Mojave Desert wildlife crossings enter design stage for SR-62 overpasses
The Mojave Desert Land Trust launched a three-year design phase for two wildlife overpasses on State Route 62, backed by a $5.5 million California Wildlife Conservation Board grant to restore mountain lion connectivity and reduce vehicle collisions.
- Project lead: Mojave Desert Land Trust (Joshua Tree)
- Grant: $5.5 million from the California Wildlife Conservation Board covering roughly 65% of the three-year design phase
- Sites: Morongo Grade and Yucca Grade on SR-62 — identified as priority crossing locations
- Partners: Caltrans, Coachella Valley Conservation Commission, Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District
Design, partners and funding
The $5.5 million award will fund about two-thirds of the project’s planned design work over three years. That work includes technical studies, engineering for the overpass structures and plans to guide vegetation and other behavioral cues that encourage animals to use the crossings once built.
MDLT says the funds come from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and will be shared with partners including Caltrans, the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission and the Mojave Desert Resource Conservation District. The trust has been developing the concept and funding applications since at least mid-2025.
Source: MDLT press release; local coverage.
Why SR-62?
State Route 62 cuts through a corridor where two mountain lion populations meet — the Eastern Peninsular Range group and the San Gabriel–San Bernardino Mountains group. The highway fragments movement corridors that connect Joshua Tree National Park with nearby public lands such as Sand to Snow National Monument and the San Bernardino National Forest.
MDLT and partners identified the Morongo Grade and Yucca Grade as stretches with elevated animal movement and collision data, making them prime candidates for crossing structures.
Safety and wildlife collision data
MDLT documentation underscores the human and ecological stakes. A survey from Oct. 23, 2019, to Nov. 24, 2020, recorded 232 carcasses representing 12 mammal and two reptile species at two SR-62 sites — including one collared mountain lion killed after approaching the road.
“SR-62 carries a driver fatality rate about three times the California average,” MDLT notes, linking that trend to rising park visitation and local growth in the Morongo Basin.
MDLT cites studies of comparable crossings reporting reductions in wildlife-vehicle collisions of up to 90% when animals use the structures, highlighting a strong public-safety argument for the project.
Science behind the crossings and prior recommendations
A 2021 Morongo Pass Wildlife Connectivity Study by Dudek and the UC Davis Road Ecology Center recommended overpasses at or near the locations now targeted. The study noted specific barriers — for example, a 56-inch concrete median — that discourage safe crossing during high traffic periods.
MDLT’s plan builds on that earlier science and on recent policy shifts promoting wildlife connectivity, including the 2024 Room to Roam Act and the 2022 Safe Roads and Wildlife Protection Act, which encourage consideration of wildlife movement in planning.
Land, logistics and design challenges
MDLT already owns parcels on both sides of SR-62 and recently acquired a 43-acre tract intended to support one overpass site — a move that reduces land-access complexity and provides space for approach paths and habitat restoration.
Key hurdles include:
- Engineering large-span overpasses to cross an active highway safely
- Designing vegetation, scent and acoustic cues to encourage animal use
- Completing required environmental review under state and federal law
- Securing the additional funding needed to move from design to construction
For details on the land acquisition, see MDLT’s announcement about the 43-acre acquisition near Hwy 62.
How these crossings fit into a larger trend
The SR-62 crossings are part of a national and state trend to build wildlife crossings where major roads cut through habitat. A high-profile example in California is the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, which is being designed to support large carnivores including mountain lions and serves as an illustrative model.
Funding gaps and next steps
MDLT has budgeted design-phase activities over three years. After design and environmental review, the project will require substantial additional capital for construction. The trust is pursuing public and private funding and will coordinate with Caltrans and conservation partners to align the project with transportation planning and grant opportunities.
Project contact for media and partners: Jessica Dacey, MDLT Director of Communications — (760) 366-5440 ext. 239, jessica@mdlt.org. Project materials and updates are available at MDLT’s website.
Implications for the Inland Empire, California
Economic impact: The project could attract grant funding and create construction- and engineering-related jobs in the region. Long-term reductions in wildlife-vehicle collisions could lower insurance and emergency-response costs, and create opportunities for local conservation groups, universities and small businesses to provide services.
Public safety: With SR-62’s elevated driver-fatality rate, effective crossings and complementary road-safety measures may reduce animal strikes and severe crashes, benefiting first responders, hospitals and families across the Morongo Basin and Inland Empire.
Ecology and mountain lion habitat: Restoring connectivity between the San Bernardino and Little San Bernardino ranges may improve genetic diversity and resilience for mountain lion populations and support broader desert-ecosystem health.
Community relevance: For residents who value outdoor recreation and local open space, the crossings represent a tangible step toward preserving landscape character while managing safety and growth. MDLT emphasizes community involvement during environmental review stages where public input will influence project details.
Sources and further reading
- MDLT press release: Wildlife crossings designed to stop deaths
- Local coverage: Z107.7FM
- MDLT — main site and organization background
- MDLT: 43-acre acquisition near Hwy 62 to support crossings
Note: For ongoing updates and materials, visit MDLT’s website or contact Jessica Dacey at (760) 366-5440 ext. 239, jessica@mdlt.org.
