Voice: Glamis: environmentalists continue the abuse of the truth
Thursday, May 29, 2003 2:40 PM PDT
Environmentalists unjustly fight to close Glamis to off- highway vehicle use while OHV enthusiasts fight to keep portions of the dunes open for OHV use.
Three environmental clubs sued the Bureau of Land Management for not complying with the Endangered Species Act for protection of species such as the Peirson's milk-vetch. A total 49,310 acres of land are closed to OHV use "until a permanent solution can be reached to save the Peirson's milk-vetch from extinction at "the hands of rubber tires and flying sand." (Daniel Patterson, Center for Biological Diversity)
The remark made by Patterson about the Peirson's milk-vetch becoming extinct because of flying sand is absurd. Rubber tires do little harm to the plant. Scientific research shows it usually bounces back up after being run over. The plant lives in the dunes, where it is frequently windy, and has long, horizontal roots that allow it to move with the shifting sands. It is evident that if this plant was going to go extinct from flying sand it would have done so long ago.
Environmentalists also claim half of Glamis is still open to OHV use. I ask the reader to look at a map on http://www.glamisonline.org/closure.asp that would prove otherwise. Environmentalists want to "diversify" the dunes yet are trying to close it completely to OHV use by demonizing and stereotyping all OHV users.
Their misinformation and relentless attack on OHV users is unjust and should no longer be tolerated.
CANDICE HUTCHESON
El Centro