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Friday, November 6, 2009

Proposed transfer of jurisdiction for Tolowa Dunes State Park has ignited controversy

Source:
http://www.triplicate.com/20091105107407/News/Local-News/Dunes-transfer-raises-concerns

Critics: move to preserve hunting has ramifications

A proposed transfer of jurisdiction for 1,200 acres in Tolowa Dunes State Park has ignited controversy.

The issue began with an attempt to preserve waterfowl hunting that has been allowed for years on the land, but opponents of the transfer say it has significance beyond hunting.

The California State Parks and the Department of Fish and Game proposed the transfer to allow hunting to continue.

Due to a series of management mistakes by both agencies, waterfowl hunting has been allowed even though it became illegal after the area’s designation as a state park in 2001.

Earlier this year hunters — and state park officials — were surprised by a decision by Fish and Game to exclude hunting in Tolowa Dunes from its list of allowed sites.

Both agencies then started trying to figure out how to continue allowing hunting in the state park with hopes of resolving the issue in time for the current hunting season, said state park Superintendent Jeff Bomke.

Ultimately they proposed the transfer of jurisdiction from the State Parks to Fish and Game, which would once again make waterfowl hunting legal because it removes the state park restrictions.

“It’s a recreational opportunity that should be allowed to continue,” said county Supervisor Mike Sullivan. “But it’s important to make sure there are still protections in place.”

Some transfer opponents do not necessarily oppose waterfowl hunting there, but they believe there should be a public process involved and they worry that it may allow uses of the land that could have far more impact than hunting on an area of biodiversity and cultural importance.

“I am disappointed that apparently state leadership is making this important decision without any public process, since the lands being transferred are environmentally and culturally unique,” said Sandra Jerabek, Tolowa Dunes Stewards programs manager.

“The Tolowa (tribe members) have lived and worshipped and celebrated in this area for many thousands of years,” Jerabek said. They deserve better than a process based on rumors. We should be having an open public debate about this, with maps and documents, so that everyone can see what’s going on.”

Tribal officials said the land does include areas significant to the tribe.

“This is a big deal,” said Smith River Rancheria Cultural Director Marva Scott. “These are lands that have been part of our culture since time began. We’re taking direct action on it now.”

Scott did not specify what that action was.

“It is the center of our universe,” Scott said. “We’re like guardians of that place, we’re connected there spiritually. It’s not managed to our satisfaction now; how much more would be lost if this were to go forward?”

According to Smith River Rancheria Tribal Council Member Loren Bommelyn, the site in question has been on the federal registry for historical sites since the 1970s.

“It’s a part of the history of America, like the building they signed the Declaration of Independence in,” Bommelyn said. “I think that this may be why it was taken into park status to begin with. It’s our Garden of Eden.”

Bomke said that the cultural significance of the area was not being ignored, and part of the proposed transfer would make culturally significant areas off-limits to hunters.

“At this point the proposal is still being reviewed by legal staff from both agencies,” Bomke said. “We need to see if there is already a public process in place, or if one needs to be implemented.”

The issue didn’t become public knowledge until a press release was distributed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), an organization that receives tips from from government workers.

“We are essentially a conduit for public employees to keep them from being whistle-blowers and getting in trouble,” said PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. “This information came from a State Parks employee.”

The fact that it took a State Parks employee and PEER to make the proposed transfer public has opponents claiming it was being attempted behind the scenes.

A further wrinkle is that the local State Parks department doesn’t normally work to promote hunting in parks or in general.

“The contemplated giveaway of these dune swale ponds is particularly outrageous because they are unique in the California State Parks system, and have a tribal heritage that goes back thousands of years,” said Scott Greacen, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, a non-profit organization that seeks to protect endangered species and forest ecosystems along California’s North Coast.

“We were shocked to hear about this transfer because State Parks in this region is otherwise doing a good job of protecting tribal cultural resources,” Greacen said.

The PEER press release states that “Tolowa Dunes State Park and the adjoining 5,500-acre Lake Earl wetland complex provide habitat for at least 43 rare and federally and state listed species, including the peregrine falcon, brown pelican, western snowy plover, marbled murrelet, sand dune phacelia, Oregon silverspot butterfly, seaside hoary elfin butterfly, greenish blue butterfly, steelhead, and coastal cutthroat trout.”

