THE FIRE ELF
Sep 28 2007, 10:55 AM
QUOTE(CaptainTB @ Sep 27 2007, 10:15 PM)
I read they are building a whole new canal and tying it in at the different drops,so which side of the canal is the new one going to be at test hill? to the east, next to the freeway or to the west next to the hill.
new canal to the south at gordons i am unfamiliar with the keiweit side
jhitesma
Sep 28 2007, 02:07 PM
QUOTE(CaptainTB @ Sep 27 2007, 10:15 PM)
I read they are building a whole new canal and tying it in at the different drops,so which side of the canal is the new one going to be at test hill? to the east, next to the freeway or to the west next to the hill.
Wrong canal. You're thinking the Coachella canal which runs along the west side of the dunes.
The canal being replaced is the All American Canal which runs just north of I-8 cutting east to west through the dunes.
Same with the bridge confusion. The bridge being closed is the new "Herman Schneider memorial" bridge over the AAC south of the I-8 overpass on the west edge, it's south of I-8. Not the bridge at the entrance of Gordon's...though it's likely that there will be some issues going on there in a year or two when construction moves to one of the next phases.
Here's a map of the bridge area showing what is supposed to be affected:
(Click for bigger version)
They're calling this a "relining" but that's just a euphanism, they're really building a new canal and recreation land IS going to be lost. Here's a map of the canal plans, notice how the new channel will basically run right though the valley of Test...so this could be the last year the Test hill is really a viable place to dune - with a canal at the base instead of a valley it won't be very usable:
(Click for larger)
Not sure what the big hole at Buttercup is...the new ranger station is supposed to be going in where the pay machines used to be next to the highway north of that hole. But there's also the pipeline project so the hole may have been related to that.
Here's a map of the new ranger station:
(Sorry, no larger on this one)
I haven't seen any maps of the plans for the pipeline project, other than having been told it will basically be running directly under the buttercup campground - so it could well be what the big hole was for.
Older progress photos of all of this are visible in these threads:
http://www.americansandassociation.org/php...highlight=canalhttp://www.americansandassociation.org/php...highlight=canal
azdesertrat
Sep 28 2007, 05:38 PM
Last week I went through there and saw the big hole in the sand. It look to me that the BLM remove the old pavement that went up the dunes right there behind the vendor area. Because I don't remember seeing it (the pavement) there.
THE FIRE ELF
Sep 28 2007, 06:30 PM
the big hole was from the company building the station using the sand for building the foundation of the the new station ,but they smoothed it all out after they were done so it is fine.
the memorial bridge is the one i'm talking about and as for test hill i don't know.
CaptainTB
Sep 30 2007, 02:38 PM
Thanks, that area at test is what I was talking about. Will be quit a lot different with a canal at the bottom.
duner21
Sep 30 2007, 06:35 PM
Well i was at buttercup today and we rode down to check everything out. After seeing the project first hand i now understand why they will have it shut down during the week. There is so much equipment out there that someone would get run over. There is a detour around the new project that leads to the existing bridge. It is all a 5mph area. Very nicely groomed though. The road into gordons looked the same as always. Pratt's house looks good i like the 2 helicopters sitting there! And duners diner was closed fyi!
SANDFANATIC
Oct 2 2007, 10:46 AM
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Sep 27 2007, 10:13 PM)
gordons well bridge is closed during the week, call and bitch at them.
Maybe I'm slow but, I'm confused about this. Which bridge is closed? The bridge that goes over I8 or the bridge south of I8 going over the canal? There are 2 different bridges right there at the exit.
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 2 2007, 02:18 PM
QUOTE(SANDFANATIC @ Oct 2 2007, 11:46 AM)
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Sep 27 2007, 10:13 PM)
gordons well bridge is closed during the week, call and bitch at them.
Maybe I'm slow but, I'm confused about this. Which bridge is closed? The bridge that goes over I8 or the bridge south of I8 going over the canal? There are 2 different bridges right there at the exit.
canal
SANDFANATIC
Oct 2 2007, 03:57 PM
Cool. Thanks for the clarification. I'm heading out on a Thursday night in a couple weeks, that's why I was worried about it.
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 2 2007, 04:30 PM
at this point i can not bash any company or person related due to I AM BE WATCHED by OTHERS, someone leaked my identity
pelone
Oct 2 2007, 05:50 PM
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Oct 2 2007, 03:18 PM)
QUOTE(SANDFANATIC @ Oct 2 2007, 11:46 AM)
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Sep 27 2007, 10:13 PM)
gordons well bridge is closed during the week, call and bitch at them.
