D.C. delegates get update on dunes By ERIC GALVAN, Staff Writer
Monday, January 28, 2008 10:17 PM PST
JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO
FROM RIGHT: U.S. Dept. of the Interior District Manager Steven Borchard, Bureau of Land Management Director James Caswell, BLM Director of Law Enforcement and Security William Woody of Interior, BLM Special Agent-in-Charge Troy Bolen and USDI Assistant Secretary Steve Allred listen to a presentation by American Sand Association president Bob Mason during the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area partnership briefing at Duner’s Diner on Interstate 8 and Gordons Well on Monday.
For United Desert Gateway president Nicole Gilles, Monday was a “monumental day” for those involved with the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
“To have such a tremendous delegation that would not normally be here, it’s extremely helpful in what we’re doing,” Gilles said while speaking at Duner’s Diner off Gordons Well on Monday.
The delegation included United States Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary Stephen Allred who was in for the day as UDG showed off what it has accomplished in the dunes.
In 2004, UDG was formed as the Brawley, El Centro and Yuma chambers of commerce teamed with the Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District in an assistance agreement.
UDG has also partnered with the American Sand Association. Total, through UDG’s partnerships, more than $800,000 has been raised in economic support.
“Much of what we do would be impossible without United Desert Gateway,” Allred said. “Solutions aren’t always just the government.
“If you don’t have those partnerships, you wouldn’t have the economic impact,” Allred said. “Without these partnerships we would have a more difficult time with everything.”
Joining Allred at UDG’s presentation were BLM director James Caswell and BLM deputy director Henri Bisson.
Also in attendance were BLM director of law enforcement and security William Woody, BLM director of the California State Office Mike Pool and BLM’s California special agent in charge Troy Bolen.
“When you have people listening and you have people from BLM talking with those at the Department of the Interior, it’s extremely helpful as far as what we’re doing,” Gilles said.
Economically, with as many as 300,000 visitors to the sand dunes area, as much as $300 million is put back into surrounding cities.
UDG estimated Brawley can get upward of $128.3 million put back into its economy annually from off-road enthusiasts traveling to the sand dunes area.
El Centro can get as much as $83.4 million, Yuma can get as much as $73.8 million and Blythe can get as much as $28.9 million.
Bob Mason, president of the American Sand Association, pointed to UDG’s partnerships as key.
“Without them, we would not have made the progress we’ve made as far as public safety and resources,” Mason said.
He agreed having the ear of officials from Washington D.C. was more beneficial to the cause.
“It’s very important to show them that this is a community-wide effort,” Mason said. “And it was good to communicate that at the D.C. level.”
" Henri Bisson? Was he not the BLM Desert District Manager that didn't do his job correctly which allowed the Center for Biological Diversity to be successful in their lawsuit back in 2000?
Not a man I'd trust with our future at the ISDRA. "
sanduners wrote on Jan 31, 2008 11:05 AM:
" If you go to the dunes to recreate, please join the American Sand Association - its Free.
www.asasand.org "
cinoreah wrote on Jan 29, 2008 12:40 PM:
" doejoemoe...Obviously 3 of the 5 are wishing they were somewhere else. They could care less by their demeanor as pictured. "
doejoemoe wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:50 AM:
" In that picture, why are the buerocrats (BLM & Interior guy) not laughing. They need to relax a little. "
doejoemoe wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:46 AM:
" Yes they are, whoever sels the most girl scout cookies gets a cushy seat. "
polo87 wrote on Jan 29, 2008 9:45 AM:
" It was about time......The green waver always want to close and never give a any thoughts to the economy of the valley. "
sofieheber wrote on Jan 29, 2008 8:37 AM:
" What a diverse group of delegates! Are these Brownie-like appointees? "
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apd wrote on Feb 1, 2008 5:36 PM:
Not a man I'd trust with our future at the ISDRA. "