The Living Desert Pollinator Pathways Project

The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy has awarded a Proposition 68 local assistance grant of 526,997 dollars to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens for the Central Coachella Valley Pollinator Pathway Project. This initiative aims to establish pesticide-free corridors and gardens consisting exclusively of native plants to provide essential nutrients and habitat for birds and pollinating insects. The project will be implemented across several locations, including the Living Desert Preserve, Oswit Land Trust lands, Desert Recreation District park lands, and Desert Sands Unified School District school grounds. Key performance goals include the restoration of over 55 acres of habitat and the creation of up to 20 public pollinator gardens within underserved communities to advance biodiversity, drought resilience, and equitable outdoor access. The project is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2030, and is categorized as a Class 4 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(b) for minor land alterations. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, a 501(c)(3) organization, is required to maintain detailed accounting records of grant expenditures for three years and submit its first reimbursement invoice within one year of the agreement or provide a progress statement. Final invoices must be submitted within 90 days of project completion. The agreement includes strict compliance requirements, including indemnification of the Conservancy and the State of California, and mandates that any material changes to the project scope be approved by the Conservancy.