Holiday visitation lower at Imperial Sand Dunes

Source: http://www.yumasun.com/news/people-55260-dunes-don.html

BY CHRIS McDANIEL, SUN STAFF WRITER

People who have been coming to the Imperial Sand Dunes for years noticed there were fewer people out this year.

Ammanda Moore has been coming to the dunes every year with her family from Riverside, Calif., and said it wasn't as busy as last year.

"No, less busy," she said. "It's been that way. There are a lot less people and we noticed a gradual decline in how big the (RV city) was because normally people are parked way out towards the hills. It's so crowded usually but now it's a lot lighter. It's not scarce but most people came out for just a few days."

Moore said her family saves up in advance to be able to still come to the dunes even though the economy is faulty.

"We've been doing this since I was born. We come out Christmas Day and stay until a little after New Year's."

Jim Green, who lives in Yuma and has been going to the dunes since 1975, said many of the people enjoying the dunes were leaving by Saturday.

"Everybody is going home now. Saturday everybody's packing up and going and that's when we come out. People came out right after Christmas, so they are leaving."

Moore and her family don't have to worry about paying for a hotel room because they bring their RV with them to sleep in.

"Since we have to conserve water, we don't get to shower much. The sand gets everywhere and all over your feet. We used to stay in a hotel in clean beds with no sand, but it's really nice out here at night when you look at the stars because it is so dark."

Green said it's easier for people in Yuma to go to the dunes because they don't have to stay out there all night.

"I actually come out here for the day and go back at night. It's close enough to town where you can come out and go play and then come back and take a shower and have a meal. I don't have the money for all these motor homes and toy haulers."

Green said he comes out to the dunes even when it isn't the holiday season.

"We'll come out here after work at night, it's only 20 minutes, and run for a couple of hours. We come out here two or three nights a week after work. It's close to Yuma and doesn't cost you a lot of gas money to get out here. It's just another whole city this time of year."

Green said the price for a permit doesn't keep him or his friends away.

"Well, it was the same this year as it was the last two years, and is $90 for an annual, but that pays some wages and keeps the Dumpsters out here, which is the big thing. When they were talking about taking the Dumpsters away, everybody was concerned about what it would have turned into out here. I don't mind paying it."

Green said most people at the dunes are responsible with their trash.

"You bring it in, you carry it out. That's the rule. At the end of the weekend, we will do a trash run and fill up a couple of trash bags.

"We have to keep it clean because if it get's bad and gets out of hand and gets where people aren't (picking up their trash) ... it's going to lead to higher fees or they might even close the place. Everyone is pretty good about it. There are very few who don't take out with them what they bring in. Even then, we’ll go out and pick it up for them."

Green said the people who play at the dunes are there to have fun.

"There are a lot of families, it is a family sport. My son started when he was 4 years old and is still doing it, but he's got all his own stuff now."

Moore agrees.

"This is a really family-oriented place, and there is not a lot of drinking and driving, so it's safer for kids. That's why you see a lot of kids out here on their quads. This is a great family spot."

Green said there is nothing like driving up and down the hills of soft sand.

"It's like floating on a cloud. With the suspension and stuff nowadays, you just kind of float. It is really a neat experience. It takes the stress away."

More Resources:

• Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
  
• Buttercup
• Glamis
• Gordons Well / Dune Buggy Flats

Fewer people visit Imperial Sand Dunes near Yuma

Overall attendance is down for the second consecutive year at the Imperial Sand Dunes, according to officials at the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees the popular recreation site.

David Briery, a spokesman for BLM's California Public Affairs office, said despite attendance being down, he still expects large crowds for the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, which is traditionally the most popular weekend at the dunes.

"I would guess that there being fewer people there would make it more attractive for the duners because they would have more room to recreate," Briery said.

Thanksgiving weekend has traditionally been seen as the big kickoff for the winter sand duning season as huge numbers of local people and thousands of others from California and elsewhere take their RVs and sand toys out for some fun.

The busiest weekends typically are Thanksgiving, New Year's, Presidents Day, Halloween, Martin Luther King Day and Easter.

Last year, 172,000 people visited the dunes over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, compared with 166,000 in 2007 and 198,000 in 2006.

So far this year, 163,500 visitors have come to the dunes, compared with 247,100 this same time last year.