The 1,200 acres in question encompass only state parkland, not Lake Earl, and include multiple ponds and a slough, Bomke said.

Bomke declined to comment on the seeming change of direction for a park service that is usually oriented to resource conservation

“My personal opinion is that waterfowl hunting is contrary to the State Parks’ interests and values,” Bomke said.

Roy Stearns, the State Parks’ director of communications, acknowledged hunting isn’t part of the parks’ mission statement.

“If this were a pristine park without a tradition of hunting we would not be in favor of hunting,” Stearns said.

Referring to the fact that it is a significant cultural site, Stearns said, “our ultimate goal is to maintain the status quo of historic use. Hunting has not damaged the resource or hurt the land in the past.”

“The transfer to Fish and Game is not a fait accompli,” he said. “There are still some other options. One should stay tuned because those other options are still on the table.”

Supervisor Sullivan said many local residents support hunting at the site.

“I’ve had a lot of feedback from constituents wanting this area returned to its historical use,” Sullivan said, referring to the recent history of duck hunting there.

The issue may not be resolved for this hunting season.

“Who has the jurisdiction to issue the permit is the question,” said California Coastal Commission planner Jim Baskin. “If the land to be transferred spans the high tide line, it arguably falls under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Commission. If it doesn’t, then the county would have to issue the permit.”

According to Baskin, the Coastal Commission is issuing a letter to all agencies concerned expressing the requirement for a permit.

“We still have to figure out who is responsible for issuing the permit,” Baskin said.

The Board of Supervisors recently voted unanimously to send a letter to Fish and Game and State Parks expressing how important waterfowl hunting was for local residents.

Jerabek noted that if the county chose to issue a permit, that action could be appealed to the Coastal Commission.

Rackzilla Rack and Pinion now available for Kawasaki Teryx from Unisteer


Unisteer Performance Products now offers a heavy-duty bolt-on factory replacement rack and pinions for the Kawasaki Teryx. The Rackzilla includes larger tie rods, stronger rod ends, steel backing plate and mounting area, and a powder coat finish.

The Rackzilla can be used with long travel kits and lift kits on most models.

This is a direct bolt-in kit that replaces your factory rack and pinion.

In addition to the Rackzilla for the Teryx, Unisteer also offers a bolt-on power steering unit. You can check it out at:
http://www.unisteer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=UNISTEER&Product_Code=8051580&Category_Code=

About Unisteer Performance Products:
Unisteer Performance Products is a manufacturer of specialty steering systems and steering components for street rods, classic cars & muscle cars as well a large variety of custom vehicles. Unisteer can be found on the internet at: www.unisteer.com

Juniper Dunes toilets are shot up, then removed

Two temporary toilets in the Juniper Dunes Off-Road Vehicle Area northeast of Pasco have been vandalized.

After shelving initial plans to install permanent toilets because of unsuitable terrain and access problems, the Bureau of Land Management placed four temporary toilets at the Juniper Dunes parking area Oct. 1.

But on Oct. 16 the contractor who provided the temporary toilets notified BLM someone had extensively damaged them with gunfire.

Because of that, BLM officials asked the contractor to remove the toilets, and have no plans to replace them.

The BLM is investigating the incident and asked that anyone with information on the incident call BLM Law Enforcement at 509-536-1224.

Source: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/764781.html

More info on the Juniper Dunes can be found at:
http://www.duneguide.com/sand_dune_guide_juniper_dunes.htm

UTV Crap Glamis opens doors at the Imperial Sand Dunes as the season kicks off

With help from UTVCrap.com and a few others, Mark Stoffer and Rick Alger recently opened a UTV parts store at the Imperial Sand Dunes near Glamis Flats. Just like the main store in Arizona that stocks hundreds of parts for side x side vehicles, UTV Crap Glamis is packed with parts for many popular vehicles like Yamaha Rhino, Kawasaki Teryx, Polaris RZR and RANGER, Arctic Cat Prowler and Honda Big Red.

