For Immediate Release: February 10, 2005 CA-CDD-05-23
Contact: Doran Sanchez (951) 697-5220 or Chris Knauf 760-337-4457

Imperial Sand Dunes 2005 Multi-Species Monitoring Program Begins

For the second year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has initiated a three-month multi-species monitoring program at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. The monitoring project will begin Feb. 14 and is expected to end May 8, 2005.

Working with the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO) under contract to BLM, 36 interns will complete a two week training period on-site and then proceed with a monitoring program that includes the Peirson's milk-vetch and two additional plants, as well as the Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard. During the project, at least 350 milk-vetch transects, and 70 Colorado Desert fringe-toed lizard transects will be completed by ECO's pedestrian surveyors.

According to Christopher Knauf, BLM El Centro Field Office project manager, "This is the second year we have conducted this survey at the Dunes, and it encompasses a wide variety of monitoring that contributes to an ecosystem level of understanding."

The monitoring project is part of BLM's ongoing compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is described in detail in the Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to BLM on Jan. 25, 2005. Knauf also pointed out that all biological monitoring under the ESA at the Dunes is paid for by Congressional funding made available to BLM through annual appropriations and no recreation fee funds are used for that purpose per Federal law.

For more information contact the BLM's El Centro Field Office at (760) 337-4400.

-BLM-

A HUGE thanks to Roy Denner for taking this issue to Washington DC... Now a Federal Law...

Boy, with all the rain and the plants out there, it should be another great year, the reports on the PMV in the dunes should be HIGH... Right Danny Boy...

Ok I will ask my dumb question:

I understand that at some time there was a "base" count of plants ect.. and somewhere in the rules there is something to the effect that if the "base" level is reduced by 50% that more changes will happen at the ISDRA. When was the "base" count done, please tell us that this years plant growth will not be the starting basis for the studies.

thanks

DITTO THAT !!. what Duneflyer said.

Hope they are not using the same camping area as last time

Not this years count but last years 2004 count is the new baseline from what I'm told. Last year I believe was something like 288,000 PMV counted in the dunes This year should be something like 1,000,000

Not sure about the camping area???

When I supposed to go on my overflight, The BLM employee was Scott. I believe he is the employee responsible for the Monitoring Program. Or leading it at least. He stated that they are camping by the canal again this year.

Just returned from another fine weekend in the sand. The Monitor's camp was in
same location, so we once again got bumped from our normal stomping grounds.
Hope they like the location and leave it in the condition it was in when they got there. Unlike last year when they left all the remains of their firepit for us to clean up for them. They did spread out a bit more this time than last year.

MY WIFE SURE LOVES ALL THE FLOWERS THERE ARE NOW. SHE MAKES ME PARK AT THE BACK OF WASH SIX CUZ ITS PACKED WITH FLOWERS. OH WELL, ANYTHING FOR THE LIL'DARLIN.

At least they don't wake you up at 6am driving past your camp with a old red Suburban that needs a muffler. And guess what, they were doing more 15mph, everytime, within 5 ft from our camp.. I would guess they were doing around 30mph, same Suburban from last year.

If no one ever went to glamis.
We'd never see one impact survey, or species monitoring taking place.