Since the unofficial start of the dunes season began seven weeks ago, which was on the week ending Oct. 7, Briery said there has only been one week in which the attendance was about the same as it was the previous year.

Briery said nearly 30,000 people visited the dunes the week ending Nov. 16, which was only about 900 people fewer than the previous year.

Attendance at the dunes so far this year has been:

For the week ending Oct. 4 — 3,600

For the week ending Oct. 12 — 15,600

For the week ending Oct. 19 — 23,300

For the week ending Oct. 28 — 21,200

For the week ending Nov. 2 — 65,500 (including Halloween)

For the week ending Nov. 9 — 8,900

For the week ending Nov. 16 — 30,000

Briery said that Halloween has become the pre-Thanksgiving, and in better economic times about 100,000 would attend the dunes during that week.

However, there was also about a 45 percent drop in the number of people who visited the dunes during the Halloween weekend this year as compared to other years.

This year, 65,500 people visited the dunes for Halloween, compared with 90,000 the year before.

Briery said there is no way to tell whether they will have that same type of decrease in attendance for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

"We just don't know whether we will see that same kind of dropoff this year for the week of Thanksgiving," Briery said.

The likely culprit for the declining attendance, Briery said, is the poor economy, which is causing more people to stay at home.

"People are either saving their money or may be out of jobs," Briery said. "Between the two, we think those may be the reasons."

Duners have also been complaining about stricter enforcement and say it is making it less fun to go there now.

Information from: The Sun, http://www.yumasun.com

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

Man Killed In Accident At Imperial Sand Dunes

Source: http://www.kswt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11388389

Reported By: Rob Hughes

Imperial County, CA October 26- A man is killed at the sand dunes in a violent accident. Police say it's a tragedy that everyone can learn from.

Police say a 34 year old Tijuana man's life was tragically cut short Friday afternoon after his ATV plummeted 45 feet down a "cut slope" in Imperial County's "Dune Buggy Flats."

"It wasn't a razorback, it's just a cut slope, but because of the wind shift, it deletes one side of the dune, and it's unexpected, and when you fall it would be pretty steep and causes great damage to the body," said Officer Jose Sanchez with the California Highway Patrol in Winterhaven.

Sanchez is seeing lots of people hit the dunes this season, while riding their ATV's very fast in unforgiving terrain.

"The terrain is very dangerous out there, the terrain often changes due to increasing winds off and on; you can't expect a flat surface if you're going up a steep slope," said Sanchez.

Sanchez says no matter your experience level, a few time-tested safety methods could keep you out of the hospital, and save your life.

"Everybody should be aware to drive slow, get familiar with the area first, and then gain some experience before you take off and start riding," said Sanchez.

However, even if you follow safety precautions to the "T," Sanchez explains that there are no guarantees in the dunes, and encourages you to always be careful.

"My advice is to take as much information as possible, take classes on how to wear the proper equipment out there, even though you wear the proper equipment, it could get dangerous; you could break legs and limbs," said Sanchez.

Police say the accident is under investigation.

Kawasaki to Present New Teryx to ADF for Camp Host use at Buttercup

Back in 2007, Kawasaki first became aware of the need for on-site transportation for the BLM Camp Host at Buttercup. Discussions with the American Desert Foundation and BLM Imperial Sand Dunes Manager Neil Hamada determined that a side by side vehicle such as a Kawasaki Teryx would accommodate the needs of the Camp Host.

Hamada indicated that the availability of the Teryx will allow BLM to utilize our camp host to patrol the area, make positive visitor contacts, pick up trash, and provide assistance when needed. It will also free up a BLM pick up truck for EMT use to provide medical services in the dunes.

Through the continued efforts of Kawasaki, a brand new Teryx will be available to the BLM on a loan basis. Kawasaki will formally present the Teryx to the ADF who will then loan it to the BLM at the 2009 Dune Tour Spooktacular www.thedunetour.com on October 31, 2009.

The American Desert Foundation is a non-profit corporation, established and organized under Section 501c(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, which, is dedicated to improving scientific understanding of the ecosystems and human uses that define the desert regions of the United States.

About Kawasaki Motors Corp.:

ATVs, Motorcycles, Utility Vehicles, Watercraft and Power Products are just some of the unique consumer products that have made the Kawasaki brand a household name around the world.