"Our goal is really pretty simple," said Rick Alger. "We will do our best to keep people riding and keep there machines running while they are in Glamis. We don’t want riders to miss their vacation or have to cut their time in the dunes short due to not having parts available and in stock."

The UTV Crap Glamis trailer is stocked with lots of OEM parts that tend to break in the dunes. Axles, CVT belts, A-arms, rod ends, tie-rods and fuel pumps just to name a few. But the trailer is also packed with all sorts of stuff that UTV owners want when they hit the dunes - billet goodies, air filters, paddle tires, harnesses and wheel spacers.

So, if you break an axle, or need some harnesses, stop by the big blue trailer on vendors row. They might just have what you are looking for.
UTV Crap Glamis is located on vendor row at Glamis Flats, near the Glamis Beach Store (Google Maps).

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Imperial Sand Dunes Permits Available Online at the ASA

The ASA has ISDRA season permits available in the on-line store. Season permits are $90 plus $2.95 for shipping and insurance. They are good until September 30, 2010.

If you wait and purchase a seasonal permit at the dunes it will cost you $120 - BUYING ONLINE SAVES YOU OVER $27.

The ASA receives $9 for each season permit we sell so this is a great way to get your permit and help the ASA at the same time.

Permits are available here.

The American Sand Association
Unite, Inform, and Mobilize
www.americansandassociation.org

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

IMPERIAL SAND DUNES PEAK SEASON BEGINS

News Articles about Halloween Weekend:

"Glamis dunes weekend opens up to small crowd, beautiful weather" (Imperial Valley Press, 10/31/09)
"The BLM normally sees more than 100,000 people" during the Halloween weekend at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Dunes manager Neil Hamada "said he thinks the economy has definitely had an effect on the number of visitors. Those who came out were a lot of families and those who had been coming out for years, he said."
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2009/11/01/local_news/news01.txt

"First big Imperial Valley dunes weekend opens for fun" (Imperial Valley Press, 11/1/09)
"Fields of recreational vehicles filled the area as people enjoyed the Halloween weekend ... Dunes manager Neil Hamada of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management was happy with how the weekend went, he said. There was a lot of activity for Halloween, he said. The children got to dress up, and everyone had a good time..."
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2009/11/02/local_news/news02.txt

"Merino family has sand in the blood" (Yuma Sun, 10/30/09)
"Halloween weekend is the traditional start of the duning season at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. The Bureau of Land Management typically expects between 60,000 and 100,000 people at the dunes this weekend." At 74, Steve Merino Sr. of Yuma still looks forward to the season.
http://www.yumasun.com/news/merino-53850-dunes-dave.html

"Halloween weekend dunes attendance down" (Yuma Sun, 11/3/09)
"There was about a 45 percent drop in the number of people who played in the Imperial Sand Dunes during this past weekend as compared to other years, and the Bureau of Land Management believes it may be another sign of an ailing economy."
http://www.yumasun.com/news/dunes-53948-weekend-certainly.html

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Halloween Attendance Down at Imperial Sand Dunes

Source: http://www.yumasun.com/news/dunes-53948-weekend-certainly.html

November 03, 2009 8:05 PM

BY CHRIS McDANIEL, SUN STAFF WRITER
There was about a 45 percent drop in the number of people who played in the Imperial Sand Dunes during this past weekend as compared to other years, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) believes it may be another sign of an ailing economy.

"Visitation was certainly much lower than usual, and we don’t really have a definitive answer, but certainly one could think the economy is part of it, due to the distance people drive to get out there and the cost of gas, etc.," said Stephen Razo, the external affairs director for the California Desert District of the BLM.

"Halloween has kind of become a pre-Thanksgiv- ing, and in better economic times when Halloween fell on a Saturday, we would see over 100,000 people. Of course, this holiday was on a Saturday, but we only had 64,000 people."

Razo said Thanksgiving weekend, which has traditionally seen scores of off-roaders careening in their vehicles, may also have fewer people in attendance.

"I think the Thanksgiving weekend will validate our suspicions by the numbers to see exactly how much is being affected by what is happening in the economy, which may prevent families from coming to the dunes."

Photo Gallery: http://utvguide.net/trip_report_glamis_halloween_2009.htm

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