In this episode, I interview Patrick Donnelly with the Center for Biological Diversity along the banks of the Amargosa River in California near Death Valley National Park. Patrick discusses the historical and ongoing impact of human activity, such as mining, and the modern-day pressures of the lithium boom in Nevada. He discusses how the Center is fighting to protect endemic species and the water resources that sustain life in the face of increasing industrial interests. We discuss specific legal battles against lithium mines and the impact of geothermal energy projects on biodiversity. Patrick also covers the checkered history of land and wilderness protection in Nevada, and the California Desert Protection Act of 1994.

02:32 Exploring the Amargosa Basin: Biodiversity and Ecosystem

03:49 Unique Species and their Adaptations

11:52 Historical and Cultural Significance of the Amargosa River Watershed

16:20 The Center for Biological Diversity: Mission and Activities

18:49 Lithium Boom and Mining Challenges in Nevada

26:03 The Impact of Lithium Mining on Tiehm's buckwheat

27:57 Water Usage in Lithium Mining

29:50 Direct Lithium Extraction at the Salton Sea

32:36 Geothermal Energy and Its Environmental Impact

35:26 The Fight Against Geothermal Projects

39:13 Nevada Lands Bills

46:23 Greenlink North: A Threat to Nevada's Sagebrush Country

49:27 Personal Reflections on Public Lands

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#20 - Fighting for Endemic Species in the Great Basin with Patrick Donnelly

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