For this episode on the weekend of Dia De Los Muertos, host Chris Clarke celebrates the life and  work of five departed desert defenders: Judith Ackerman of El Paso; Tomás Rojo Valencia of Sonora's Yaqui communities; Donna Charpied of Desert Center, CA; David Gaine of Lee Vining, CA, and Ken Sleight of Green River, Utah. In these all-too-brief descriptions, Chris gives us a glimpse into each activist's work and life. Some of the five died tragically and far too soon, others lived out longer lives. All are missed. Bonus: If you stay to the end, Chris lists and commemorates 60 other departed desert defenders. Their work made our work possible.

Chris also observes the passing of labor icon Dolores Huerta, and in a mid-stream PSA, he urges listeners to donate to groups aiding survivors of the serious flooding in the Four Corners area. Check out the Bluff Community Foundation, Hopi Relief, the Navajo Relief Fund, and/or Samaritan's Purse to help out. 

Chris is eagerly anticipating his attendance at the CHihuahuan Desert Conference in El Paso on 11/4-6, and hopes to see some of you there.

Resources:

Judy Ackerman — Texas House Resolution 63 (2023). Official memorial covering her military career, Castner Range work, Rio Bosque protest, and civic organizing. https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HR00063I.htm

Tomás Rojo Valencia — Human Rights Defenders Memorial. Profile and links to additional reporting on his killing and subsequent prosecutions. https://hrdmemorial.org/hrdrecord/tomas-rojo-valencia/

CEMDA — Independencia Aqueduct and Yaqui consultation rights (2015, Spanish). Legal and organizing background from an organization involved in environmental-rights advocacy. https://cemda.org.mx/a-dos-anos-del-fallo-de-la-suprema-corte-continua-operando-de-forma-irregular-el-acueducto-independencia/

La Jornada — Arrest in Rojo’s murder (July 6, 2021, Spanish). Contemporary reporting that attributes the toll-revenue motive to prosecutors. https://www.jornada.com.mx/2021/07/06/estados/024n1est

Donna Charpied — First-person interview, parts I and II (2008). Her farming background, the landfill campaign, and her vision for Eagle Mountain. https://edgeofthemirage.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-with-donna-charpied-part-i.html and https://edgeofthemirage.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-with-donna-charpied-part-ii.html

Chris Clarke — Court Order Final Blow to Landfill Near Joshua Tree National Park.  https://www.pbssocal.org/redefine/court-order-final-blow-to-landfill-near-joshua-tree-national-park

Donna Charpied — Family obituary notice (2017). Includes remembrances. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/venturacountystar/name/donna-charpied-obituary?id=10096010

John Hart — Storm over Mono (University of California Press, 1996). Free full text of the book recommended in the episode. https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/public/book/storm-over-mono-the-mono-lake-battle-and-the-california-water-future.html

California State Water Board — Mono Lake Basin. Official entry point to the 1983 court ruling, Decision 1631, and restoration requirements. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/mono_lake/

John Wesley Powell River History Museum — Ken Sleight. River-guide biography and Hall of Fame profile. https://johnwesleypowell.com/ken-sleight-2012-hall-of-fame-inductee/

Richard Markosian — The Last Man To Know Glen Canyon Before Lake Powell (Utah Stories, May 29, 2014). Source of the interview and compromise quotation used in the episode. https://utahstories.com/2014/05/glen-canyon-before-lake-powell/

Ken Sleight — The Death of Glen Canyon. His own account, republished by the Canyon Country Zephyr. https://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2020/11/30/from-the-archives-ken-sleight-remembers-the-death-of-glen-canyon/

Dolores Huerta Foundation — In Memory of Dolores Huerta. Official memorial and family statement. https://doloreshuerta.org/in-memory-of-dolores-huerta/

Places and assistance links

Glen Canyon Dam facts and history — Bureau of Reclamation. Construction, power generation, and reservoir filling. https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/gc/index.html

Lake Powell operations — Bureau of Reclamation. Date-sensitive reservoir conditions and operational forecasts. https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/gcd.html