From the class leading Ninja® sportbikes and thundering Vulcan™ cruisers to the rugged Brute Force™ ATVs, MULE™ utility vehicles and JET SKI® watercraft, Kawasaki products lead the powersports industry around the globe. The secret of Kawasaki's success is in designing and manufacturing products that offer balanced performance, high quality, reliability and excellent fit and finish. Check out Kawasaki on the web at: www.kawasaki.com.

For more information about the Kawasaki Teryx, visit: http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/SubCategory.aspx?id=27

Imperial Sand Dunes - September Wash Road Update

Building a road in the desert in the middle of the summer is a daunting task. Temperatures well above 100 degrees fuel scorching breezes, and relief can only be found in the air-conditioned cab of a dozer. Miles of empty sand beckon the horizon, and grueling work begins under a glaring sun.
Construction of the "new" Wash Road began in July and continues today. This 24 ft. wide road is located directly west of the old one, and should be completed by the Halloween weekend. Funded with federal dollars, construction costs are held to a minimum by using volunteers, transferring BLM staff from other offices to temporarily help out, and hiring short-term workers from the local community to get the job done. Additionally, as much of the existing berm material next to the road is used in its construction to keep the costs down.
While the road may gets its initial boost from federal funding, maintenance of it will come strictly through fee dollars. Because of this, OHVs will not be permitted to travel on it in an effort to reduce future maintenance costs and increase safety. The road is designed for wash access by primary vehicles only.
When visiting the dunes prior to road completion, please respect construction efforts and stay away from the area. This increases safety for everyone, and helps ensure the project stays on track.

More info at: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra/sandnews/washroad.html

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Subgroup Members Selected

The California Desert Advisory Council (DAC) has selected members for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) subgroup. They are Dick Holliday, representing the DAC; Bob Hamm, representing Imperial County; Larry Jowdy and Jim Bramham, representing California off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts; Bob Mason and Chuck Hattaway, representing OHV organizations; Nicole Nicholas-Giles, representing nearby California communities; Ken Rosevear, representing nearby Arizona communities; and Glenn Montgomery, representing Arizona OHV enthusiasts.
Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, input from the subgroup will be presented directly to the DAC for its deliberation and consideration. The DAC, in turn, in its advisory capacity, develops recommendations for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) California Desert District manager concerning use, classification, retention, disposal, or other aspects of public land planning and management in the public interest.
The subgroup will meet at least three times per year, once before the recreation season, once during the season, and once after the season. Other meetings may be called as required. All meetings are open to the public.

For further information, including dates and locations of scheduled meetings, please visit the subgroup’s website: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra/dunesinfo/funding/isdradacsg.html

Imperial Sand Dunes - BLM finds funds for trash service

BLM finds funds for trash service
By MEGAN GLENN, Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:38 PM PDT

The Bureau of Land Management has identified funds to continue providing trash service at the Imperial Sand Dunes for the 2009-2010 season, assuming that no changes are made to the bureau’s budget, which has yet to be approved by the Senate.Cathy Kennerson, chief executive officer of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce, said that while working on its budget for this year, the bureau said it recognized the need to continue providing trash service.“You can’t expect the 1.4 million people who visit the dunes to all clean up every bit of trash,” Kennerson said.The bureau was unable to provide trash service in February because of budget shortfalls. Imperial County signed an agreement with Allied Waste for $125,000, to provide trash service to finish out last season, which ended in May.David Briery, a public affairs officer with the bureau, said the money for the October 2009 to May 2010 season is projected come from a combination of state and federal funds.“It was something the BLM felt they should do,” Briery said about continuing the trash service.Also, the bureau’s federal funding bill, recently passed by the House of Representatives, includes language inserted by U.S. Rep. Bob Filner to provide for trash services. The bill increases funding for the entire bureau and includes the statement: “The committee is concerned about the Bureau of Land Management decision to stop trash collection services in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area … and expects BLM to restore trash pick-up services.”That bill is now heading toward the Senate for final approval.

