Yuma Field Office updates broaden volunteer opportunities

Each winter, many thousands of visitors choose to spend weeks or months camping on public lands in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) administered by the Colorado River District’s Yuma Field Office (YFO). Established in 1983, the LTVA program was designed to support long-term seasonal recreation while protecting sensitive natural and cultural resources through focused, on-site management. The Yuma Field Office emphasizes volunteer service, highlighted this year by the Freedom 250 celebration.

Yuma Field Office manages two LTVAs — La Posa near Quartzsite and Imperial Dam near Yuma — which operate from September 15 through April 15. Visitors may camp using a long-term permit valid for up to seven months, or a short visit permit valid for 14 consecutive days.

Day-to-day operations rely on trained volunteers to manage large areas and high seasonal visitation. In 2024, volunteers contributed more than 47,000 hours of service, valued at approximately $1.6 million. Volunteers routinely support visitor services during peak season, respond to infrastructure issues, and help maintain continuity when staffing levels reach their capacity.

As Field Manager Ray Castro told volunteers during the seasonal volunteer briefing, their role is vital to the program’s success.

“Some people think we don’t need volunteers anymore,” Castro said. “That’s a myth—volunteers remain essential.”

Volunteers support BLM’s LTVA recreation operations in a variety of ways. They are often the public face for the BLM at these sites. They staff contact stations, assist visitors, support infrastructure, and provide a consistent on-site presence throughout the season. In many cases, volunteers are the first and most lasting impression visitors have of the LTVAs.

This season the Yuma Field Office is updating its LTVA volunteer program. The office has clarified expectations, improved coordination, expanded training, and emphasized safety, customer service, and stewardship. The effort reflects both changing conditions on public lands and a long-term vision to strengthen volunteer engagement and leadership in the program.

BLM staff provide seasonal training for volunteers on everything from day-to-day operations to personal safety to being good stewards of public lands.

At this year’s training, outdoor recreation planner Danny Pollard framed volunteer safety as the program’s highest priority, particularly given the remoteness of LTVAs and the variety of situations volunteers may encounter.

Volunteers receive guidance on personal safety, including environmental hazards such as heat, uneven terrain, and wildlife, and proper use of protective equipment.

By staying within their scope and focusing on observation and reporting, volunteers protect themselves while supporting effective resource management. Well-documented reports that detail the “who, what, where, when, and why” help rangers and law enforcement prioritize responses and address issues efficiently.

Assistant Field Manager Jessica Han addressed volunteers from a resource protection perspective, focusing on cultural resources found throughout the LTVAs. She explained that the desert landscape contains thousands of years of human history. This includes ancient campsites, geoglyphs, trails, petroglyphs, pictographs, and historic sites, many of which are not immediately obvious to the untrained eye.

As the eyes and ears of the field office, volunteers play a vital role in protecting irreplaceable cultural resources while ensuring visitor safety. Volunteers are encouraged to model good stewardship and help educate visitors by reinforcing a simple message: enjoy cultural sites from a distance.

Volunteers consistently deliver professional visitor services. By remaining calm, professional, and customer-focused — and routing unresolved issues through the appropriate chain of communication — volunteers help maintain a welcoming atmosphere while allowing rangers and staff to address more complex issues.

About the LTVA program

The Yuma Field Office manages La Posa near Quartzsite and Imperial Dam near Yuma, which are two high-use recreation areas within BLM’s LTVA system. During the long-term season, visitors may choose from:

• Long-term permit: $180 for up to seven months, or any portion of the season
• Short-visit permit: $40 for 14 consecutive days, renewable during the season

Supplementary rules require proper permit display and outline additional standards related to spacing, quiet hours, and visitor conduct to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Get involved

Volunteering with the BLM offers meaningful opportunities to serve public lands, build community, and make a tangible difference. Seasonal roles, special projects, and leadership opportunities are available for new and returning volunteers.

This year, as part of the Freedom 250 celebration of the anniversary of American Independence, volunteers who give 250 hours of volunteer service and track their hours through Volunteer.gov are eligible to receive a federal public lands year‑long recreation entry pass. Contact us on Volunteer.gov or at the Yuma Field Office directly at 928-317-3250 or [email protected].