Article written by: Matthew Oates
The deserts of Southern California are open and dramatic, sometimes viewed as expanses of sand, shrubs, and mountains afar. Lately, they have become a battleground for a growing debate: should we develop more housing in these spaces? On one side, there is a pressing need for affordable housing as the state faces a relentless housing crisis. On the other hand, there is the desert itself, an already-stressed ecosystem full of life due to climate change and human encroachment. This is two pressing priorities up against each other, and trying to find that balance isn’t easy.
This isn’t California’s first crisis. Housing all over the state has become so unaffordable, leaving millions unable to locate decent places to live. Southern California remains one of the areas most in demand. Building in the desert is a desirable option for developers. Land is cheaper and available, compared to urban areas with their zoning laws and
general overcrowding that make building difficult. New housing developments in the Coachella Valley or Mojave Desert could house thousands, taking pressure off rents and giving opportunities to families priced out of other areas.
But it is not an open tract of land just sitting here waiting for use. The desert is a complex, fragile ecosystem that supports a remarkable variety of plants and animals, from the iconic Joshua tree to the endangered desert tortoise. Full of life only found in this harsh environment, the ecosystems are fragile; even the smallest change can have immense repercussions. When homes are built, they often come with roads, utilities, and landscaping that disrupt the natural habitat. Wildlife corridors are cut off, making it
harder for animals to find food, water, and mates. Light pollution from new developments can interfere with nocturnal species, and groundwater pumping for human use can deplete the limited resources these ecosystems depend on.
Then there’s the issue of climate change. The desert is already feeling the heat, quite literally. Rising temperatures and extended droughts are pushing its ecosystems to the limit. Large-scale housing development in such regions will only increase the pressure. More people mean more demand for water, a resource that’s already scarce. It also means more heat-absorbing surfaces like asphalt and concrete, which can raise local temperatures even higher in a phenomenon known as the urban heat island effect. These developments might solve one problem—housing affordability—but they risk creating others that are just as pressing.
Of course, not all desert development is created equal. Some argue that with careful planning, we can build homes while minimizing environmental damage. For instance, it would be wiser to develop infill projects around existing desert communities rather than sprawl into pristine areas. Solar panels, water-efficient landscaping, and other green building techniques could help minimize the environmental footprint of new housing. But even with such measures, any development in the desert is a trade-off. You can’t build without impacting the land somehow, and when it’s gone, it’s so hard to get it back.
There’s also an issue of equity here. The housing crisis is a real and pressing one, and it hits low-income families and communities of color particularly hard. So many of these people don’t have the luxury of worrying about ecosystems when they’re struggling to keep a roof over their heads. For them, desert construction could mean a stable home, a shorter commute, or just simply an affordable place to live. Policymakers are tasked with one of the biggest challenges in balancing human needs with environmental preservation. It’s not so simple as whether or not to build housing in the desert. It’s a balancing act between two critical needs: housing for people and protection for the environment. What’s clear is that this issue requires careful thought and compromise. We can’t afford to ignore the housing crisis, but we also can’t treat the desert like it’s expendable. The choices we make now will determine not just where people will live but also how the land and ecosystems we depend on will survive in the years to come. If we’re going to develop the desert, we need to do it in a way that acknowledges the cost and finds a way to pay it forward.