Hopi Relief. Assistance to Hopi communities. https://hopirelief.org/

Navajo Relief Fund. Partnership With Native Americans program supporting food, water, and emergency assistance. https://nativepartnership.org/nrf/

Copper Mountain College. Episode sponsor. https://www.cmccd.edu/

Support 90 Miles from Needles. https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

For this episode on the weekend of Dia De Los Muertos, host Chris Clarke celebrates the life and&nbsp; work of five departed desert defenders: Judith Ackerman of El Paso; Tom&aacute;s Rojo Valencia of Sonora's Yaqui communities; Donna Charpied of Desert Center, CA; David Gaine of Lee Vining, CA, and Ken Sleight of Green River, Utah. In these all-too-brief descriptions, Chris gives us a glimpse into each activist's work and life. Some of the five died tragically and far too soon, others lived out longer lives. All are missed. Bonus: If you stay to the end, Chris lists and commemorates 60 other departed desert defenders. Their work made our work possible. Chris also observes the passing of labor icon Dolores Huerta, and in a mid-stream PSA, he urges listeners to donate to groups aiding survivors of the serious flooding in the Four Corners area. Check out the <a href="https://www.bluffcommunityfoundation.org/relief">Bluff Community Foundation</a>, <a href="https://hopirelief.org/">Hopi Relief</a>, the <a href="https://nativepartnership.org/nrf/">Navajo Relief Fund</a>, and/or <a href="https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/responding-to-the-flooded-navajo-nation/">Samaritan's Purse </a>to help out.&nbsp;
Chris is eagerly anticipating his attendance at the CHihuahuan Desert Conference in El Paso on 11/4-6, and hopes to see some of you there.
Resources:
Judy Ackerman &mdash; Texas House Resolution 63 (2023). Official memorial covering her military career, Castner Range work, Rio Bosque protest, and civic organizing. <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HR00063I.htm">https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HR00063I.htm</a>
Tom&aacute;s Rojo Valencia &mdash; Human Rights Defenders Memorial. Profile and links to additional reporting on his killing and subsequent prosecutions. <a href="https://hrdmemorial.org/hrdrecord/tomas-rojo-valencia/">https://hrdmemorial.org/hrdrecord/tomas-rojo-valencia/</a>
CEMDA &mdash; Independencia Aqueduct and Yaqui consultation rights (2015, Spanish). Legal and organizing background from an organization involved in environmental-rights advocacy. <a href="https://cemda.org.mx/a-dos-anos-del-fallo-de-la-suprema-corte-continua-operando-de-forma-irregular-el-acueducto-independencia/">https://cemda.org.mx/a-dos-anos-del-fallo-de-la-suprema-corte-continua-operando-de-forma-irregular-el-acueducto-independencia/</a>
La Jornada &mdash; Arrest in Rojo&rsquo;s murder (July 6, 2021, Spanish). Contemporary reporting that attributes the toll-revenue motive to prosecutors. <a href="https://www.jornada.com.mx/2021/07/06/estados/024n1est">https://www.jornada.com.mx/2021/07/06/estados/024n1est</a>
Donna Charpied &mdash; First-person interview, parts I and II (2008). Her farming background, the landfill campaign, and her vision for Eagle Mountain. <a href="https://edgeofthemirage.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-with-donna-charpied-part-i.html">https://edgeofthemirage.blogspot.com/2008/02/interview-with-donna-charpied-part-i.html</a> and <a href="https://edgeofthemirage.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-with-donna-charpied-part-ii.html">https://edgeofthemirage.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-with-donna-charpied-part-ii.html</a>
Chris Clarke &mdash; Court Order Final Blow to Landfill Near Joshua Tree National Park.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.pbssocal.org/redefine/court-order-final-blow-to-landfill-near-joshua-tree-national-park">https://www.pbssocal.org/redefine/court-order-final-blow-to-landfill-near-joshua-tree-national-park</a>
Donna Charpied &mdash; Family obituary notice (2017). Includes remembrances. <a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/venturacountystar/name/donna-charpied-obituary?id=10096010">https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/venturacountystar/name/donna-charpied-obituary?id=10096010</a>
John Hart &mdash; Storm over Mono (University of California Press, 1996). Free full text of the book recommended in the episode. <a href="https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/public/book/storm-over-mono-the-mono-lake-battle-and-the-california-water-future.html">https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/public/book/storm-over-mono-the-mono-lake-battle-and-the-california-water-future.html</a>
California State Water Board &mdash; Mono Lake Basin. Official entry point to the 1983 court ruling, Decision 1631, and restoration requirements. <a href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/mono_lake/">https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/mono_lake/</a>
John Wesley Powell River History Museum &mdash; Ken Sleight. River-guide biography and Hall of Fame profile. <a href="https://johnwesleypowell.com/ken-sleight-2012-hall-of-fame-inductee/">https://johnwesleypowell.com/ken-sleight-2012-hall-of-fame-inductee/</a>
Richard Markosian &mdash; The Last Man To Know Glen Canyon Before Lake Powell (Utah Stories, May 29, 2014). Source of the interview and compromise quotation used in the episode. <a href="https://utahstories.com/2014/05/glen-canyon-before-lake-powell/">https://utahstories.com/2014/05/glen-canyon-before-lake-powell/</a>
Ken Sleight &mdash; The Death of Glen Canyon. His own account, republished by the Canyon Country Zephyr. <a href="https://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2020/11/30/from-the-archives-ken-sleight-remembers-the-death-of-glen-canyon/">https://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2020/11/30/from-the-archives-ken-sleight-remembers-the-death-of-glen-canyon/</a>
Dolores Huerta Foundation &mdash; In Memory of Dolores Huerta. Official memorial and family statement. <a href="https://doloreshuerta.org/in-memory-of-dolores-huerta/">https://doloreshuerta.org/in-memory-of-dolores-huerta/</a>
Places and assistance links
Glen Canyon Dam facts and history &mdash; Bureau of Reclamation. Construction, power generation, and reservoir filling. <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/gc/index.html">https://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/crsp/gc/index.html</a>
Lake Powell operations &mdash; Bureau of Reclamation. Date-sensitive reservoir conditions and operational forecasts. <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/gcd.html">https://www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/gcd.html</a>
Hopi Relief. Assistance to Hopi communities. <a href="https://hopirelief.org/">https://hopirelief.org/</a>
Navajo Relief Fund. Partnership With Native Americans program supporting food, water, and emergency assistance. <a href="https://nativepartnership.org/nrf/">https://nativepartnership.org/nrf/</a>
Copper Mountain College. Episode sponsor. <a href="https://www.cmccd.edu/">https://www.cmccd.edu/</a>
Support 90 Miles from Needles. <a href="https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate">https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate</a>

