What's New in the aSa
April, 2010

Public Invited to Comment on Draft Plan for Imperial Sand Dunes

 The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the draft Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area management plan (RAMP) and environmental impact statement (EIS).  The March 26 publication of the notice of availability in the Federal Register initiates the 90-day public comment period which will end June 24, 2010. 

Daniel Steward, acting BLM's El Centro Field manager, said the RAMP/EIS outlines future management of public lands administered by BLM in the 160,000-acre Dunes located in eastern Imperial County. The public assisted BLM in identifying key land use issues in this area through a formal scoping process conducted in 2008.

The draft RAMP/EIS analyzes the environmental impacts of many land management issues, including recreation, renewable energy, and species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including the threatened Peirson's milk-vetch. A range of alternatives are analyzed in the RAMP/EIS, including closure of areas designated as critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to off-highway vehicle use.

The BLM has scheduled the following public meetings:
Tuesday, April 13th – San Diego, CA
Handlery Hotel
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA  92108

Wednesday, April 14th – El Centro, CA
Imperial Irrigation District William R. Condit Meeting Room
1285 Broadway
El Centro, CA  92243

Thursday, April 15th – Phoenix, AZ
Mountain Preserve Reception and Conference Center
1431 E. Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ  85020

All meetings will run from 6:00pm – 9:00pm

The draft is available online at http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro.  Copies are available upon request from the field manager, El Centro Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243 or the BLM California State Office at 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W 1834, Sacramento, CA  95825.   

Comments can be provided via email to caisdrmp@ca.blm.gov or by mail to the El Centro address above, attention:  Carrie Simmons.  For further information, please contact Erin Dreyfuss, RAMP team leader at (916) 978-4642.

Members of the public can make public comments at the meetings, however, they are strongly encouraged to submit their comments in writing.

The meetings will start with a 10 minute PowerPoint presentation about the DRAMP. Stations will be set up with detailed information where the public can present and receive help with their questions.

The ASA will be reviewing the 803-page document in order to compose valid comments. The results should be available to our membership in a few weeks.

It will be appreciated if members taking the initiative to review and prepare valid comments would copy The aSa Board of Directors. Remember, valid comments are those that present BLM with new data or point out flaws in their reasoning or other processes. Venting on an emotional basis will be disregarded by BLM.

Sunrise Ford Sponsors 1st Annual Glamis Dunes Clean Up and Ford Vehicle Display
Sunrise Ford would like to invite you to join us Saturday, April 3, 2010 in Glamis for a Dune Cleanup Event. Those that assist us in cleaning up the Glamis Sand Dunes will be provided a “free lunch”. There will also be several Ford vehicles on display, including the “All New” 2011 Ford Super Duty with the 6.7L Power Stroke Diesel and a 2010 Ford F150 Raptor. There will be Ford Vehicle Product Specialists along with Ford Vehicle literature available. Parts and Service representatives will be on site as well. What better time to hold this event than the last big weekend of the dune season?
Cleanup: Saturday, April 3, 2010 - 8:00am to Noon Lunch: 11:30am to 2:30pm
Location: Special Event Area just East of the Vendors Row (Look for the BIG Blue & White Tent)
A bag of trash or $5 donation gets you a Meal Ticket (Donations will go to ASA)
Ford Vehicle Display Open Friday thru Sunday 8:00am-5:00pm
Contact Bobby Williams for more details (951) 538-2507 or bwilliams@sunrisefordfleet.com

PARTS OF GLAMIS CAMPING AREAS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION
Beginning April 12 and running through the end of the month, construction activity to maintain Wash Road, Cement Flats and Pads 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 will occur.  This means that camping may not be allowed while crews are working in these areas.

Construction will start with Wash Road (primary vehicle access open:  watch for heavy equipment), and move on to Cement Flats -- closing this entire area to camping beginning April 16.  Similarly, Pads 1 through 2.5 will be closed to camping when work is in progress.  Please respect all posted "No Camping" signs to avoid the inconvenience of having to move your camp elsewhere. For more information, please contact the BLM at 760-337-4400 or see http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra/sandnews.html

ASA PARTICIPATES IN DAC FIELD TOUR
Recently, the ASA was involved in a field tour of the Buttercup Area by members of the BLM’s Desert Advisory Council (DAC).  For some, this was their first trip to the dunes. 

