Showdown in the desert: the small town fending off a new California gold rush
The small town of Lone Pine, California, is resisting a gold mining project proposed by a subsidiary of K2 Gold at Conglomerate Mesa. Local residents and Indigenous leaders are concerned about the environmental impact on the desert landscape.
Why it matters
This conflict illustrates the tension between local environmental preservation and the push for resource extraction on public lands under current federal policies.
Jeremiah Joseph and his nephews, Devon and Seth, look for Joshua tree seeds in the Inyo Mountains. Photograph: Lorena Endara/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Jeremiah Joseph and his nephews, Devon and Seth, look for Joshua tree seeds in the Inyo Mountains. Photograph: Lorena Endara/The Guardian California Showdown in the desert: the small town fending off a new California gold rush A prospecting company’s search for gold has the town of Lone Pine and Indigenous leaders on edge, as the Trump administration green lights new projects across the American west
The narrative focuses on the 'battle' against corporate interests and highlights the environmental value of the land.
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