02/05/2026
Project Spotlight: Black mountain Mitigation Site
Big news from the desert: WES has received approval for the Black Mountain Mitigation Site, marking our first project in the Mojave Desert!
Deserts may look sparse at first glance, but they are surprisingly rich ecosystems—supporting a wide range of plants and wildlife uniquely adapted to thrive in tough conditions. Because these habitats take decades to recover from disturbance, conserving large, connected desert landscapes is essential to maintaining their ecological function.
The Black Mountain Mitigation Site conserves 632 acres of desert habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis), helping protect the diversity that exists beyond the surface of the Mojave.
By providing high-quality, landscape-scale mitigation, the site supports regional conservation priorities, improves long-term habitat connectivity, and helps facilitate the infrastructure improvements needed to support growing communities, while keeping conservation front and center.
Building on this milestone, WES has also identified additional lands within the Mojave Desert that are available for custom mitigation solutions. If you have mitigation needs in the Mojave or elsewhere, we’d love to connect and explore how WES can support your project goals.