Maybe I'm slow but, I'm confused about this. Which bridge is closed? The bridge that goes over I8 or the bridge south of I8 going over the canal? There are 2 different bridges right there at the exit.
canal
Canal Bridge Pics from this weekend.
Click to view attachment
dawg53
Oct 2 2007, 06:12 PM
So are we still able to ride from Buttercup to Gordons? I am heading out next week and want a heads up.
your basic sandrail
Oct 2 2007, 06:19 PM
I'm really hoping there is a sign that says "Project to stop Canal Leakage"
Because I'm really hoping someone will remove the "C" in canal if there is.
duner21
Oct 2 2007, 07:10 PM
QUOTE(dawg53 @ Oct 2 2007, 07:12 PM)
So are we still able to ride from Buttercup to Gordons? I am heading out next week and want a heads up.
yes but only after friday at 3pm and on sat and sun i believe!
SANDFANATIC
Oct 3 2007, 08:33 AM
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Oct 2 2007, 05:30 PM)
at this point i can not bash any company or person related due to I AM BE WATCHED by OTHERS, someone leaked my identity
That's BS!
I hate backstabbers. You are keeping us informed, what's wrong with that? Yes...you have personal feelings towards things, so what? I thought that's what this country is about.....
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 3 2007, 03:57 PM
son of a biatch!!! tran went out this morning going to the job ,got to work and back to yuma and got told it is toast and needs a rebuild at......................$1600 efing bucks and a 80 bucks in rental car
jhitesma
Oct 4 2007, 12:12 AM
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Oct 3 2007, 04:57 PM)
son of a biatch!!! tran went out this morning going to the job ,got to work and back to yuma and got told it is toast and needs a rebuild at......................$1600 efing bucks and a 80 bucks in rental car
Where did you take it? Best shop in town for Trannies (as far as I'm concerned) is Performance Transmission, they may not look like much from outside..but they're the only place I'll take a transmission in Yuma. (928) 329-9165 2448 East 15th Pl.
They'll fix it better than new and for less than anywhere else in town. They also stand behind their warranty. In fact I've personally seem them do a free rebuild on a tranny that they built that died 2 months after the warranty was up...They even took it out and put it in...so they knew it was in a rail and not a street car
Amy's tranny went out in her Dodge, dealer wanted about what you quoted to repair...PT did a replacement, in one day, with shift kit and heavy duty converter for just over $700.
Sick Dayz
Oct 4 2007, 06:42 AM
QUOTE(jhitesma @ Oct 4 2007, 01:12 AM)
QUOTE(THE FIRE ELF @ Oct 3 2007, 04:57 PM)
son of a biatch!!! tran went out this morning going to the job ,got to work and back to yuma and got told it is toast and needs a rebuild at......................$1600 efing bucks and a 80 bucks in rental car
Where did you take it? Best shop in town for Trannies (as far as I'm concerned) is Performance Transmission, they may not look like much from outside..but they're the only place I'll take a transmission in Yuma. (928) 329-9165 2448 East 15th Pl.
They'll fix it better than new and for less than anywhere else in town. They also stand behind their warranty. In fact I've personally seem them do a free rebuild on a tranny that they built that died 2 months after the warranty was up...They even took it out and put it in...so they knew it was in a rail and not a street car
Amy's tranny went out in her Dodge, dealer wanted about what you quoted to repair...PT did a replacement, in one day, with shift kit and heavy duty converter for just over $700.
I can vouch for them. They replace the ring and pinion bearings on my class C E450 on a Friday and I had it back the same day. I drove it back to camp and noticed that it was not right. I call and took it back on that Saturday and they removed the ring and pinion and re-shimed the pinion. Had it done that day and we slept in it at the dunes that night.
Although they did have a problem shimming the pinion, I had it to sleep in each night and they fixed their mistake.
Did I mention that they only charged me $420
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 4 2007, 01:13 PM
i took it to transmissions plus ,they are going to do payments
Desertdogs
Oct 9 2007, 02:19 PM
Note to all:
Was there this weekend (10/06-10/07) That project is a big one. Noticed the lady at the SSSS ASA booth was talking about the canal relining project, but didn't mention a new canal being built.
While there,w e say survey markers that basically cut the valley at the base of test in half lengthwise; NOT COOL!!!!
On the other side, towards Ogilby, there was an area where bulldozers ahd worked throught the area on teh backside of the canal road. Tore it up pretty bad, even with the wind, it was still rough.
So If I understand this, it's more than a relining..it's construction of a new canal...what's wrong with the old one????
