From the Sunday UT Insight Section

Off-roaders, environmentalists are at odds over use of dunes

January 12, 2003
Re: "Interior abandoning dunes compromise," a commentary by Daniel R. Patterson, Karen Schambach and Terry Weiner (Opinion, Jan. 5):
The authors note that "According to Bureau of Land Management rangers, conditions are not getting better" in reference to rowdy, alcohol-abusing crowds. However, according to a BLM press release, just the opposite is the case. The Dec. 3 BLM press release can be found online in the ASA Newsletter (www.AmericanSandAssociation.org). It says, in part:
"Over 170,000 recreation enthusiasts enjoyed a relatively calm Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the Imperial Sand Dunes with federal, state, and local officials pleased with a continuing trend toward a safer environment. Overall, law enforcement and emergency medical service actions were down."
The article continues, "Officials state that visitors honored the (sundown to sunrise) curfew (at Competition Hill) and reported no challenges to the new restriction."
The writers of the opinion piece are basing their statements on facts that are more than three years old.

CINDY MACHNOV
Lakeside

Weiner, et al. point out the real problem with the Bush administration and the American people: they don't care about us. Even though the American people have passed legislation and used other democratic processes to express their commitment to natural area conservation, the Bush administration remains at the beck and call of the highest bidder for public lands.
At the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, just as in many public lands in America, Bush's Interior Department lets the rich elite set the agenda. The loud minority of those who use the beautiful dunes as a vehicular sandbox wastes the taxpayers' money and destroy the public's property, yet the administration not only allows this wheeled vandalism to continue but wants to expand the area of single-use abuse.
The Bush administration does this because it is corrupted by the powerful campaign contributors of Big Oil, Big Auto and Big Recreation.

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I like that "rich elite"! Don't tell the IRS, since my reported income falls way short of "rich anything". "Vehicular Sandbox". Makes sense, it is just sand after all. But how does that waste money, I don't ask for ANY services when I am in the ISDRA. How does it destroy the dunes, Ma Nature moves everything back fairly efficiently after we go home.

"Big Recreation" Now that's "Rich"! Another evil monster monopoly with a chokehold on the President. How about this one, "Big Environmentalism"! or "Big Political Correctness" or "Big Education" or "Big Social Programs" or "Big Human Rights". Maybe if we start confirming such titles on liberal programs, the public will be a bit more suspicious about their agendas, funding, and power.
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JIM RICKER
San Diego

The commentary is a classic example of the myopic thinking from so-called environmentalists.
Patterson has been trying to close the off-road activities of this area for the past 10 years. He has cost the federal government millions of dollars in phony lawsuits trying to promote his agenda of conservation.
Among the half-truths in the piece:
The figure of 240,000 off-roaders on holiday weekends. My sources at BLM state that 60,000 to 100,000 maximizes the total amount of people using the dunes and this applies only to two major holidays.
The claim of life found nowhere else. Horned lizards and scarab beetles are found everywhere in the Southwest.
Violence claims are exaggerated to the point that the readers would think the whole scene is a drunken orgy of Hell's Angels.

DANIEL ESCH
Yuma, Ariz.

My husband and I are desert lovers, having camped, hiked and enjoyed 4-wheel on-trail driving for many years in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.
Unfortunately, most areas of the dunes are crowded with noisy and aggressive OHVs whose progress is unpredictable as the drivers do not use trails but go wherever they like.
Although some places have been closed to OHVs, these closures are not always respected, especially on winter weekends when the desert temperatures are bearable and the OHV users are numerous. The Buttercup closed area is most accessible to hikers, being close to Interstate 8, but, although officially closed to OHV use it feels dangerous to walk in as vehicles surround the area and frequently ignore the closure signs. Indeed, the entire atmosphere of noise and fast OHVs is hardly what one expects from a wilderness experience.
We would like to see a visitors center, and some designated hiking and 4-wheel driving trails well protected from irregular vehicular intrusions. Like the Colorado Great Sand Dunes, this area should be designated as a National Monument. It is a national treasure.
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Apples and Oranges. Borrego vs. ISDRA. I notice she is careful not to mention she is talking about 2 COMPLETELY different areas and management.
I keep reading about trails. Just who is going to maintain these trails? A huge effort in the sand dunes. Oh God no, more money for Big Recreation!!! Designated hiking? Hey lady, there are tens of thousands of acres for that!! Wake-up and call the BLM. They will tell you where to go, probably not the same place I would direct you.

Rumors of closed areas violations is a farce. almost entirely due to poor maintenance by the authorities regarding the markers. If ther weren't so many separate areas, it wouldn't be a problem. Wa Wa Wa. Cut north to the 78, what takes maybe 30 minutes? Huge hiking areas there. She doesn't like noise, but goes out with her jeep?
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JANET A. ANDERSON
San Diego

The authors stated that there is only 25,000 acres of wilderness. That ignores the vast area of wilderness dunes 10 times that size north of state Route 78.
ED STOVIN
Director, San Diego Off-road
Coalition

I am a resident and manager of family property in Imperial County. The property is near the flat-tailed horned lizard management area, set to protect this dwindling species and the shrinking habitat it depends on.
The 50-50 split between OHV use and sustainable use of the dunes was the right thing and must be re-established.
I protest the downplaying of OHV impacts by the BLM and the Department of Interior. Their policy is politically motivated, and is backed by junk science, or none at all.
Until Interior works to promote lower-impact recreational activities, our dunes and the rest of our California desert will become just one lifeless sandbox.

RON GAUL
Ocotillo

Crossing the dunes via non-motorized transportation is a ludicrous thought. While possible, it is not probable. Non-motorized access is available for those who desire. Can't we all just get along?

SAMANTHA LEACH
San Diego

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Apparently not until no one get take anything with wheels into the ISDRA. This is war, no quarter given.

There goes that mythological 50/50 thing again. We have really got to get the facts out there!!!

Vicki

I keep looking at the ISDRA map that has been posted several times on the ASA board and here at GD.com as well. What 50% are they referring to? The remaining open areas are already less than 50%. Now they want another 50%, and then another and another! NO! It's time to draw a line in the sand and say "NO MORE"! Get the facts out! Join the ASA, CORVA, OBBA, Blue Ribbon Coalition, SD Off Road Coalition, RSBA, D.U.N.E.R.S. and any other pro access organization you can find, get organized, write an editorial to as many papers as you can, contact your local, county, state and federal elected officials and express your feeling to them and them back it up with a letter! Protect your rights! Stop the closures! Keep our deserts open!

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

[ 01-13-2003, 03:14 PM: Message edited by: dezfan1 ]

Many of the areas on that map are not actually dunes, but the flats in the surrounding area. I think the 50% they're referring to is supposed to be actual sand-dune terrain, but I'm still not sure if 50% is accurate.