All-terrain vehicle course gets down and dirty for Marines' safety

Source:
http://yuma.usmc.mil/?PgId=desertwarrior,2009,06,25,feature3


Story by Lance Cpl. Jakob Schulz

The station's safety department held its first all-terrain vehicle safety course to instruct station Marines on ATV safety and improve their riding skills at Fortuna Wash in Yuma, June 17. The one-day course taught six Marines how to safely operate an ATV as well as how to minimize their impact on the environment while riding. Since August 2002, the Corps has required Marines who ride ATVs to complete a safety course and to use personal protective equipment when riding, according to Marine Corps Order 5100.19E. During the course, the fundamentals of handling ATVs were stressed, with turning being the main focus. "If someone is going to rollover, it's going to be in midturn," said Andrea Beauh, course instructor. "We practice turning at high and low speeds in as many ways possible." The Marines were also taught to respect the environment by doing as little damage to the trails as possible. This course is especially applicable for station Marines, with many nearby off-road trails and riding areas, including California's Imperial Sand Dunes west of Yuma. In March, a corporal with Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 died in an ATV accident in the Imperial Sand Dunes. Between fiscal year 2000-2008, 69 ATV mishaps were reported throughout the Navy and Corps, including seven Marines or sailors who were killed or completely disabled permanently, according to the Naval Safety Center. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 50 ATV-related deaths were reported in Arizona and approximately 100 in California from 2005-2007. "This is a perfect example for why these safety courses are so important," said Lt. Col. Robert Skankey, director of safety and standardizations here. "All too often, untrained riders try to push beyond their limits and can't handle it." As many as eight students can enroll in each class. Currently, a course is conducted after all seats are filled. For more information about ATV or other safety courses, contact Belinda Henson at 928-269-5699.

Imperial Sand Dunes - Wash Rd. Update

Link:
Wash Road - Finding of No Significant Impact, Decision Record, and Environmental Assessment

www.DuneGuide.com

Imperial San d Dunes - Buttercup and Cahuilla Ranger Stations Closed for Season

Buttercup and Cahuilla Ranger Stations have closed for the season.

Emergency 9-1-1
Direct all inquiries to the El Centro Field Office:760-337-4400

PURCHASE ALL PERMITS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL:
www.imperialsanddunes.net or
1-800-832-7664

Ranger Stations will reopen in October.
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra/sandnews.html

www.DuneGuide.com

BLM delays proposed Imperial Sand Dune fee increase

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), El Centro Field Office, has announced that a proposal to increase the cost of recreation permit fees at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) will be delayed until more extensive public input and participation is completed.

The BLM was scheduled to present its fee proposal to the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) on May 13 but has withdrawn the scheduled proposal. "

I feel that the public participation requirements outlined in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) have not been sufficiently fulfilled," said Steven Borchard, BLM California Desert District manager. "

I firmly believe that a robust, interactive and open dialogue between all stakeholders and constituents must happen before the BLM can present a proposal to the RRAC with any degree of confidence." After a recent meeting between BLM desert district officials and ISDRA partners and stakeholders, a consensus was reached that some form of fee increase will be required in the near future and that a committed effort will be made to assist the BLM in achieving the required public input on the appropriate level for this increase. For further information, visit online at: www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra.html.

More information on the Imperial Sand Dunes:
http://www.duneguide.com/sand_dune_guide_isdra.htm

www.DuneGuide.com

Yuma Marine dies in ATV accident at the Imperial Sand Dunes

Source:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/03/marine_rollover_death_031009w/
Yuma Marine dies in ATV accident
Staff report
Posted : Tuesday Mar 10, 2009 17:04:30 EDT

An Arizona-based Marine died Saturday while offroading in a California recreation area, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
Cpl. Cody Searway, 21, a mechanic assigned to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 371, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, was killed when his all-terrain vehicle toppled over and rolled down a dune in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, just west of the air station, the newspaper reported.
Searway, from Humble, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene.

www.DuneGuide.com

Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Rules and Regulations

Know the ISDRA Rules & Regulations -- Law enforcement is cracking down!