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 9 2007, 03:27 PM
old one losing 68,000+ acre feet of water a year to mexico for free that +about 300,000 people in california going without water
jhitesma
Oct 9 2007, 07:19 PM
QUOTE(Desertdogs @ Oct 9 2007, 03:19 PM)
Note to all:
Was there this weekend (10/06-10/07) That project is a big one. Noticed the lady at the SSSS ASA booth was talking about the canal relining project, but didn't mention a new canal being built.
While there,w e say survey markers that basically cut the valley at the base of test in half lengthwise; NOT COOL!!!!
On the other side, towards Ogilby, there was an area where bulldozers ahd worked throught the area on teh backside of the canal road. Tore it up pretty bad, even with the wind, it was still rough.
So If I understand this, it's more than a relining..it's construction of a new canal...what's wrong with the old one????
This is why I've been trying to warn people about this for the past 6-7 years. They're calling it a relining which has most people assuming it's no big deal. But it's not a relining by any stretch of the imagination - it's a new freaking canal and they should be calling it such. They used the term relining to sneak it through approvals most of which were done no more recently than the early 90's. Notice on that map I posted how much of the south dunes they withdrew from public lands and when....Everything in those red lines was withdrawn eitehr in the late 80's or early 90's.
The worst part. The technology DOES exist to actually reline the canal without taking it out of service. In fact the IID themselves did just that with sections of the coachella canal (the one on the west side of the dunes) just a few years ago....and it was a remarkable success that came in on time and under budget.
The bad news is the planning for this has been going on literally for decades with no input at all from duners and the BLM basically giving the BOR anything they asked for.
The good news is duners have gotten involved, albeit late in the game. Yes it looks like the valley at test is going to be cut in half...but that's thanks mainly to a few ASA members who got involved in this - the original plan was to put the canal right at the base of test and take up the entire valley. Considering how late to the game we are getting involved I suppose saving half the valley is better than no valley...but it's still nonsense that they're taking up that valley when most of the rest of the new canal will be on the south of the existing canal...and even worse when the technology to save money and get the same results by actually relining instead of building a new canal DOES exist and has been proven effective.
Calling this new canal a "relining" has been the biggest political snowjob I've ever seen...and I've seen some big ones. It's also made it VERY hard to get anyone to listen to just how wasteful and devastating this project is. Doesn't help that my letters to my congressman have done little more than to get me replies thanking me for support of this project despite my letters being 100% in opposition to it! Just reinforces my opinion that EVERYONE has fallen for their lies about this merely being a "relining".
CaptainTB
Oct 9 2007, 08:11 PM
I have been following this for the past few years ,just can't understand why they would build a new canal to the north of the existing one when the dunes move south southeast at the rate of 12 inches a year. Seems to me that it might get covered over in about forty or fifty years.
The Juice
Oct 13 2007, 02:06 PM
I wouldnt even call it a valley at the base of test. Theres just enough room to get a run at a hill. With half that gone I would say they hill is no more........
dawg53
Oct 13 2007, 02:38 PM
For what its worth i was jsut out in Buttercup during this last week. We were still able to cross the canal bridge during the week. To cross it from the south end you have to go down to the border road and enter the bridge from that end. Instead of following the road along the side of the canal. From the border road you will see the entrance into the construction site. There is a road that winds through the site you can follow to the bridge. There are no signs saying you cannot enter. I think as long as you don't haul arse through there you won't have a problem. We crossed several times in the middle of the week. When you come back from the Gordons side there is a sign that says you have to check in with the office and there is a security tent next to it. However no one was around.
lincster
Oct 15 2007, 06:23 AM
Was out at Gordons this weekend.
Came up over the top of Test hill and was shocked.
All of the bushes are gone, the bottom had been graded, marker flags right up to the base of where people race.
Gonna hate to see it in a year.
N2Deep
Oct 15 2007, 09:24 AM
QUOTE(lincster @ Oct 15 2007, 06:23 AM)
Was out at Gordons this weekend.
Came up over the top of Test hill and was shocked.
All of the bushes are gone, the bottom had been graded, marker flags right up to the base of where people race.
Gonna hate to see it in a year.
Yeah it was a pretty weird sight to see. The problem is they just plowed over the bushes and all the stumps are sticking up. I predict a lot of punctured paddle tires.
HA2
Oct 16 2007, 09:36 AM
what a bunch of eff*ing bulls***. thanks yearly pass money. you really are helping out with the experience.
SANDFANATIC
Oct 16 2007, 10:13 AM
QUOTE(N2Deep @ Oct 15 2007, 10:24 AM)
QUOTE(lincster @ Oct 15 2007, 06:23 AM)
Was out at Gordons this weekend.
Came up over the top of Test hill and was shocked.
All of the bushes are gone, the bottom had been graded, marker flags right up to the base of where people race.
