View as a webpage  /  Share

Summer 2026 Edition

The High Desert Droplet is a collection of news and tips to help you prevent stormwater pollution in your community.

Dear High Desert friends and partners,

Summer is just around the corner, and the MRWG team has just the Droplet for you!

In this edition of the Droplet, we’re sharing stories that highlight how our community - from students and families to local businesses and residents - is helping protect our water and environment.

From hands-on educational events and community festivals to simple pollution prevention tips and native landscaping inspiration, this month’s stories show how watershed stewardship can happen at every age and in every neighborhood. Thank you for being part of the growing community working to keep our watershed clean, healthy and thriving for future generations.

We are wishing you all the best summer. 

Sincerely,
The Mojave River Watershed Group

MRWG in the Community

The Mojave River Watershed Group hosts a book reading and live Enviroscape demonstration at the Apple Valley Newton T. Bass Branch Library with ambassador students from the Apple Valley Academy for Academic Excellence

MRWG participated as a vendor at the Water Conservation Festival where we connected with hundreds of community members about how they can help protect the Mojave River Watershed

On May 16, MRWG joined hundreds of community members at the Water Conservation Festival hosted by San Bernardino County Public Works. Our team connected with High Desert families, sharing stormwater pollution prevention tips and streaming our Enviroscape demonstration video. We distributed eco-friendly supplies including doggie bags, reusable straws and tip cards to help families take action at home. The best part? Fifty-four community members pledged to keep the watershed clean and practice eco-friendly habits! 

Want to meet us out at an event? Follow us on social media to find where we'll be next!

The Mojave River Watershed's Rare Riparian Habitats

Rare riparian habitats thrive in the Mojave River and its watershed

Even though the Mojave Desert is known for its dry climate, the Mojave River Watershed helps create rare Riparian Habitats – lush areas with trees and vegetation that grow along waterways.

Along parts of the Mojave River, cottonwood and willow trees line the riverbanks, forming vibrant green corridors in the middle of the desert landscape. These pockets of life provide important shelter, shade, water, and food for birds, insects, and other wildlife. They also support species like the threatened Desert Tortoise, which depends on healthy desert ecosystems to survive.

Healthy watersheds make healthy habitats possible. By protecting the Mojave River Watershed, we help preserve the plants, wildlife and natural spaces that make our desert region so unique.

Did You Know: Car Wash 411

If you’ve spent time in the High Desert, you’ve probably noticed car washes everywhere - and there’s a good reason why. Here’s the Car Wash 411: where you wash your car can directly impact local waterways.

When cars are washed at home, runoff carrying soap, oil, dirt and other pollutants can flow directly into storm drains and local waterways untreated. Commercial car washes are designed to help prevent this by directing water to treatment systems, and many even recycle water to conserve resources.

In a region where water is limited and our environment is especially sensitive, choosing a commercial car wash is a simple way to help protect the Mojave River Watershed.

Give Your Garden The High Desert Summer Upgrade

Bright, beautiful and built for the High Desert. The Beavertail Cactus thrives in our desert climate, helping conserve water while supporting the ecosystems that make the Mojave River Watershed so special

Here in the High Desert, our summers are hot, our rainstorms can be infrequent yet intense, and above all, our water is precious. That can make landscaping a bit of a challenge, but it also gives us an opportunity to work with nature…not against it.

Many of the plants commonly found in our local landscapes are "desert-adapted," meaning they can survive in our climate but aren't actually native to the High Desert. These plants often require more water and maintenance to thrive.

Native plants, on the other hand, are right at home here. Plants like Mojave Yucca, Desert Sage, Beavertail Cactus, Desert Marigold, and Desert Penstemon have adapted to our unique climate over thousands of years. They're beautiful, drought-tolerant and provide important habitat and food sources for local wildlife and pollinators. Choosing native plants for your landscape is a simple way to help conserve water and protect the Mojave River Watershed. 

What are you planting in your yard this season? The Mojave Water Agency's native plant guide can give you inspiration.

Business Alliance Spotlight: Victorville Motors

Pollution prevention doesn’t just happen at events – it happens through everyday choices made by businesses across our community. That’s why we’re excited to welcome Victorville Motors as one of MRWG’s newest Business Alliance partners. Their work goes beyond the vehicle industry – they’re also helping drive awareness around protecting the High Desert from pollutants. Automotive businesses play an important role in water quality. From proper handling of vehicle fluids to maintaining clean, well-managed properties, these everyday practices help prevent pollutants from reaching storm drains and, ultimately, the Mojave River Watershed. By joining MRWG’s Business Alliance, Victorville Motors is showing that environmental responsibility and local business go hand in hand. We’re proud to have them on board as our newest Stormwater Troopers.