For example, there are no user fees in places like Dove Springs/Jawbone, but there is at Glamis? Some areas seem to get grants and funds from our state, and others are left to fund everythng themselves.

Dove Springs/Jawbone has a Ranger Stattion, increase law enforcement, and medical personel there on Holidays just like the ISDRA, but they are getting funded, while places like Glamis aren't getting much.

I don't get the inconsistencies.........

Crowd factor seems to have everything to do with fees. Ocotillo, Stoddard, Rasor don't, yet Dumont and Glamis do. Crowds!

If you go to any of those areas for Thanksgiving, they are way more crowded now than they were ten years ago, but still get funded.

Split the Green Sticker funds up by population, then figure out the difference

The funding is somehow related to exactly how the area is defined. I know the SVRA areas are state funded and usually have the amenities and are paid for through registration funds. Glamis is not considered an SVRA by the state of california and thus is maintained by the blm on its own.

doesn't make much sense to me why they are all so different.

Carefull what you ask for here.

I've spent LOTS of time out riding in Dove Springs, and all they have are a handfull of rangers that patrol on the big weeekends. They only put in pit toilets a few years ago, and there aint a paveded road in sight!!! Much less improved camping aeras. (like gecko)

The have one ranger station at the entrance to jawbone that services a HUGE aera, and it's not open much at all.

They dont have dumpsters, sandrails, medical treatment centers, or much else to speak of.


And I'd like it to stay that way...............

And that is the way I want Glamis also.

I grew up riding in all that area as far back as 1972, but they have increase services in the last ten years though...............who paid for that?

Not sure...

I think the BLM was fully funded by grants and such, but then the costs to run the place exceded the grants (and the grant funds were cut back as well). So instead of giving up on providing services, they started charging user fees.

Just an educated guess to be honest.

There is a lot of info on the BLM web sites if you poke around over there. Lots of history and stuff. You can prolly find your answer there.

Who runs each riding area?

BLM vs State OHV Div vs ???


I love Sand...but "Other" riding areas keep looking better vs. the that is happening now at Glamis.

Before Clinton the DNR which includes the NPS and BLM used to get a LOT more funding from congress.

Remember when Clinton closed all the national parks to force Congress to come up with a budget that he liked?

Well - that was what started it. Clinton and the dems in congress decided that national parks and recreation areas should be self-supporting and cut back funding BIG TIME. In return the created the demo fee program to try and show that users were willing to pay use fees and were OK with the big cuts from congress. Problem was the demo fee wasn't optional and there were penalties for not paying. So people didn't actually have a way of showing they were OK with paying fees - they were just forced into it. And then congress decided that since people were paying the fees that was proof that we didn't mind the fees and are ok with smaller budgets and larger fees.

With the dems in control again look forward to even tighter budgets and higher fees if history is any indication.

Create a "tent city" with tents and RVs like the 'homeless' do on other federal property.
dont pay any fees, claim poverty, descrimination, and all that other stuff, and maybe
they'll even put in some showers.

If they can do it in downtown L.A., San Diego, and San Francisco, why can't we do it at Glamis?

Sorta like the Slabs at Niland?

Glamis and Dumont are not the only ones with fees.............El Mirage which is an hour from LA has been collecting since Oct of '08. Prior to this the ranger pretty much left you alone unless you drew attention to yourself. Now the polite factor from them is gone.
With the current economic state and Ca even with the new budget and tax increases show at least a billion dollar negative this month alone..........

Randsburg has a fee going into effect now Spangler will follow and within a few years jawbone and Dove will to.

AMEN!! No changing Jawbone!

Their problems... if they charge for an area - they now have the responsibility to explain where those fees are going. Which a certain amount has to go back to the actual area. The people are demanding accountability of the OHV funds... the organizations we give our money to are doing their job and holding these people accountable for what they are doing or not doing in this case... that is why you are seeing more and more features being added to riding and staging areas. Bathrooms, signs, trail markers, road grading, enforcement, etc.

So to answer your question... IT'S POLITICAL! Johnson Valley OHV area, the largest area in California, patrolled by BLM for normal issues and County Sheriff for domestic issues, is completely FREE!