Posted on 05/21/2002 7:00:24 AM PDT by Jack Black
EVERY HILL A THRILL: The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area attracts increasingly large crowds of off-roaders seeking roller-coaster-style excitement on the near-vertical drifts of the largest dunes in North America.
Land battle heats up dunes By Daniel B. Wood GLAMIS, CALIF. – When they look out across the largest sand dunes in North America, Jeneiene and Daniel Patterson see paradise. The 45-by-15-mile sprawl of granulated humps is a botanical Eden. Ironwood, smoke trees, and desert buckwheat provide a happy, if hot, habitat for flitting songbirds, darting lizards, stalking puma, and lumbering tortoises. "This is a biological wonderland," says Mr. Patterson, a desert ecologist with theTucson, Ariz.-based Center for Biological Diversity. "It's one of the last, great bastions of habitat for endangered species in the world." But Bob Matthews and Mark Hopkins look at these same dunes and see a different paradise – stadium-sized sand bowls skeined with trails perfect for off-road racing and motorcycle jumping, and flat areas for family camping. "This is a one-of-a-kind experience," says Mr. Matthews, an off-road vehicle enthusiast for 30 years. "It's one of the last, great places to find a roller coaster that you have control of." Perennially at odds over the best and proper use of public land, the two views are clashing anew over the 140,000-acre Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. In a move being watched by off-roaders and conservationists nationwide for clues to where the Bush administration is headed on land-use issues, federal officials want to reopen thousands of acres of dunes that had been closed just two years ago. Under a temporary agreement between off-road clubs, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and conservation groups, a 49,000-acre area was closed off in the summer of 2000 over concern about damage to endangered plants and animals. Environmental groups say reopening the closed section would reverse years of progress in habitat restoration. While welcoming more land to play on, all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) clubs are wary that the new policy could create curfews and vehicle limits. "We're trying to provide balance between conservationists and recreation groups," says Roxy Trost, a spokesperson for the BLM, which regulates the area. The dunes have become the battleground between several factions on both sides of the argument in recent years because of the growing swarms of ATVers who converge here on major holiday weekends – up to 250,000 by some estimates.Besides increased concern over habitat destruction, there are health and safety problems blamed on lack of adequate law enforcement when the crowds arrive. On major holiday weekends, this place resembles a scene from the "Mad Max" road warrior movies. Thousands of helmeted, blackbooted riders wearing plastic body armor gun their two- three- and four-wheeled machines up, down, and around hundreds of trails. There are no traffic rules – just loose, right-of-way protocols known as "dune etiquette." Spurred by violence – such as stabbings and shootings – the BLM has asked eight federal and state agencies to help restore order. "There have been serious, ongoing law enforcement issues since 1996 because no one has ever established the proper carrying capacity of this land," says Karen Schambach, California director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which has been working with federal rangers to publicizes some of the law enforcement issues. To that end, the BLM has proposed reopening areas that were closed off to ATVs in 2000. To show visitors what's at stake if the land is reopened, Patterson takes them on a tour of the southern end of the dunes. He walks over hard plateaus of wind-rippled sand, and sinks calf-deep in near-vertical drifts. Part of the area closed off in 2000, it now includes a football-field-wide swath of green vegetation directly behind the red stakes that define the protected area. Within it grow several patches of delicate, mushroom-like plants as well as healthy patches of an endangered plant called Peirson's milkvetch. "This green belt has appeared in little over a year since the agreement," says Patterson. "If they allow bikers in here, these plants will not survive." Patterson and other conservationists say the presence of thousands of off-road vehicles ruins the wilderness experience for hikers who want to pursue a natural habitat free from the sounds and fumes of racing buggies. They say ATV tires tear up the sand where delicate seeds and spores take root, and they churn up the cooler sub-surfaces where endangered lizards reside. When key plants don't take root, the desert creatures that rely on them for shelter and food – like the endangered Colorado desert fringe-toed lizard – lose their habitat, they say. "We are worried both about endangered species and the endangered experience for nature lovers and bird watchers," says Patterson. Matthews and Hopkins tell another side of the story. ATVers on these dunes since preschool, they say the subculture of "duners" is vastly misunderstood. "Ninety percent of duners come out here and treat the desert like a home away from home," says Matthews. He and others say ATVers stick to virgin sand – where there are no plants – and go out of their way to avoid hitting lizards and other wildlife. "Our tires are so expensive that there is no way we want to drive over a root or twig that will puncture it and strand us on the dunes," says Hopkins, president of the Orange County ATV Association. The two sides are locked in battle over which of four BLM management options will govern the dunes. Officials are considering measures that could include curfews, quiet hours, limited ATV access, and requiring biological education certificates for drivers. "I feel like they are always trying to limit us, control us," says Hopkins. He says he's never seen a hiker here more than 100 feet from a road. "When they have 250,000 hikers and bird watchers show up on a big weekend ... then they can ask us about closing more dunes," he says. Right now, the dunes are divided roughly equally between acreage open to ATVs and not (about 70,000 acres each). Of the four new plans the BLM will choose from by fall, it appears that at least 20,000 acres will be re-opened for off-roaders. Because of this, Patterson says the issue is likely headed to court. "The BLM likes to pretend it is caught in the middle of this issue, but if they wanted to be fair, they would keep the current, 50/50 plan in place."