In addition to touring the area, those in attendance enjoyed lunch at Duner’s Diner while listening to presentations by ASA President Bob Mason and Imperial County Supervisor Wally Leimgruber.  Charla Teeters from the United Desert Gateway also talked about the importance of partnerships, as did BLM Dunes Manager Neil Hamada.  As tour members arrived at Duner’s Diner, a REACH Air Ambulance helicopter landed on site so that DAC members could learn more about the valuable partnership between REACH and the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.

We would like to thank all of the drivers who dedicated their time to help with the Desert Advisory Council Field Tour.  Without your help, this tour would not have been possible.  The ASA really appreciates your support.

GET YOUR $25 BUCKS TODAY!
The ASA is proud to announce a partnership agreement with Rocky Mountain ATV/MC.  All new and renewing supporting members will automatically receive a $25.00 gift card to Rocky Mountain ATV/MC.  Basically, your membership pays for itself.  Support the ASA’s mission to Unite, Inform and Mobilize while shopping for your favorite gear.  All you have to do is become a supporting ASA member or renew your current membership and we’ll mail you your free gift card so you can start shopping right away.  You’ll also be able to take advantage of all of the other discounts offered by our premium sponsors.  Don’t throw your money away, take advantage of this opportunity today!
New members please visit: http://www.asasand.com/product.php?productid=16136&cat=250&page=1
Renewing members visit: http://www.asasand.com/product.php?productid=16174&cat=250&page=1

Check out Rocky Mountain ATV/MC products at: http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/home.do

Sand Sports Super Show Swapmeet

BLM Names Teri Raml District Manager for California Desert District
Teresa A. Raml has been selected as the new California Desert District (CDD) manager for the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) vast, 10.5 million-acre desert district in Southern California.  Acting BLM State Director Jim Abbott announced the appointment of Raml in January in Sacramento.
To find out more about Teri Raml, please visit the following link: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/employee_profiles/teri_raml.html

BLM El Centro Field Office District Advisory Council Report - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA)
All major visitation spikes during the season have occurred and visitation will be decreasing for the rest of the season except for a small increase during spring break.  Year to date visitation is at 888,186 which is a 13% decrease compared to last season.  Although visitation has steadily decreased about 5% over the last few years, we saw increases during holiday visitation during the 2009/2010 season.   Total ISDRA visitation is expected to be 1.1 to 1.2 million by September 30th, 2010.

Partnerships
Volunteer clean up events have occurred monthly and the last event for this season occurred on March 20th, 2010.  These events are organized by the United Desert Gateway and are funded by a combination of federal funds and private / corporate donations.  The largest annual clean up day occurred during the Martin Luther King Weekend on January 16th, 2010.  The successful event drew 1,458 individuals who volunteered a total of 4,222 hours.

BLM continues to coordinate with the American Desert Foundation (ADF) in order to offer American Safety Institute, ATV Classes in the ISDRA.  18 full classes have occurred and over 100 students have been trained this season in safe ATV riding principles and Tread Lightly! ethics.  BLM is coordinating with the ADF to apply for OHV grant funds to expand the program next year.

BLM continues to partner and expand the Kris “Chili Dog” Frick (KCDF) organization to provide expanded Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the ISDRA.  This year, Reach Air Medical and ADF will be added to the MOU.  Through KCDF, the BLM has expanded medical responses to include paramedic services in the Dunes and medical helicopter services to injured rider with response times as little as four minutes.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - BLM is in the process of installing 18 new vault toilets in the Greys Well Road / Buttercup area in the southern portion of the dunes funded by ARRA.  This project will pay for the pumping, demolition, and removal of the old dilapidated units and the installation of newly engineered units that reduce smell and will be installed to meet accessibility laws.  Some units are being relocated to increase access to the units and increase visitor safety.

Buttercup Ranger Station – Construction is in the final phase of this long term project.  Funding from Federal Highway Administration is completing the rear parking area and constructing two storage facilities to house emergency rescue vehicles.  The station is staffed by a combination of volunteers, contractors, and BLM staff.

Ogilby Road – BLM received visitor complaints about the remote access road to the Ogilby area early during the visitation season.  In response, BLM built a new gravel road surface, funded by fees, while maintaining the primitive character of the area.  This road serves to provide access to approximately 50,000 visitors per year.