Gonna hate to see it in a year.
Yeah it was a pretty weird sight to see. The problem is they just plowed over the bushes and all the stumps are sticking up. I predict a lot of punctured paddle tires.
Wow, thanks for the heads up. I'll be extra careful if we end up in that area.
jhitesma
Oct 16 2007, 12:57 PM
QUOTE(HA2 @ Oct 16 2007, 10:36 AM)
what a bunch of eff*ing bulls***. thanks yearly pass money. you really are helping out with the experience.
How does pass money even begin to enter into this?
If you'd read any of the posts I've made over the past several years warning people about this you'd know that it was all a done deal before there even was a fee for the dunes. Yes, even before Demo fee this was already a signed deal snuck in when no one was watching back in the late 80's early 90's.
I've been trying to get people involved in the fights against this for over 5 years but no one has batted an eye at it...and while it has been a signed deal for a LONG time there have still been legal battles against it that may have succeeded if more people had woken up and gotten involved.
HA2
Oct 16 2007, 01:16 PM
it has to do with it because i pay for them and im getting less land to camp on and ride on.
before i didnt pay and i had more land to camp and ride on.
i dont give a rats ass if it was before or after the fact. the fact is the canal is going to be built and the fee is going to have to be paid.
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 18 2007, 10:50 PM
i am not on the ames job anymore, i was kinda screwed of the job some of which was for leaking info to the dune community and the rest is due to a jerkoff super named russ. but i do know that the job has fallen 3-4 weeks behind and they will get desperate .the 1.2 milloin dollar crane has a computer that only i can program ,i hope that mother crashes(ahahahahahahahaha).
so watch your ars's out there i hope to work the other side soon.if u got a question ,i will try to answer it or get info on it. peace out dune brothers!!!!!
the fire elf signing out for now(moahahahaha)
jhitesma
Oct 19 2007, 08:33 AM
QUOTE(HA2 @ Oct 16 2007, 02:16 PM)
it has to do with it because i pay for them and im getting less land to camp on and ride on.
before i didnt pay and i had more land to camp and ride on.
i dont give a rats ass if it was before or after the fact. the fact is the canal is going to be built and the fee is going to have to be paid.
You do realize that the land in question isn't even BLM land don't you?
The BOR actually owns the land for almost half a mile each side of the canal, they've always owned some land but back in the 80's they made a request to withdraw even more and it was granted without anyone blinking an eye. They've just allowed the BLM to continue to manage the land the same way until they felt they had a need for it.
I don't like the fees either but there really is absolutely zero connection to fees here. This is land that the BLM had no ownership of even before there were fees.
HA2
Oct 19 2007, 08:39 AM
i realized that after i saw your map. it irritates the hell out of me though that they wouldnt try and reach out to us or try and work around us. yes its their land but this is america right? we obviously love the land and use it. at the same time i dont want my hobby to be the reason people dont get water. sucks all around.
The Juice
Oct 19 2007, 08:47 AM
I spoke to an ASA rep the other day and he said that they actually did reach out to the ASA. jhitesma is right, they own a large amount of land around the canal, somewhat like a railroad company and the land around their tracks. While they were talking to the BLM about this project the BLM advised them to call the ASA, and they told the BLM its our land we can do as we please. The BLM said thats true but unless you want a bunch of telephone calls from congressmen I suggest you try to work with them. He said that the construction area around the canal especially the area around the hill was cut in half. The ASA was able to work with them professionally and make the impact on us a lot less than was originally planned. So while the hill area is significantly reduced, its better than no hill at all.
Duane
Oct 19 2007, 09:01 PM
Mark, you shoulda gotten a hold of me and let em know you were working down there. Me and a buddy did a day ride to Gordons on Columbus Day.
He, get it touch, tell your Johnny too.
jhitesma
Oct 31 2007, 01:14 PM
In the news today:
http://ivpressonline.com/articles/2007/10/31/news/news02.txtQUOTE
County files complaint against All-American Canal work
By ERIC GALVAN, Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:59 PM PDT
Imperial County has filed an official complaint through the state Superior Court against a construction company for what the county claims are equipment and air violations in the construction of the All-American Canal lining project.
On Tuesday, the county confirmed that a complaint had been filed against Phoenix-based Ames Construction. The complaint does not legally halt construction on the project.
“They’re operating internal combustion engines — pumps, generators — and they don’t feel they need to have district permits that we require,” said Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Officer Steve Birdsall. “We disagree.
“We’re trying to protect our air quality,” Birdsall said. “We’re treating them no differently than we’re treating anyone else.”