ISDRA RULES AND REGULATIONS
Rules are designed to promote public safety in the Imperial Sand Dunes and have been in effect since 1983. It is your responsibility to know the law. These rules apply to public lands within the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
RECREATION PERMIT. A permit is required for all primary vehicles; a primary vehicle is a street legal vehicle used for transportation to the recreation site. Permits must be purchased on or before arrival and visibly displayed in the windshield of the primary vehicle with the date side facing out.
SAFETY FLAGS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES IN THE IMPERIAL SAND DUNES RECREATION AREA (This includes two-wheeled motorcycles.) All vehicles shall be equipped with a whip mast and a 6x12-inch red/orange flag. Flags may be of pennant, triangle, square, or rectangular shape. Masts must be securely mounted on the vehicle and extend eight feet from the ground to the mast tip. Safety flags must be attached within 10 inches of the tip of the whip mast with club or other flags mounted below safety flag, or on another whip.
A 15 MPH SPEED RULE EXISTS ON THE SAND HIGHWAYS. No person shall operate an OHV in excess of 15 mph on public lands within 500 feet of Highway 78, Grays Well Road, Gecko Road and access roads within the Gecko and Roadrunner recreation sites.
NO SAVING SPACES. Reserving of camping spaces is prohibited; sites are allocated on a first come/first serve basis.
FIRES. The burning of potentially hazardous materials e.g.(but not limited to) gas, oil, plastic and magnesium is prohibited.
NO GLASS BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE ALLOWED. Possession or use of any glass, cup or bottle, empty or not, used for carrying any liquid for drinking purposes is prohibited. Persons may pick up glass beverage containers discarded by others to remove for deposit in approved trash receptacles.
NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ALLOWED WHILE RIDING ON BLM LANDS. No person shall drink an alcoholic beverage, have in their possession or on their person any open container that contains an alcoholic beverage while operating in or on a motor vehicle or OHV on public lands administered by BLM within California.
USE OF AUDIO DEVICES. No person shall operate or use any audio, such as a radio, television, musical instrument, or other noise producing device or motorized equipment between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in a manner that makes unreasonable noise that disturbs other visitors; or operate or use a public address system without written authorization from BLM.
PUBLIC NUDITY. Public nudity is prohibited in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
UNAUTHORIZED ORGANIZED EVENT. No person shall participate in or sponsor an unauthorized organized event (Example bands, videos, movies etc. ).
RIDING IN PICKUP BEDS AND OTHER UNSAFE ACTIVITIES. No person shall ride in the bed of a pickup truck or any part of a motor vehicle not designed for passengers on or off road.

AIRCRAFT. Taking off or landing of aircraft, including ultra lights, is prohibited within one (1) mile of Gecko Road.
DUMPING. Dumping of sewage (black) and/or gray water is prohibited.
CAMPING LIMITATIONS. A 14 day camping limit is in effect in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
PARKING RESTRICTIONS. No parking or camping within 10 feet of pavement on Gecko Road.
SHOOTING. Shooting is prohibited within 1/2 mile of formal campgrounds and should be conducted well away from other concentrations of people and property.
LEASH LAW. Animals must be kept on a leash not longer than six feet and secured to a fixed object or under the control of a person, or otherwise physically restricted at all times.

www.DuneGuide.com

Beloved parts of border changed almost overnight (Imperial Sand Dunes)