Wash Road – The new road built by BLM and volunteers held up well over the season and has maintained access to the dunes for over 219,000 visitors so far this season.  BLM plans to conduct a major maintenance project on this road during the spring and has already begun the pre-work in the gravel pit.

Emergency Medical Services – The BLM has responded to a total of 365 calls in the ISDRA this season.  Over 40% of these incidents were minor injuries and five were OHV related fatalities.  Over the years, medical incidents have significantly reduced due to education and law enforcement efforts.

As the visitation tapers off for the rest of the season, BLM will begin laying off Seasonal EMS Park Rangers in the ISDRA.  BLM staffs commensurate with visitation need in order to use fee and grant dollars in the most efficient and effective manner.

Law Enforcement
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area: 

Visitation in the desert has decreased but law enforcement has been steady. The winter months saw a constant supply of visitors to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA).

There are 4 major holiday weekends at the ISDRA: Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year’s and President’s Day. The last was the conclusion of the main holiday events for the season. During these four weekends, the participating Rangers issued 2,757 citations (1,824 fewer than the previous year) and made 47 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol (two more than last year). One unlawful assembly was declared at the base of Oldsmobile Hill during the Halloween Event. Due to budget reductions, the U.S. Forest Service and San Diego Sheriff’s Office were not invited to participate those weekends . The present number of Rangers is believed to be adequate to meet area management objectives as long as the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office is able to augment BLM Rangers throughout the season.

Visitor Information Stations were set up in strategic areas of the ISDRA. Information about rules and regulations was distributed emphasizing youth rider safety. The Stations proved to be an excellent tool to manage evening activity at Oldsmobile Hill. It was noted that a shift in the visitor use pattern to a predominately family oriented recreation environment was enhanced through education and proactive enforcement of the existing laws, rules, and regulations.

Resource damage significantly decreased on both sides of Ted Kipf Road: likely due to the closure of the Wash 10 under crossing. There is an increase in the unlawful operation of Off-Highway Vehicles on Ted Kipf Road. These vehicles are accessing the road by illegally crossing the railroad tracks at State Highway 78.

Mammoth Wash continues to see steady use by North Imperial County residents and hunters.

NOW SEEKING OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS
Nomination forms for the Jerry R. Seaver award are now available.  If you know of someone who is an ASA member and has demonstrated exemplary service to help further the mission of the ASA, please nominate them for this coveted award.
Past award recipients are as follows: 
2004    Flo Haynes                  Merchandise Operation
2005    Jim Colln                     Membership, Business sponsor
2006    Julie Krough                Recording Secretary
2007    Brian Trapp                 ASA Sand Sport Super Show Organizer
2008    Tim Gantz                    Partnership Facilitation
2009    Debbie DeRenard        Calendar Organization
Please Click Here to obtain an application.

Banning Motorsports ASA Raffle Car

A New Way To Support The ASA
Recently, the American Sand Association partnered with GBG, a Health and Wellness company, for a special fundraising program that has the possibility to significantly benefit the ASA. GBG has been in business for the past 14 years, it is also owned by a fellow off-roader and sand duning enthusiast named Stuart Finger who lives in Northern California.

Here's some information about GBG as well as how the fundraising program works. If you are currently using vitamins or know that you should, we would like to encourage you to check out GBG's great tasting liquid 10-in-One Super Formula. Some of the 10 Formulas include a Bone and Joint Formula, a Cardiovascular Formula, a Stress Reducing Formula, an Immune Enhancer Formula, and much more. These formulas are all delivered in liquid form and designed to get into your system in just 3 minutes.

Not only is this vitamin scientifically engineered under strict health standards, it is competitively priced compared to supplements in retail stores. The primary difference is that when you purchase the items through ASA's GBG web-site, proceeds from your 10-in-One purchases will be sent directly to the ASA.
This is your chance to both improve your health and support the ASA. To learn more, simply visit the ASA's exclusive GBG web-site by clicking on this link: < http://shopgbg.com/ASAfundraiser >.

Proceeds from your purchases will benefit the ASA by helping pay for legal fees, biological studies, and other expenses that are incurred in the battle to keep public lands open for off-road vehicle use.

The ASA would like to thank you for your continued support as a member.

The American Sand Association
Unite, Inform, and Mobilize

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The aSa Board of Directors