Something I forgot to mention right off is this was NOT the BLM’s idea. Although the incursions have been acknowledged by everyone involved, including the BLM, a duner brought it up at the last TRT meeting and now it’s receiving the proper attention.

It is the BLM lending assistance to the Glamis visitors this time, not the other way around. Sure, you’re right, this is something they should do. Or at the very least the parties involved in the law suit. But the fact is these things are not being done to the degree they are needed and we’re paying for it.

These volunteer actions are vital to US, the users of the dunes, not the BLM.

If we don’t do it, they won’t do it and the we’ll all be riding the same handbasket to hell.

We have the chance to stop that from happening. Let’s get it done.

Vicki

Hi All. I attended the meeting at the BLM office in El Centro. Some of this has been posted here already, and this is also posted on this ASA BBS thread. Here is my play-by-play.

There were 4 (sometimes 5) BLM employees and 2 local Imperial Valley environmentalists in the conference room. As Vicki has already mentioned, several others attended via conference call and may have already named some; Jerry Seaver, Cricket, Bob Mason, Chuck Mobley, Terry (?). Neil Hamada and Bob Zimmer were the most interactive of the BLM people.

- Discussed thought of why the incursions were happening
Border Patrol, etc.
A lot of new or 1st time visitors to the dunes, unaware of the temp closures
Close proximity to I-8 gets many passers-by
People not aware of what the stakes are for and not reading them. They look like the “gas/power/fiber line” markers and could be mistaken for them.
Broken, missing, buried, over-spaced markers – Has resulted in accidentally duning into a closed area – Finding that you are on the wrong side of the markers

- The order of severity of Incursions in closed area is:
1. Buttercup
2. Patton Valley
3. Gecko
4. Wilderness
5. Central
It was said that this is based on the fly-overs and visual ground observations.

After discussing several strategies, these are the items we agreed on:

- Camp to Camp walk around with teams of volunteers – 1 duner, 1 green (those attending admitted they probably won’t have enough volunteers) hand out flyers* and discuss closed areas with duners. Best time to do this? In the morning.
Lead people for this:
Buttercup – Glenn (LoBuck)
Midway/Greys Well - ?
Dune Buggy Flats – Cricket
Gecko & Pads – Vicki (Sailaway) & Chuck (Radrat)
Roadrunner - ?
*At the end of the day before heading back to Yuma I stopped at the BLM office and asked Neil for some of the flyers so I would not need to go back to El Centro. After checking around, Neil said that they only had a handful left there, but that there are some at the ranger station. He didn’t know how many, but that they were probably already in the Duner Survival Kits. I estimated that we would need 500 to 800 flyers for the South Dunes, and asked how we could get some. Neil said he would see how many there are at the ranger station and let me know. He did said that pending the outcome of the ramp, the BLM did not want to do a reprint, however he offered to copy some on the office copier if needed. I will let you know what I hear.

- ATV/OHV patrol to work with Rangers
Bob Zimmer suggested 3 duners to patrol with 1 Ranger or LEO. Any one observed in the closed area would get a friendly reminder about the closed area. Of course no incursions will be allowed to advise the offenders. They would be ‘motioned’ or ‘hollered at’ to come out.

- Restake broken, missing, or over-spaced markers
This is one we agreed to disagree. BLM wanted volunteers, after a brief silence “we” basically said no. BLM has 1 part-time person that does marker monitoring that restakes. EMS people do it when available.

- String “caution” ribbon between markers in severe sections
This is another one that “we” would let BLM handle. Bob Zimmer said that they could do it between calls, but was concerned with the over-spaced/missing markers causing others to fall if attached. Back to restaking. It was suggested that in those cases that BLM look for “snow” type fencing or simply attach streamers of caution tape to the markers.

- Electronic signs to specifically note that the temp closures are still in effect and if possible mention the max fine.
I missed how many signs would be set up, but I believe it was at least 2 at the north dunes (Gecko & ?) and at least 2 at the south dunes (Buttercup keyhole & fee station). Maybe 1 at DBF ? I don’t remember, not in my notes.