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press
Feb. 19, 2009

IMPERIAL SAND DUNES, Calif. - Every weekend he can, Gene Elwell heads to the desert and races his buggy over the largest sand dunes in the U.S. Nearly 200 miles west, on California's Pacific shores, the Rev. John Fanestil spends every Sunday at Friendship Park, where people on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border touch hands and talk through holes in a chain-link fence.
For decades, the dunes and Friendship Park were virtually unchanged. But in its final months, as the Bush administration raced to fulfill a pledge to erect 670 miles of fencing and vehicle barriers on the border, they were transformed almost overnight.
A fence now slices through the Imperial Sand Dunes, preventing recreational riders from veering into Mexican sands. Before, drug smugglers easily blended in with riders to reach Interstate 8, less than a half-mile from the border at one point.
The southern tip of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, a film location for "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," resembles the Sahara. Its slopes draw families because they are lower and more gradual than the desert playground's northern reaches, which attract rowdier crowds.
Elwell, 54, a San Diego-area native who sells office equipment, belongs to a close-knit but fast-growing group of families from Southern California and Arizona.
They ride the dunes day and night, sleeping in trailers parked around a campfire. They liken the thrill to a never-ending roller coaster.
"There's no particular trail, like you would up in the mountains or some places even out here in the desert," Elwell said. "Out here you find your own way, you find your own world."
In California's southeast corner, the dunes are about 40 miles long and an average of five miles wide. Trailers crowd campgrounds on holiday weekends. The sand buggies range from lightweight speedsters with V-8 engines to lumbering vehicles that could pass for golf carts.
The sands extend about five miles into Mexico. Until last year, the border was almost invisible, marked by 15-foot concrete obelisks spaced far apart.
In the 1980s Elwell drove his buggy straight into the town of Algodones for tacos, and even in recent years he regularly drifted into Mexico. Agents chased wayward riders and ordered them back to the U.S.
Smugglers decorated their marijuana-laden vehicles with decals and flags to mix in. Last year, a suspected smuggler killed a Border Patrol agent by running over him in a Hummer, then fled to Mexico.
Border Patrol officials say private contractors were initially stumped when asked to design a 13-mile fence for the shifting sands. The answer was what the agency calls a "floating fence."
The $6 million-a-mile barrier completed in December consists of 16-foot-tall steel tubes filled with concrete and spaced tightly together. Triangular mounts aren't bolted to the ground, allowing them to rock back and forth with the wind. Small panels are chained together, twisting in different directions.
The Border Patrol says arrests of suspected smugglers plummeted after construction began last summer.
Elwell and his friends marveled as they stood on a ridge one recent Saturday and stared at the fence, stretching like a dark ribbon over the sand.
As the number of riders grows - the dunes records about 1.2 million visits from October to March - their playground is shrinking. In 2000, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management made about half the park off-limits to vehicles to protect the endangered Peirson's milk-vetch, a tiny perennial with purple blooms.
Some visitors feel the dunes are dangerously crowded, with up to 200,000 people some weekends. Steve Razo, a BLM spokesman, said seven to 10 people die each year in traffic accidents.
Elwell and his friends bemoan the tighter quarters but generally agree the fence will make the dunes safer.
"It makes you feel a little crammed in, like 'This is your playground, and you can't go over there,'" said Tom Holdenried, 59, a woodworker from Ramona.

www.DuneGuide.com

Latest News on the Wash Rd. at Glamis from the ASA

We have just received updated information regarding Union Pacific Railroad’s (UPRR) fence project from the BLM. As many of you might already be aware, UPRR has been installing a fence just inside their property line which extends 100’ from the centerline of the rail road tracks and encompasses essentially all of Wash Road. This project started in mid-November and will extend from approximately Highway 78 to the south; ending-point unknown at this time.

Until recently, UPRR was honoring a commitment made to the BLM to continue to allow public access down Wash Road, leaving an opening at each wash to allow for vehicular access; some openings being narrower than others and some openings more accessible than others, depending on the flow of the wash. To minimize the impact of these restricted openings to thousands of ISDRA visitors, the BLM has begun the necessary environmental procedures to be able to grade some of these openings to allow for better access into various wash openings.

After this past weekend, it was brought to our attention that it appeared that UPRR was changing their plans and access was becoming more and more limited along Wash Road. BLM met with UPRR representatives on February 4th to discuss their project and their prior agreement to continue to allow access, only to find out that they had changed their position and will close the road to all public traffic at some point in the future.

At the urging of the local BLM office, UPRR has agreed to allow the use of this road, hopefully, for the rest of this dune season but in all likelihood will restrict access for the 2009-2010 season.
Again at the request of the BLM, the contractor will be enlarging some of the openings in the fence to allow for access during the upcoming Presidents’ Day holiday weekend. This improved access may, at some locations, not accommodate large motor homes or extremely long trailers.The BLM has identified locations that they have prioritized for grading to remove berms to help improve access.

This is not the result that we hoped for but it is what we know at this point.
The ASA has been conferring with the BLM, our legislative contacts and our legal team to see what if anything can be done to allow continued use of UPRR’s right of way. We will also be working to see what it will take to have a new access road constructed on the BLM land to allow access to these traditional camping areas. The construction of a new access road is a long term solution to this problem.

The ASA has sent a letter to the UPRR management to express our concerns about the closing of this road to the public and the loss of access to recreation camping areas.

In closing, please watch for updates via emails and/or the ASA's Bulletin Board as new information becomes available.

American Sand Association
Phone: (888) 540-7263
Fax: (951) 242-1332
URL: www.americansandassociation.org

www.duneguide.com

Dunes enforcement: Conscientious or overzealous?

