Oh Pastor...there is always money in the government...you just have to know what pocket it's in.. In fact, one of the toughest things to do in the government is find that money to get what you need accomplished. Some are better than others at it.. All kinds of crazy things happen..who knows, the money to pay for this years eco nazi mandated wasteful species monitoring b.s. might even magically appear because some other agency had extra money laying around that had to be spent in that arena, and there has been enough political pressure by folks like the ASA to force the politicians to use it at Glamis. Trust me, I've seen stranger things.

And your concern about just being spent "buying" things is an extremely valid concern. As a federal employee, I see it year in and year out...Managers saying we can't afford to buy a pencil to do the job all year long, but come the last week of the fiscal year, and they're upgrading their 11 month old computer, office drapes, office chair, desk, oh, and here's two pencils young man!! I believe the TRT needs to become extremely vigilant with respect to the financial affairs between now and the start of the next fiscal year (Oct 1). They need to make sure that if extra dollars somehow magically appear that it's spent on things for duners, not blm rangers tahoes, buggies, atv's, uniforms, computers, radios, parties, etc. etc. IF the fee demo goes away, there's a very short window where there "might" be some "windfall" dollars...might as well see to it that the people who use the dunes get some benefit.

That's one of the reasons I thought it would be good to know what priorities the TRT would pass along to the blm.

Beachhead - I agree that there is a chance that Congress will authorize money to cover species monitoring. Unfortunately, I not holding my breath that it will be this fiscal year. I haven't looked that the ISRDA budget lately (that is something I need to do), but last I recall there was substantial shortfall projected even without the monitoring. That's not to say that the FY will end that way, since we haven't see the latest buget updates yet its too early to say.

If there is a surplus, and even if there is not, the TRT definately wants input from "joe duner". Always. As Jason mentioned the Dune User's Survey has been out in paper form for sometime and we have received a lot back. Their results still need to be tallied.

The on-line Survey will be "live" in a few days. We have been working though some bugs and making sure the survey is operating properly and is secure as Jason also mentioned. I will post here when it is Live.

Efforts most definately will be made to inform dune users of the results of the survey. Just to be clear, the TRT is the executive sponsor of the Dune Users Survey, not the BLM. As such, this is your voice to the TRT. The survey will give the TRT, and in-turn the BLM, input from "joe duner".

One more thing about the survey. This survey has not cost the dune user a cent to produce. The printing cost, including the paper, was donated in full by Sun Graphics in Yuma, AZ. (2500 2-sheet, double-sided; and more as we need them) If you happen to see their manager, Glen Sparkin, say Thanks. The web site hosting and design is being done by MGM Designs, Jason Hitesman and Matt Molenar. Please say Thanks to them also.

We are very lucky to have people like this step up. Heres mine again. THANKS!

Brian, Without going back and confirming, I'm can't give you a "for sure" answer to that.

I will say that its my recollection that the current TRT is operating beyond (after) the expired agreement, a result of Fee Demo, with the BLM that originally formed the TRT. The current TRT is operating under a different mission statement because of this as well. I would assume that the TRT could continue to exist without Fee Demo existing provided the BLM, not just local but DC, wanted it to.

Good question!