- Items that were left unresolved
When discussing the e-signs, I suggested placing sign at the Buttercup closed area, along the sand highway.
Neil – We can’t place permanent signs
Someone on call – BLM placed signs for the Comp curfew
Neil – Those weren’t permanent, they can be taken down and that was Imperial County. Signs can’t be placed in the dunes, where they could be a hazard.
Glenn – If the sign is placed right next to, or on, the power line towers they would not be in the dunes and there would be little danger of someone hitting it.
Neil – Permission to attach to the tower would be needed. The BLM has no money for the sign
Glenn – I’m talking about a 4x8 sheet of plywood with 2 4x4 posts. If we get the sign paid for can the tower place it?
Neil – I can check on it and get back to you
Anybody know someone that will donate the materials and artwork?
(Jason, don’t go there about the dumpster signs. Let’s get this one up)

- Bob Mason mentioned that some of the LEO’s on the BBS had expressed a possibility of a Law Enforcement chapter of the ASA. Bob was stressed it would not be for actual law enforcement, but to help the rangers patrol for incursions, spread the word, etc.
No committed answer from the BLM

(The contents of the this post are not quotes, they are from my notes and general recollections)

I just wanted to say again that the incursions into the closed areas are our problem, whether we actually do the violating or not. We asked the BLM for assistance on how to solve this problem, not the other way around. If we walk away from this right now, it's no big deal to the BLM.

But it will be to us. There are very few things we can control in our Glamis world. This is one thing we can control and improve.

Vicki

It's a shame that the BLM seem very unwilling to put effort into preserving these areas, like it's our problem. Somehow they never seem to have enough man power or funds to enforce the laws/rules of the area. Isn't that their job?

It's also ridiculous that the people who want to close Glamis cannot find the time in their busy schedules to attend a meeting about their silly little closures.

It's obvious that the only people that really give a damn about Glamis is the off road community. Who is it that is out there picking up trash at clean ups? Not the BLM or enviros. People like bluesky who bad mouth the off road community and cut and paste what other people have said. Hey blu, have you even been to Glamis yet? Why don't you get off your tree hugging ass and help pick up trash with the rest of the people who actually CARE about Glamis and its habitats.

I'm glad to have people like Vicki around dedicating their time and effort to help keep the dunes open.

I'd also like to point out that just because we assume something like RAMP will open the closed areas, does not mean it has actually happened yet. Until we meet our ultimate goal(opening the closures) why should we let up? You've got to fight till you reach the finish line, and even after that. Yes hundreds of people can complain about the closures still being closed but out of all those people, how many actually do something about it? Thank you Vicki for preserving every duners right to dune freely.

[ 12-19-2002, 08:51 AM: Message edited by: mxgirl714 ]

This be very important for all of us duners right now. We could face serious consequences if we don't do what is necessary to educate and inform peoples to stay out of da closed areas.

OOOHHH MOTHER IS CLOSE...We have come so far. Slappy is askin all of the GlamisDunes.com family to spread da word, it is what we are all about. Slap knows there is no better group in da whole world than da people here in da Neighborhood. To make a mistake at this juncture and lose what we have fought so hard for would be downright shastamcsnapplish...Let's show what we are made of; good people doin good things to help our cause. THIS BE NOTHIN BUT POSITIVE FOR US...

Although it was agreed to not help with replacin da stakes, if you are near a closure, and a stake has fallen, please don't hesitate to re-stake it...Slap knows them ugly red closure stakes really hurt us bad, but lets not allow them to kill us...

SailAway, LoBuck, da Slapster can't thank ya enough for all da info and interaction...Come on now y'all, THIS BE THE DUNER TAKING ACTION, not the BLM...It's what we've always talked about...Do it for Mother G...Slappy is gonna play...

