$5.5M Grant Sends SR-62 Wildlife Crossings into Design Phase, Aimed at Protecting Drivers and Desert Wildlife
Yucca Valley, California (Times Media Service) – The Mojave Desert Land Trust received $5.5 million from California’s Wildlife Conservation Board to fund 65% of the three-year design phase for two SR-62 wildlife overpasses aimed at reducing collisions and restoring connectivity.
- Major grant: The MDLT press release confirms a $5.5 million award to cover roughly 65% of design costs for two overpasses on SR-62.
- Priority sites: Proposed locations are Morongo Grade and Yucca Grade on SR-62, per local reporting in local coverage.
- Safety and conservation: MDLT cites studies showing up to a 90% reduction in wildlife-vehicle collisions when crossings are paired with fencing and other measures (MDLT press release).
- Next steps: Funds will pay for technical studies, engineering and design over three years; environmental review and further funding are required before construction (MDLT).
Background: Why SR-62 Crossings Are Moving Forward
Local conservation groups and state agencies have long advocated for crossings on SR-62. A 2021 Morongo Pass Wildlife Connectivity Study by Dudek and the UC Davis Road Ecology Center identified priority sites and recommended overpasses because SR-62 bisects critical habitat between the San Bernardino and Little San Bernardino ranges (MDLT press release).
Traffic, Development and Rising Risk
Visitation to Joshua Tree National Park and population growth in the Morongo Basin have increased traffic along SR-62 in recent years. MDLT reports that traffic has roughly tripled on parts of the corridor, and drivers on that stretch face about three times the average California road fatality risk — making safety a local and environmental concern (MDLT press release).
Collision Data That Pushed Planning into Action
Carcass surveys conducted by MDLT at two SR-62 locations between Oct. 23, 2019 and Nov. 24, 2020 documented 232 dead animals representing 12 mammal and two reptile species. The surveys included a collared mountain lion killed after approaching the road — evidence underscoring both conservation and public-safety stakes (local reporting; MDLT press release).
Grant Details and Project Partners
The $5.5 million Wildlife Conservation Board award will be administered to the Mojave Desert Land Trust and is intended to fund roughly 65% of the design-phase costs over three years. The grant supports technical studies, engineering designs and plans intended to encourage wildlife usage once the overpasses are built; it does not cover construction or environmental compliance expenses (MDLT).
Partners: California Department of Transportation (Caltrans); Coachella Valley Conservation Commission; Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District. These partners will collaborate on site-specific engineering, behavioral and habitat features, and fencing strategies to guide animals to the crossings.
Design Phase: What the Money Will Pay For
Over the next three years the grant will fund:
- Site-specific technical studies and environmental scoping
- Engineering and design of the crossing structures
- Behavioral and habitat features (fencing, landscaping) to increase crossing use
- Preparation of construction-ready plans, subject to environmental review
Note: Additional state, federal and private funding will be required for construction after environmental review is complete (MDLT).
Science Behind the Crossings and Why Mountain Lions Matter
Scientists identify Morongo Pass as a contact zone between two mountain lion populations — those of the Eastern Peninsular Range and the San Gabriel–San Bernardino system. Highway barriers reduce gene flow; restoring movement can improve genetic diversity and ecosystem health. Planners expect a range of species to benefit, including mountain lions, black bears, mule deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, gray foxes, bobcats and native reptiles (MDLT press release).
Comparable Projects and Design Lessons
The SR-62 proposals join a growing trend of large wildlife overpasses. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over U.S. 101 in Agoura Hills — designed for mountain lions and other large species — is a high-profile example that offers design and public-support lessons for the Mojave project (local coverage).
MDLT’s Local Track Record and Land Holdings
Headquartered in Joshua Tree, the Mojave Desert Land Trust has conserved roughly 125,000 acres across the Mojave and Colorado deserts since 2006 and has conveyed more tracts to the National Park Service than any other regional nonprofit. Recent acquisitions include 43 acres near SR-62 and 1,280 acres near the Mojave Trails National Monument entrance, positioning MDLT to coordinate habitat connectivity efforts (MDLT; MDLT news).
Funding Gaps and the Road Ahead
While the design grant is a major early step, it does not fund construction. MDLT will seek additional state, federal and private funds after environmental review. The review process itself will add time and cost to the timeline. Recent state laws such as the 2024 Room to Roam Act and the 2022 Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act increase habitat-connectivity priority but do not automatically provide construction dollars (MDLT press release).
Implications for Hesperia, California
Safety: SR-62 east of Hesperia is a key corridor for residents and visitors. Reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions would lower the risk of serious crashes and costly vehicle damage, a point likely to resonate with readers focused on road safety and emergency-response costs (MDLT press release).
Fiscal responsibility: Because the current grant covers design only, state agencies, federal grants and private donors will likely be tapped for construction. Local officials will want transparency about future funding impacts and oversight during the phased planning process (MDLT).
Economic benefits: Preserving wildlife corridors supports tourism to Joshua Tree and nearby public lands, which in turn benefits local businesses in towns that include Hesperia.
Land use & local control: Environmental review offers public input opportunities. Hesperia leaders can influence mitigation measures, traffic management during construction and workforce priorities such as hiring local contractors (MDLT).
Accountability and Next Steps for Local Stakeholders
Residents should expect public meetings during the environmental review and design phase. Local officials can request timelines, cost estimates and assurances about safety and disruption minimization. The design grant sets the stage; oversight and future funding decisions will determine the project’s pace and final outcomes (local report).
Public Records and Contacts
MDLT’s Aug. 1, 2025 press release provides detail on carcass surveys and quotes from MDLT Chief Conservation Officer Cody Hanford (MDLT press release).
Media contact: Jessica Dacey, (760) 366-5440 ext. 239, jessica@mdlt.org (MDLT).
Quote reference: MDLT press materials note that crossings have cut wildlife-vehicle collisions by as much as 90% where implemented with fencing and other measures (MDLT press release).
