Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
Joshua Tree National Park has always been a popular spot for campers, hikers, rock climbers and folks who just want to get away to the desert, but park officials say its popularity has become too much of a good thing.
In 2016, 2.5 million people visited the park — twice as many as two years before.
And sure, it's good to know folks are enjoying the great outdoors a little more, but the staff there says they just don't have enough resources to handle the crush.
KPCC environment reporter Emily Guerin spoke to A Martinez about some of the solutions park officials have been experimenting with to juggle the increased traffic and make sure Joshua Tree's delicate ecosystem is protected.