Land battle heats up dunes
By Daniel B. Wood
GLAMIS, CALIF. – When they look out across the largest sand dunes in North America, Jeneiene and Daniel Patterson see paradise. The 45-by-15-mile sprawl of granulated humps is a botanical Eden. Ironwood, smoke trees, and desert buckwheat provide a happy, if hot, habitat for flitting songbirds, darting lizards, stalking puma, and lumbering tortoises. "This is a biological wonderland," says Mr. Patterson, a desert ecologist with theTucson, Ariz.-based Center for Biological Diversity. "It's one of the last, great bastions of habitat for endangered species in the world."
But Bob Matthews and Mark Hopkins look at these same dunes and see a different paradise – stadium-sized sand bowls skeined with trails perfect for off-road racing and motorcycle jumping, and flat areas for family camping. "This is a one-of-a-kind experience," says Mr. Matthews, an off-road vehicle enthusiast for 30 years. "It's one of the last, great places to find a roller coaster that you have control of."
Perennially at odds over the best and proper use of public land, the two views are clashing anew over the 140,000-acre Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. In a move being watched by off-roaders and conservationists nationwide for clues to where the Bush administration is headed on land-use issues, federal officials want to reopen thousands of acres of dunes that had been closed just two years ago.
Under a temporary agreement between off-road clubs, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and conservation groups, a 49,000-acre area was closed off in the summer of 2000 over concern about damage to endangered plants and animals.
Environmental groups say reopening the closed section would reverse years of progress in habitat restoration. While welcoming more land to play on, all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) clubs are wary that the new policy could create curfews and vehicle limits.
"We're trying to provide balance between conservationists and recreation groups," says Roxy Trost, a spokesperson for the BLM, which regulates the area.
The dunes have become the battleground between several factions on both sides of the argument in recent years because of the growing swarms of ATVers who converge here on major holiday weekends – up to 250,000 by some estimates.Besides increased concern over habitat destruction, there are health and safety problems blamed on lack of adequate law enforcement when the crowds arrive.
On major holiday weekends, this place resembles a scene from the "Mad Max" road warrior movies. Thousands of helmeted, blackbooted riders wearing plastic body armor gun their two- three- and four-wheeled machines up, down, and around hundreds of trails. There are no traffic rules – just loose, right-of-way protocols known as "dune etiquette." Spurred by violence – such as stabbings and shootings – the BLM has asked eight federal and state agencies to help restore order.
"There have been serious, ongoing law enforcement issues since 1996 because no one has ever established the proper carrying capacity of this land," says Karen Schambach, California director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which has been working with federal rangers to publicizes some of the law enforcement issues.
To that end, the BLM has proposed reopening areas that were closed off to ATVs in 2000.
To show visitors what's at stake if the land is reopened, Patterson takes them on a tour of the southern end of the dunes. He walks over hard plateaus of wind-rippled sand, and sinks calf-deep in near-vertical drifts. Part of the area closed off in 2000, it now includes a football-field-wide swath of green vegetation directly behind the red stakes that define the protected area. Within it grow several patches of delicate, mushroom-like plants as well as healthy patches of an endangered plant called Peirson's milkvetch.
"This green belt has appeared in little over a year since the agreement," says Patterson. "If they allow bikers in here, these plants will not survive."
Patterson and other conservationists say the presence of thousands of off-road vehicles ruins the wilderness experience for hikers who want to pursue a natural habitat free from the sounds and fumes of racing buggies. They say ATV tires tear up the sand where delicate seeds and spores take root, and they churn up the cooler sub-surfaces where endangered lizards reside. When key plants don't take root, the desert creatures that rely on them for shelter and food – like the endangered Colorado desert fringe-toed lizard – lose their habitat, they say.
"We are worried both about endangered species and the endangered experience for nature lovers and bird watchers," says Patterson.
Matthews and Hopkins tell another side of the story. ATVers on these dunes since preschool, they say the subculture of "duners" is vastly misunderstood. "Ninety percent of duners come out here and treat the desert like a home away from home," says Matthews. He and others say ATVers stick to virgin sand – where there are no plants – and go out of their way to avoid hitting lizards and other wildlife.
"Our tires are so expensive that there is no way we want to drive over a root or twig that will puncture it and strand us on the dunes," says Hopkins, president of the Orange County ATV Association.
The two sides are locked in battle over which of four BLM management options will govern the dunes. Officials are considering measures that could include curfews, quiet hours, limited ATV access, and requiring biological education certificates for drivers.
"I feel like they are always trying to limit us, control us," says Hopkins. He says he's never seen a hiker here more than 100 feet from a road. "When they have 250,000 hikers and bird watchers show up on a big weekend ... then they can ask us about closing more dunes," he says.