Ames Construction and Coffman Specialties of San Diego are working in a partnership as the contractor for the AAC project. The area in question is about a 12-mile stretch of the canal where construction is taking place near Gordons Wells on the south side of Interstate 8.
However, Ames is the only company listed in the complaint.
When contacted for comment, a representative at Ames’ Southwest regional office in Phoenix, who did not give his name, directed questions to project staffer Brian Mueller.
Mueller did not return a call for comment.
According to the complaint, in the environmental impact report, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Imperial Irrigation District both committed that through the construction of the project, “air quality regulations of Imperial County would be observed including permits covering excavation and equipment operation.”
The EIR also states that construction emissions be “controlled under regulations of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District.”
The complaint states that Ames has engaged and continues to engage in operations that emit in excess of 100 tons of nitrogen oxides per year. The APCD estimates Ames’ operations are generating in excess of 256 tons per year of NOx and 15 tons per year of particulate matter, known as PM10.
According to the complaint, when APCD found out about the issue, it sent inspectors to the project site to perform “multiple inspections” June 20, July 27, Aug. 14, Aug. 17, Aug. 22, Aug. 31, Sept. 12 and Sept. 27.
As a result of the inspections, APCD issued notices of violation for failure to secure proper district air permits, failure to make state Portable Equipment Registration Program notifications, failure to maintain records, lack of unpaved haul/access roads and lack of road maintenance and “smoke opacity,” which is a term for how dense the smoke is.
The county seeks in excess of $50,000 in civil penalties, according to the complaint.
A case management conference has been scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Imperial County Courthouse.
>> Staff Writer Eric Galvan can be reached at 337-3441 or at egalvan@ivpressonline.com
MWBbanshee
Oct 31 2007, 03:01 PM
QUOTE(jhitesma @ Oct 31 2007, 02:14 PM)
In the news today:
http://ivpressonline.com/articles/2007/10/31/news/news02.txtQUOTE
County files complaint against All-American Canal work
By ERIC GALVAN, Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 10:59 PM PDT
Imperial County has filed an official complaint through the state Superior Court against a construction company for what the county claims are equipment and air violations in the construction of the All-American Canal lining project.
On Tuesday, the county confirmed that a complaint had been filed against Phoenix-based Ames Construction. The complaint does not legally halt construction on the project.
“They’re operating internal combustion engines — pumps, generators — and they don’t feel they need to have district permits that we require,” said Imperial County Air Pollution Control District Officer Steve Birdsall. “We disagree.
“We’re trying to protect our air quality,” Birdsall said. “We’re treating them no differently than we’re treating anyone else.”
Ames Construction and Coffman Specialties of San Diego are working in a partnership as the contractor for the AAC project. The area in question is about a 12-mile stretch of the canal where construction is taking place near Gordons Wells on the south side of Interstate 8.
However, Ames is the only company listed in the complaint.
When contacted for comment, a representative at Ames’ Southwest regional office in Phoenix, who did not give his name, directed questions to project staffer Brian Mueller.
Mueller did not return a call for comment.
According to the complaint, in the environmental impact report, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Imperial Irrigation District both committed that through the construction of the project, “air quality regulations of Imperial County would be observed including permits covering excavation and equipment operation.”
The EIR also states that construction emissions be “controlled under regulations of the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District.”
The complaint states that Ames has engaged and continues to engage in operations that emit in excess of 100 tons of nitrogen oxides per year. The APCD estimates Ames’ operations are generating in excess of 256 tons per year of NOx and 15 tons per year of particulate matter, known as PM10.
According to the complaint, when APCD found out about the issue, it sent inspectors to the project site to perform “multiple inspections” June 20, July 27, Aug. 14, Aug. 17, Aug. 22, Aug. 31, Sept. 12 and Sept. 27.
As a result of the inspections, APCD issued notices of violation for failure to secure proper district air permits, failure to make state Portable Equipment Registration Program notifications, failure to maintain records, lack of unpaved haul/access roads and lack of road maintenance and “smoke opacity,” which is a term for how dense the smoke is.
The county seeks in excess of $50,000 in civil penalties, according to the complaint.
A case management conference has been scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Imperial County Courthouse.
>> Staff Writer Eric Galvan can be reached at 337-3441 or at egalvan@ivpressonline.com
My company built the Target store in El Centro and all I heard from the GC was how crooked Imperial County was. Every month they found a new $500 permit that needed to be pulled for the most rediculious things. Even after 4 months of the project when the GC had a sit down with the County where they said you gut's have all the permits you need to complete the project........... One month later Oh thats going to cost you guessed it $500.
THE FIRE ELF
Oct 31 2007, 06:51 PM
ames was my company they suck ass!!!!eff'im
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