The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) released the following statement and fact sheet regarding the Mirage Trail (aka Bump and Grind Trail) within the Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve.
“DFGis the state agency responsible for protecting and preserving the state’s wildlife resources and the habitat on which they depend. This is our objective for endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep on the Magnesia Spring Ecological Reserve, and it is mandated by law and in the Coachella Valley Multi Species Habitat Conservation Plan,” said Jordan
Traverso, DFG Deputy Director of Communications, Education and Outreach. “DFG has done everything possible to accommodate trail users in the area, including support of a project to build new multi-use, year-round trails on DFG land to skirt the edge of the reserve.”
A fact sheet including a history of the Mirage Trail closure can be found here: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=44374