Right now, the dunes are divided roughly equally between acreage open to ATVs and not (about 70,000 acres each). Of the four new plans the BLM will choose from by fall, it appears that at least 20,000 acres will be re-opened for off-roaders. Because of this, Patterson says the issue is likely headed to court. "The BLM likes to pretend it is caught in the middle of this issue, but if they wanted to be fair, they would keep the current, 50/50 plan in place."
President Bush has initiated this concept of control of the public places with his "Gateway Communities". Another of his local control initiatives, it allows the local community, which reaps the economic benefit, a large say in how these areas are managed.
For several months, access and property rights advocates have been investigating the facts in an incident involving misuse of official government seals by the California Wilderness Coalition (CWC) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).In a letter to California Governor Gray Davis, following a Missing Linkages symposium hosted by the California Wilderness Coalition (CWC) in November 2000, participants submitted a letter to Governor Davis summarizing the results of the conference and urging him to take action to set aside lands for wilderness. The letter contains the official logo of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) along with names of federal employees, their official affiliations (USGS, USFS, and BLM) and the California State Parks seal with State Parks employee affiliations. This use of the official seal of the USGS and federal affiliations is unlawful. Access and property rights advocates in the California contacted the USGS about the CWC and TNC misusing USGS seal to promote The Wildlands Project. A transcript of the letter received from USGS is included below. Within that letter, Mr. Charles G. Groat, Director of USGS, stated the seal was used without authorization. In detail, Mr. Groat explains how the junior, noncareer employees signed a blank piece of paper at the request of the CWC representative using personal email accounts to complete the transactions. Mr. Groat stated that the USGS employees were acting as "private citizens".
The numbers of people who ride and actually do something with their children is huge.The number of people who hike the "sand dunes" is probaly about thirty a year. There are plenty of wide open spaces for hikers and just a few sand dunes.
I say let em ride. The BLM gestapo agents are more worried about busting people for not paying for their thirty dollar sticker and catching them with a little weed then they are about riding in areas that are off limits.
That is something else I have witnessed.
I got a guy canned...actually, not rehired....from the USGS for giving an anti-mining talk to a bunch of enviros. He indirectly claimed to be speaking as a representative of the USGS and when I sent the director a transcript and a nasty letter and copies of newspaper clippings, he was not amused. The idiot with the big mouth threatened to sue me over it, but he was gone.
Most of these Federal agencies do not realize how often they're being represented as the official position and it doesn't hurt to write a letter to the director asking if this is the official position of the agency. They are normally so terrified of being accused of taking a political position they will start back-peddling and groveling.
Maybe we, who live where these meetings are held should go in and tape the comments of these Fed enviral Nazis at the meetings when they present bad science to invoke rural cleansing.
About 7 years ago, one of these enviral fed Nazis, drove from a NW state capitol city to a meeting about closing down a river to all fishing due to a phantom steelhead population decline in a stream that ran into the main river.
Word got out that he was driving down to investigate the stream that went into the main river to document the problem of the poor steelhead native to that river.
He was followed and videotaped. His scientific evaluation of this stream was to pull along side where it ran into the main river and take a leak. Then, he got back into the truck and drove to city where the hearing being conducted. He was scheduled the next morning for his vast knowledge of the problem.
After he lied and blabbed on about his stop. The good guys asked for a session with the judge in his chambers. They showed the video of this liar parking his truck, getting out and taking a leak and then getting back into his truck and driving to the city where the meeting was held.
The judge dismissed the case and warned this clymer that if he ever tried anything like that again, he would go to jail.
There is some ATV use in the local National Forest to me, and having seen the damage these yahoos do, I am rather biased against them. They seem to deliberately aim for the most ecologically fragile areas and turn them into filthy mud holes, wander off trail and tear up as much foliage as they can (and create trails that other people, thinking it alright, follow), and in general wreak damage. Of course, not everyone does this, but when one is dealing with ATV's, only a handful of people are required to devestate an area, especially if they return to the same spot over and over again. However, as these folks pay taxes, they are entitled to their usages- but it should not be hog-wild insanity. It is possible to minimize the impact, but only if the ATVers stick to the rules and encourage fellow riders to do the same- and offenders are prosecuted.
Environmentalism has cost the people of the U.S. more than two trillion dollars in lost jobs, wasted fuel, and lost development opportunities. - The purpose of environmentalism is to disfunctionalize, and demoralize this once great nation, and to turn it to demonic earth worship.
For governmental agencies to tolerate, or participate in environmentalism is a violation of our First Ammendment guarantee of freedom of religion. - This must not be allowed to go unpunished any longer. - Enough is enough! - Entirely too much of this huge world is untouched by man; the part that we choose to use must be decalired off-limits to the enviro-nazi.
95 to 99% of Kalis/Americans think that the enviralists are the good guys. They believe that the farmers, ranchers, loggers and business people are the evil ones. It is truly amazing.
Have you ever tried to walk on a sand dune?
It is literally like quicksand.
Furthermore, there is no vegetation that is exclusive to these dunes. The types of plants that are growing in the "Greenbelt" they set up can be found in MILLIONS of the surrounding acres.
But, then again, the Enviros never have let facts get in the way of making a good sound bite for TV.
Cheers,
knews hound
Was the Hacth Act part of the violation he was fired for?
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