BLM, which manages the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, will have law enforcement coverage at the Dunes this year as well as the rest of the public lands in the California Desert region requiring protection.

"We have been gratified by the offers of support from Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the West and in this region, including the National Park Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Forest Service, the California Highway Patrol, and the Imperial County Sheriff's Department.  With their help, and the cooperation of our Dunes' visitors,  law enforcement personnel will protect the Dunes, the public and BLM employees working in the Dunes," says BLM El Centro Field Manager Greg Thomsen.

BLM is also making sure law enforcement will be present to protect other sensitive areas in the California Desert in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, and Inyo counties over the upcoming holiday weekends.

The Thanksgiving holiday is traditionally the most popular time for people to recreate at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Up to 100,000 people are known to visit the Dunes over the four-day weekend, bringing their motorhomes to camp, and dune buggies, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles to ride and enjoy this unique area.