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Legal Heroes:
Joan Taylor
Joan Taylor has been a tireless advocate for the California desert since 1970, testifying before congressional committees, working for passage of protective legislation, serving on regional land planning efforts and acting as Club liaison on dozens of lawsuits. Joan has also drafted successful petitions to list species as endangered.
"With no formal training, I've had to learn on the job, and I’m forever grateful to the Club for giving me the opportunity to really make a difference.” Three years ago Joan took on her most important and challenging charge for the Club -- Chair of the California-Nevada Desert Energy Subcommittee. Joan and veteran desert activists work with Club staff, wrestling with the siting of large renewable energy projects to avoid irreparable damage to our fragile desert.
Originally joining the Tahquitz Group Excom in 1970, Joan became a Club lead in the designation of the Santa Rosa Wilderness by the end of the decade. Next, Joan lobbied in Washington for passage of the California Desert Protection Act. Over subsequent decades, she served as a stakeholder in numerous federal, state and local land planning efforts, such as BLM's five million acre Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Plan Amendment, the Coachella Valley MSHCP, and the Governor's Alluvial Fan Task Force for the state of California. Joan played an integral role in the creation of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, and in 2000 was individually recognized at congressional passage of the legislation.
Currently, Joan is a designated stakeholder representing desert environmental interests in the California Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.