Deb Fox Reveals the 130-Year Struggle to Define the California-Nevada Border at Shoshone Museum
At a captivating talk on Saturday at the Shoshone Museum, author and historian Deborah A. Fox unveiled the fascinating and often absurd story behind the 130-year journey to legally define the California-Nevada border. Fox shared how wealthy young men, funded by the U.S. government in the mid-1800s, embarked on expeditions to survey the boundary. Rather than working diligently, they indulged in lavish spending and debauchery while claiming to map the elusive line east of the Sierra Nevada.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that California took the federal government to court to officially define the boundary. Fox discussed the disastrous 1861 Boundary Survey Reconnaissance, which involved rogue surveyors, missing reports, and even camels, revealing why it took so long to settle the line. Despite the survey’s failure, Fox explained that the crooked commissioner behind the expedition inadvertently made important discoveries. Fox also promoted her award-winning graphic novel, The Man Who Beat Death Valley, which delves deeper into this historic period.
Those expeditions must have marched right up through Charleston View, which recently had a cannabis farm go up for sale.
Licensed Cannabis Cultivation Property for Sale in Inyo County
A five-acre property in Charleston View has been listed for sale, offering existing cannabis cultivation licenses and greenhouse space. Located along the Old Spanish Highway, the site sits two miles from the Nevada border and 40 minutes from Las Vegas.
The property includes an Inyo County cultivation permit and a state-issued license, allowing for up to 10,000 square feet of greenhouse cultivation. It has access to a local aquifer for water and power through Southern California Edison (SCE), with the potential for up to 1 megawatt of electricity. An 8,000-square-foot hybrid grow operation is currently in place, with options for expansion.
The seller is offering a two-year, rent-free lease period for buyers to complete development before rental payments begin. Annual costs include a local permitting fee based on square footage, a state permit fee of $250 per 1,000 square feet (totaling $5,000 for 10,000 square feet), and a 5% local tax. The asking price is $150,000, with the seller open to offers. Interested buyers must sign an NDA and provide proof of financials for further details.
Gunfire and Concerns at Dumont Dunes Ahead of Cleanup Day
Visitors at Dumont Dunes reported hearing gunfire overnight early Sunday morning, March 2, raising safety concerns in the popular off-road recreation area. One visitor took to Facebook, stating, “I have never been out here before with people shooting guns. Don’t trust them at all since they are also blasting music and some pretty strong ‘W.’ Fingers crossed nothing hits our camp or any others.”
No injuries or damages have been reported from the gunfire incident.
The annual Dumont Dunes Cleanup Day is coming up on March 15, when volunteers gather to remove litter and maintain the desert dunes.
Amargosa Conservancy Hosts Meeting on Borehole Spring Fire and Lawsuit Against BLM
On March 2, the Amargosa Conservancy co-hosted a meeting at the Tecopa Community Center to update residents on Borehole Spring, recently impacted by a fire. The meeting also addressed a lawsuit filed by Patrick Donnelly and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), seeking to compel the creation of a comprehensive management plan for the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River region.
As residents listened and engaged in discussion, enjoying delicious pizzas from the Kit Fox Cafe, Donnelly explained that the lawsuit aims to push the BLM toward a sustainable management plan, as the area’s ecosystem faces increasing recreational pressures.
Claire Vaye Watkins of Friends of the Borehole recounted cleanup efforts on February 26, when significant debris was removed from the springs. Friends of the Borehole will be launching a letter-writing campaign to the BLM, urging residents to contact the Barstow BLM office, which has remained unresponsive to inquiries about their presence in the area.
Residents expressed frustration that the BLM prioritizes managing recreational activities at Dumont Dunes rather than addressing environmental concerns. However, Donnelly explained, BLM classifies Borehole Spring as only for casual use, so does not manage it, but it is clear from the last clean up, it’s being used more than casually. Even with the possible hiring of an additional ranger, many felt that two rangers would be insufficient to oversee the growing activity in the region.
As recreational use rises, concerns grow over the long-term health of the Amargosa River and surrounding ecosystems. With legal action and community advocacy, residents hope to push for stronger protections and greater accountability from the BLM. Read more about the lawsuit in our previous coverage.
Dumpster Wars Erupt as Residents Complain of Trash Troubles
Residents in the Tecopa Heights neighborhood are voicing frustration over an ongoing issue with their community dumpsters. According to complaints raised in local discussions, an unknown individual has been filling the dumpsters immediately after they are emptied, leaving no room for others to dispose of their trash.
“Someone keeps filling the dumpsters in the Heights immediately after they are emptied, not leaving any room for the rest of us to take our trash out,” one resident stated. “And they have not been emptied this week because this person decided to put large metal frames in both dumpsters that OBVIOUSLY will not go through a garbage truck’s compactor. This has to stop. This person has zero regard for their neighbors out here, and it’s plain and simply rude and disrespectful to the rest of us.”
The frustration is not isolated to the Heights, as residents in Charleston View and Tecopa Hot Springs District have reported similar issues.
One community member offered a possible solution: “Dumpsters are emptied on Thursday morning. If you need to fill them up, it’s neighborly to do it on Wednesday night.”
While waste disposal etiquette varies by neighborhood, the complaints highlight the challenges of shared trash collection and the importance of community consideration. For now, neighbors are hoping for increased awareness and respect when it comes to disposing of their waste.
Beloved Athel Tree and Tecopa Triangle’s Future Uncertain Amid Road Project
The future of the cherished Athel tree at the heart of the Tecopa Triangle hangs in the balance as transportation plans for the area remain unclear. The small but significant community hub, affectionately known as the “Free Rock,” has long served as an informal trading post where locals follow a “leave an item, take an item” practice that fosters both sustainability and neighborly goodwill.
However, concerns are growing over whether the planned road improvements will preserve the integrity of this beloved space—or if the Triangle itself will be reshaped entirely. Questions remain about whether the triangle will become a circle, a square, or something else altogether. What will happen to the current road that veers right off Tecopa Hot Springs Road toward the post office? Will the transformation accommodate the historical and communal significance of the area?
According to previous reports from TecopaCabana, “A key component of the project is the installation of high-visibility raised crossings, traffic calming measures, and refuge islands to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. Additionally, a realignment of a section of the Triangle Road will be made to enhance visibility and safety for all roadway users.”
Despite the project’s stated safety benefits, the lack of detailed information has left the community speculating about the fate of the Triangle and its well-loved trees. The Athel tree, a towering landmark in the arid desert landscape, provides crucial shade and serves as a gathering point for locals. The possibility of its removal has sparked concern among long-time residents who see it as a vital part of Tecopa’s character.
Complicating the debate, however, is the fact that the Athel tree (Tamarix aphylla) is considered an invasive species in California. Originally introduced to the western United States in the early 1800s as an ornamental plant, the tree is native to Eurasia and Africa. It has since spread aggressively across the southwestern U.S., threatening wetlands by outcompeting native plants and depleting groundwater. Athel trees consume large amounts of groundwater and release it into the air, which can dry out springs and seeps. They also invade streambanks, sandbars, lake margins, and wetlands. Control methods include foliar herbicide treatments, cutting and applying herbicide to the stump, systemic herbicide applications, mechanical removal with heavy equipment, aerial spraying, and flood management.
With the transportation grant plans still not fully transparent, the community is left waiting for definitive answers. Will the Free Rock remain a center for communal sharing, or will progress erase yet another piece of local history? For now, residents watch and wait, hoping that the Tecopa Triangle—and all that it represents—will remain intact.
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