Join Chris Clarke and a variety of guests as they explore the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: We are out to recruit you to the cause.

Join Chris Clarke and a variety of guests as they explore the challenges and opportunities of the American Southwest's fragile ecosystems. Engaging interviews with experts, activists, and advocates on conservation, land management, and environmental justice. Science and sentiment, politics and philosophy, hiking and history, culture and creativity all go into defending the desert. Be forewarned: We are out to recruit you to the cause.

Vital info on protecting our irrepaceable deserts

90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

90 Miles from Needles is a podcast about the environment, landscapes, and people of the American deserts—the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin and beyond. Host Chris Clarke explores desert ecology, wildlife, public lands, history, culture, road trips, conservation and the people working to protect these landscapes.

90 Miles from Needles is a podcast about the environment, landscapes, and people of the American deserts&mdash;the Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahuan, Great Basin and beyond. Host Chris Clarke explores desert ecology, wildlife, public lands, history, culture, road trips, conservation and the people working to protect these landscapes.

 For Día de los Muertos, Chris Clarke remembers five people whose work helped protect the deserts: Judy Ackerman, Tomás Rojo Valencia, Donna Charpied, David Gaines, and Ken Sleight. Their stories lead from El Paso and the Yaqui River to Eagle Mountain, Mono Lake, and Glen Canyon, tracing decades of organizing, resistance, and love for desert places. The episode also honors Dolores Huerta and a wider community of departed desert defenders, with an Amargosa River recording from Fred Bell.