U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
 
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An occasional feature of BLM California's News.bytes

Spotlight on Partners: United Desert Gateway

Dunes cleanup
Three men load up the back of a pickup truck, with bags of trash they collected during 2007's dunes cleanup

Three men load up the back of a pickup truck, with bags of trash they collected during last year's dunes cleanup

In a unique partnership, BLM and the Chambers of Commerce for the cities surrounding the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) joined forces in 2004 to form the United Desert Gateway (UDG). The UDG is aimed at developing support, improving communication and broadening cooperation with the designated gateway communities of El Centro, Brawley, and Yuma, as well as other interests, associated with the ISDRA and other BLM managed lands in the region.

The UDG partnership -- led by Nicole Gilles, Executive Director of the Brawley Chamber of Commerce -- recognizes that the management of public lands in the region presents a significant opportunity to build collaborative stewardship. This effort will allow participation by local Gateway Communities, the off-highway vehicle community and other interest groups in public land management planning, stewardship/education/outreach programs and to respond to impacts of public use on public land such as the ISDRA.

A major event on the UDG's calendar is coming up Jan. 19, 2008: the 11th Annual Dunes Cleanup. For more information, see the UDG website calendar.

A formal Assistance Agreement among the partners was signed in September, 2004 that laid out the UDG’s goals to include: assist in developing stewardship, education and outreach programs for the ISDRA and to respond to impacts to their local communities due to public use of the ISDRA. Initial UDG objectives in the short-term include:

  • A litter-education campaign
  • A billboard safety program
  • A Dune Smart brochure
  • Development of a tourism monitoring plan
  • Providing support for the development of a volunteer program that draws from the OHV community, local gateway communities, and other interested parties.
  • Assist the BLM in identifying, developing and implementing a variety of public education and outreach initiatives as well as assisting BLM in integrating educational programs into BLM outreach planning and the ISDRA outreach planning process.

For further information, see the UDG’s website at www.uniteddesertgateway.org or contact Nicole Nicholas Gilles at (760) 344-3160.

Below: Nicole Nicholas Gilles, president of the UDG hosts a ceremony on the presentation of a trailer donated by Weekend Warrior to BLM for law enforcement use in the south dunes:
Nicole Nicholas Gilles, president of the UDG hosts a ceremony on the presentation of a trailer donated by Weekend Warrior to BLM for law enforcement use in the south dunes:

Last year's cleanup volunteers sign up at a table in the south dunes of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
Last year's cleanup volunteers sign up at a table in the south dunes of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area

Part of the litter education campaign:
Dunes cleanup public service announcement


BLM California News.bytes, issue 312  
BLM California News.bytes, issue 316 (1/30/08)

 
Last updated: 07-13-2009