[ 12-19-2002, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: Slappy ]

Thank you Dezfan and Mxgirl... but don't forget my motivation is pretty selfish. I LOVE GLAMIS So naturally I will do whatever I can to keep it open for the good guys. Oh, and I detest the Dandy Dans of this world who cheat and lie their way through life, deceiving the public in their lust for power. He's on my personal "list" and I predict 2003 will be a banner year for bad-guy hunting

In the meantime, is anyone here available to do some camp-to-camp walking that weekend?

Vicki

Ah, I have a much more effective plan...

Money and power is what they crave.

Money and power is what they will lose.

Vicki

Too bad it is illegal to just kick the **** out people when they need it.

BlU, your misguided intentions are more than honorable, But who here! Have you seen (read) trotting the destruction of the land?

I started to go when my son was eight, he's now 16, and I hope to be able to take my 1st grandchild to se the wander of it all.

balance is what is sought! one look at VOR's map sure shows that there is plenty of saved sand, for the completely undisturbed nature. in fact it's out of balance as we as a group of dunners are disproportionate deprived of experiencing the wonderers of nature!

And furthermore; Tire tracks blow away with the wind! or have you never visited the area after a recent wind storm?

SAND: the best renewable recreational resource in the world!

Wiz

For me, it's not about the tracks in the sand. Whether they blow away or stay permanent like at Johnson Valley, Jawbone, etc.

The sole issue for me is the health of the ecosystem that supports the rare plants that have adapted to live in such a harsh environment.

what with all the surface disturbance man has made to our planet through plowing and cultivating and clearing, the winds may one day blow all the soil away!

If we had a strong population of Sand Food still living, perhaps that plant could be the salvation of humanity--something to eat that will grow in sterile sand!

The other bugs and plants that live in the dunes are part of the picture. they all interrelate in ways we are just beginning to understand.

It doesn't make sense to allow this God-given resource to be forever destroyed in the name of motorized recreation.

Its a good thing that when they built blu's house they didn't disturb a single grain of dirt and the car it drives everyday runs on air and hovers 6 inches above the ground.

Hypocrite, don't give me that ****.

Boy oh boy, my e-mail has been simply jammed up with all of Blu's offers to help in this effort. Between that and his constant questions about how can he join this cleanup or that cleanup, I hardly have enough time to do anything else.

No wait... that's not right, something's wrong here. That's right, I remember now. Blu NEVER puts his money where is mouth is. He NEVER backs up his ridiculous statements or his alleged love of the land; I must have been thinking of someone who actually has a mind of their own.

Blu just baits people and then basks in the attention he gets. Like a bratty child, it doesn't matter if it's good attention or bad attention.

He's a troll. Always has been and always will be.

Vicki

BACK to the subject at hand. There are too many riders entering the temporarily closed areas. The BLM has been handing out info as people enter Glamis but no one has been reading the paperwork. At our request the BLM has been properly marking the boundaries and has added yellow tape to draw more attention to the markers.

And still this isn't enough. We still need people to walk camp to camp with the closure information. If we can't stop the riders from going into the temporary closures, the consequences are grave.

Who's helping?

Vicki

I will be at the Buttercup Fee Pay Station on Saturday, 12/28 @ 9:00am with about 200 flyers to hand out. Anyone wanting to walk Camp-to-Camp is more that welcome. If you can't make it that day and time, please go HERE, print out some copies of this flyer and spread the word that the temporary closures are still in effect.

If you have questions you can post them here, or e-mail me at lobuck@adelphia.net

Thanks for your support!

If anyone here participated in this, please send me an e-mail at GlamisFlyers@yahoo.com (I know several of you walked the washes).

Thanks.

Vicki

Someone? Anyone?

The reason I'm nagging is because we need to put it into the record that we made this effort. It works against any appeals the plaintiffs might make to the judge asking for total closure.

Not to mention that it also makes us look damn good because we showed up but "they" didn't.

So, if anyone passed the word on in any way, please let me know.

Vicki

Soooo close, yet so far

"Temporary" is a relative term.