For Immediate Release: November 9, 2000                     CA-610-01-06
Contact:  Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220
            or Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4616

BLM Implements Interim Closure at Imperial Sand Dunes

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is implementing interim closures on vehicle use in portions of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) in response to a recent lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, and the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility regarding the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District, California, approved the negotiated settlement between BLM and the plaintiffs on Friday, November 3.

The interim closure is designed to protect essential habitat of the Peirson's milk-vetch (a Federally listed plant species) while allowing off-highway vehicle recreation to continue in the heavily used areas of the dunes. The Peirson's milk-vetch was listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998. The continued survival of this plant relies on the protection of its dune habitat.

The interim restrictions will be in effect until BLM consults with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan.  These restrictions are part of an overall legal settlement intended to reduce the effects of BLM's implementation of the CDCA Plan on threatened and endangered species throughout the California Desert.

The four closures areas are located in the northern, central and southern portions and encompass approximately 49,300 acres of the 134,300-acre ISDRA.  All closures will be marked with red posts and "No Motorized Vehicle" signs.  These posts will be placed at  intervals of 1/10 to 1/4 of a mile depending on the terrain and use patterns. The boundaries of the closures are based on monitoring data gathered by the BLM, and are placed around known populations of the milk-vetch while avoiding the most popular riding areas.

• Northern Closure (3,800 acres): The western boundary is located along the New Coachella Canal. The southern boundary of the closure is common with the northern boundary of the North Algodones Wilderness Area. The eastern boundary follows along the Ted Kipf Road for several hundred yards north of the wilderness boundary. The northern boundary follows a section line across the dunes to the canal. 
• Central Closure #1 (2,000 acres): This circular shaped closure is located approximately 1 mile east of Gecko Road, between Gecko and Roadrunner Campgrounds.
• Central Closure #2 (43,345 acres): The western boundary begins 1/4 mile south of Roadrunner campground and follows the Sand Highway to "5 mile drop" on the New Coachella Canal. The road into Patton Valley from the "5 mile drop" will remain open, but the dunes directly to the south of the road will be closed. The southern boundary is located directly north of Patton Valley and the Olgilby Camp Area. The eastern boundary  follows the wash road. The northern boundary starts about  9 miles south of the Glamis Store and follows a section line across the dunes to the Sand Highway.
• Southern Closure (160 acres): Located just east of Midway Campground and south of Grays Well Road.

Dunes visitors must comply with these vehicle closures.  Violations of the closures could result in the expansion of the boundaries of the closure areas through further legal action.  The closure will be strictly enforced and citations will be issued to violators.  The closures will not affect the heavily used areas between the Glamis store and Gecko Road, areas around Buttercup and Dune buggy Flats, Patton Valley, and Hills 1-5.

BLM is distributing brochures to recreationists at the dunes and information and a map of the closure areas are available on BLM's webpage at www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro/lawsuit_ctrbiodiv.html.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office - 6221 Box Springs Blvd, Riverside, California - (909) 697-5220