchland in Sonora, and potentially significant archaeological resources.

Notable Quotes

1. “We do not want a double wall through this historic community.”
2. “Each one [of the cottonwoods is] unique—a universe in and of itself.”
3. “This is not a crossing point. This is a wildlife migratory corridor.”
4. “We’re not taking this anymore. We’re making our stand here.”
5. “Don’t obey in advance.”

Resources

Rally for the Valley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rallyforthevalley/

GiveButter Donation Link: https://givebutter.com/stop-destruction-in-lochiel-oxsxdp

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Chris Clarke highlights the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle crucial environmental laws and the effect of those rollbacks on desert landscapes. He guides listeners through the gutting of environmental and cultural protection laws, and argues for a more localized, community-centric approach to advocacy for the desert.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration's policies threaten the stability and effectiveness of long-standing environmental protection laws.
• Grassroots advocacy plays a crucial role in protecting desert ecosystems and public lands.
• Federal environmental protection laws are important, but local policies, ordinances, and community involvement provide additional, necessary layers of defense.
• By fostering a deeper connection and understanding of the environment, communities can build political weight to defend against detrimental policies.
• The episode calls for a united effort to develop narratives that resonate with local communities, inspiring collective action and environmental stewardship.

Notable Quotes:

• "The public loses more than money. We lose wildlife habitat, we lose groundwater, we lose archaeological and cultural sites, we lose wilderness."
• "Profits become concentrated by one party, and the costs are borne by the public."
• "Those of us who love a place shouldn't just rely on Washington to defend it."
• "The other side has built up their community since the 1970s, and while this is happening, environmental protection groups often relied more heavily on passing laws."
• "A president can weaken federal laws. And if federal laws are the only layer of protection that we have for places that we love, then we find ourselves in this position that we're in right now."

Resources:

• 90 Miles from Needles Podcast
• Chris’ Email: chris@90milesfromneedles.com (for community radio suggestions)
• Mazamar Pottery (Supporting local arts and advocacy)

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Summary:

This episode covers the recent decision by the Trump administration to drastically reduce the acreage of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments in southern Utah. Listeners are will hear the central issues surrounding desert conservation, including potential threats of resource extraction like uranium and coal mining, which loom as monuments face reduction.

The episode features Morgan Sjogren, a writer deeply connected to the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase regions. Through engaging dialogue, Morgan offers her insights as a resident and her reaction to the political maneuvers affecting monuments she holds dear. Her extensive experience in these areas provides an authentic perspective on the importance of protecting these lands. With direct quotes from Morgan emphasizing the emotional and ecological significance of the monuments, this episode serves as an urgent call to action for listeners to engage in conservation efforts and support local advocacy groups.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has attempted to reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments significantly, revisiting actions from its previous tenure.
• Local communities and environmental stewards are mobilizing against the possibility of resource extraction, such as uranium and coal mining.
• Sjogren emphasizes the connectedness of these landscapes, stressing that “landscape scale exploring” is essential to understand the full impact of these reductions.
• Support for on-the-ground groups and active participation in electoral processes are vital to combating these environmental setbacks.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The air is filled with tension, and the noise is mostly online, but outside it's eerily quiet." – Morgan Sjogren
2. "Monuments are one of the most robust protections we have for rivers in this country." – Morgan Sjogren
3. "Vote like this landscape and our lives depend upon it." – Morgan Sjogren
4. "I've been getting to know my riverside neighbors. Both the human and more than human, plant communities, wildlife, tribes, rural Americans, urbanites, farmers." – Morgan Sjogren
5. "Utah delegates have taken actions that disregard their constituents. 75% of Utahns oppose reducing monuments." – Morgan Sjogren

Resources:

• Morgan Sjogren's Website: Glen Canyon Backcountry Club (glencanyonbackcountryclub.com)

• Books by Morgan Sjogren:

  • "Path of Light: A Walk Through Colliding Legacies of Glen Canyon"
  • "Outlandish: Fuel Your Epic"
  • "The Best Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Hikes"

• Organizations:

  • Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
  • Bears Ears Partnership
  • Conservation Lands Foundation's Petition to leave the monuments alone

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.