Source: http://www.yumasun.com/news/_47364___article.html/_.html

BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER

January 24, 2009 - Canadians Mike and Erica Combs got involved in duning about three years ago, investing about $70,000 in a sand rail and other equipment, and have been hooked ever since.
Every year, the Combs make the 29-hour, 1,500-mile-plus trip from their home in British Columbia to the Imperial Sand Dunes to spend a few months playing in the sun and sand.
But with some duners complaining about what they are calling overaggressive enforcement by U.S. Bureau of Land Management rangers in the sand dunes, the Combs say they may not be making the trip anymore.
"We are considering not coming anymore based on everything we have heard and seen," Mike Combs said. "It makes us nervous since we aren't from this country."
Michael Sommer, media affairs chairman for the American Sand Association, says while the organization has received some complaints from duners about overaggressive enforcement, he says that isn't what is happening.
"The only people who are complaining about the overzealous law enforcement are the ones who are breaking the rules. There are rules, regulations and laws at the Imperial Sand Dunes and people haven't been following them," Sommer said.
"Until this year, if you didn't come into contact with a ranger, you weren't being fined for anything. This season they are out actively looking to do the enforcement that they have been lax in enforcing in the past."
Duner Rick Cottington, of Phoenix, said he doesn't think enforcement at the dunes has been overzealous either, but added it may be due to more to people not knowing they are breaking any rules.
"The enforcement is valid, just not well-explained," Cottington said. "There should be some kind warning given initially."
Sommer went on to say duners should be grateful they are being allowed on federal land, which is what the dunes are, and that it is their responsibility to educate themselves on what the rules and regulations are and follow them at all times.
"I think a lot of people would discover that they are breaking more rules than they realize," Sommer said. "The complaints aren't unwarranted, it's just that they haven't made the effort to educate themselves. There are reasons for the rules and regulations. They aren't just there to harass people."
BLM spokesman David Briery said the agency has never been lax in enforcing regulations at the dunes and that the level of law enforcement there has remained constant over the past several years.
"I wouldn't say we have been overzealous. I haven't heard anything about us being stricter," Briery said. "I would say we have been zealous in enforcing the laws in the interest of everyone's safety."
According to statistics provided by the BLM, from Dec. 27, 2007 to Jan. 1, 2008, there were 102,974 visitors to the sand dunes, with 15 arrests and 899 citations issued.
By comparison, from Dec. 20, 2008 to Jan. 5, 2009, there were 119,000 visitors to the sand dunes, with 23 arrests and 1,276 citations issued.
Briery also suggested duners take the time to better educate themselves about all the rules and suggested they go to the agency's Web site.
While Cottington said he thought the enforcement could be used as a revenue stream for the agency, Briery responded that the BLM doesn't get the money for the citations. Imperial County actually receives the money, according to Briery.
Briery went on to say the only time deputies from the Imperial County Sheriff's Office, as well as law enforcement from other agencies, are brought in is during the big holiday weekends.
He suggested that since there are fewer people going to the dunes, maybe those who do still go are encountering rangers more often now.
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www.yumasun.com

Imperial Sand Dunes - County OKs OHV funds for dunes trash contract

"County OKs OHV funds for dunes trash contract" (Imperial Valley Press, 1/13/09)"Trash service will continue in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area through this off-road season after the Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved allocating funds to avoid a stoppage ... The Bureau of Land Management announced in September it would no longer pay for trash service due to a lack of funding. The BLM has a $400,000 contract with Mission Disposal for trash services that expires in February ... Supervisor Wally Leimgruber, who represents the dunes area, said discussions will continue with BLM to identify possible funding sources for trash service."

Full Article:
http://ivpressonline.com/articles/2009/01/14/local_news/news01.txt

Dumpsters at the Imperial Sand Dunes will remain and trash collection service will continue until the close of the season May 30.
Imperial County Board of Supervisors Chairman Wally Leimgruber said $150,000 has been secured to pay for continued trash pickup for the next four months.
Because of a decline in visitors, there was a funding shortfall the U.S. Bureau of Land Management had to deal with. So in September, the BLM planned to discontinue trash service on Feb. 1, Leimgruber said.

Full Article:
http://www.yumasun.com/news/dunes_47126___article.html/funds_pickup.html

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