End of a Challenging Year: PRMDIA Accomplishments in 2020

Even though the past year has certainly been a challenge, PRMDIA continues to fulfill its mission. As the year comes to an end, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate our many accomplishments and ask you to consider making an end-of-year donation so that we can continue our progress in 2021.

Some of our accomplishments include:

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area, home of Mitchell Caverns

• Additional scanning of the Caverns to add to the online 3-D cave tour. New scan also will be used to print a new map of the Caverns that will be available for visitors to view.

• New webcam and a new digital camera that has the capability of taking high resolution closeups of park flora and fauna

• New materials for the Mary Beal Trail project

• Postcards directed toward resource conservation concerning rattlesnakes and tortoises. PRMDIA also provided funds for translations so that the postcards include information in multiple languages.

Saddleback Butte State Park

• Continuing work on new mural on the outside of the visitors center

• New supplies for the park’s Junior Ranger Program

• Ongoing contributions to state park contingency funds for seasonal staffing at the park

• In the past, PRMDIA has also contributed to improvements to the park’s infrastructure including ramada repairs, plumbing maintenance and new digital equipment.

• Before 2020, PRMDIA hosted three yearly events at the park including a Poker Ride, Public Lands Day and the First Day Hike.

Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park

• New information binders for park volunteers and other support for volunteers

• Funds to duplicate the Tomo-Kahni DVD, “Walking the Path – a Virtual Tour of Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park.”

• Close captioning for the DVD project

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

• Cell phone tour fees and 360 webcam

• Materials for trail barriers including cable, posts and installation equipment

• Ongoing funding for seasonal staffing

• Support for 2020 Volunteer Training

• Continuing support for new point of sale equipment

• Equipment and support for research

• A few past contributions include new digital equipment (for the theater); remodeling of visitors center; interpretive information panels; materials for research, including weather stations; reprinting of park brochure; and many more.

Ripley Desert Woodland State Park

• Ongoing stewardship of the park by PRMDIA members

• Research equipment and ongoing monitoring

• Past projects include creation and installation of interpretive panels and a new trail; materials for the creation and repair of picnic area ramada and funds to supplement the purchase of benches to commemorate Milt Stark and his love for this park!

If you would like to help us in our vital mission to support the parks that we all love, please consider a tax-deductible contribution. A form for this purpose is provided via or Support page. The form also provides an opportunity to renew your membership (if needed) or to join PRMDIA. For more information email president@prmdia.org. Thank you, Margaret Rhyne President, Poppy Reserve Mojave Desert Interpretive Association

2020 - Improvements Move Forward at the Poppy Reserve

An important resource protection project is moving forward at the Poppy Reserve. Project will line all park trails to clearly indicate the borders of trails and public areas. This will help park visitors avoid venturing off trails. PRMDIA purchased the material for this project (metal poles, wire cables and installation equipment) and State Park personnel are doing the installation. (Photo 1 in the second row from 2019 shows what happens when visitors go off trail). A recent generous donation from Elsie Purdy, a long-time PRMDIA member and State Park volunteer, is moving this project closer to completion. Because of Elsie’s donation, PRMDIA was able to purchase an additional 7,700 feet of new materials. We are very grateful for this donation! In August we were able to meet Elsie at the Poppy Reserve to show her an installed section of the fencing. Photo below of Elsie courtesy of Darrell Walters. Photos below also show another improvement that was in place prior to the start of the abbreviated 2020 wildflower season: new striping and directional signage for the parking lot. Striping clearly defines parking for visitors, staff and volunteers. New arrows makes the parking lot one way, helping with traffic control and protecting pedestrians. Thank you to state park personnel for the "new" parking lot at the Poppy Reserve.

Local Business Helps with Poppy Reserve Project

PRMDIA would like to send a huge thank you to Consolidated Electric Distributers (CED) of Lancaster. CED recently made a significant contribution to the ongoing trail fencing project at the Poppy Reserve. We purchased (and then donated to State Parks) the metal poles used for the project at the Reserve. This type of pole (also called an eye bolt) was originally designed to provide stability for electrical grid infrastructure. Several decades ago, State Parks began to use these poles, with cable strung in between, for resource protection in various state parks. Due to the weight of the poles, transportation and delivery is a significant issue. We are very fortunate that CED was willing to work with us and the Great Basin District of California State Parks to provide free delivery of 1,188 of these poles to the Poppy Reserve, in addition to absorbing other costs associated with the purchase. Thank you CED of Lancaster for being a great partner for PRMDIA and the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Park. Installed poles shown in photos above.

New Mural for Saddleback Butte State Park

We are delighted to report that work on a mural at Saddleback Butte State Park is underway! Local artist Jedd Strange has begun the process of creating an artistic depiction of the eastern Antelope Valley desert on the outside of the visitor center at Saddleback. Jedd recently completed a mural featuring the history of local transportation in Mojave on the outside of the Mission Bank Building. This mural, that also depicts desert flora and fauna, is nearly one block long. He has created other outdoor murals including the Rosamond Chamber of Commerce building and at Willow Springs Racetrack. The mural at Saddleback will cover three sides of the cinder block visitor center and is being funded by PRMDIA and the Support Saddleback Committee in cooperation with the Great Basin District of California State Parks (formerly the Tehachapi District).

Photos from the Poppy Reserve Spring 2020 Courtesy of Marsha Neill

More Photos from Spring 2020

Courtesy of Lynn DuPratt

Courtesy of Marti Lindsey

Courtesy of Lynn DuPratt

Collage by Toni Wagner

Courtesy of Margaret Rhyne

Courtesy of Lynn DuPratt

Last Day of the Season - Mother's Day 2020 - Photos Courtesy of John Martin