Big Elmer
08-09-2002, 12:36 PM
Plan calls for haven for tortoises
ENVIRONMENT: It would make two off-roading spots in the area off-limits to most humans.
08/03/2002
By JENNIFER BOWLES
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
A federal agency wants to close two off-roading areas and create desert-tortoise havens as part of a management plan for 5.5 million acres of public land in eastern Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties.
The plan, called the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Plan because of the region it encompasses, was released to the public Friday by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, said Dick Crowe, the agency's head planner.
The public has until Sept. 3 to raise any objections before the agency makes the plan final, Crowe said.
The plan, developed over eight years, covers much of the eastern half of Riverside County and large chunks of Imperial and eastern San Bernardino counties. It is the first of several regional strategies aimed at balancing the needs of desert tortoises and other rare species and the interests of recreationists, environmentalists, miners, ranchers and other users.
Accommodating such diverse needs is difficult, and the plan has drawn criticism.
The BLM wants to close 5 percent of the area's dirt roads and close Ford Dry Lake and Rice Dunes. The dry lake and dunes are seldom used for recreation, but the planned closures were criticized by off-roaders who have seen some desert playgrounds placed off-limits.
"We lose either way, because it's being used too much or the areas aren't being used enough," said Vicki Warren of Corona, a spokeswoman for the American Sand Association, a nonprofit riding club.
Crowe said the sparse use of the off-road areas gave the agency a chance to preserve the unique habitats -- dunes and a playa -- and the species that use them.
The BLM also will create two wildlife management areas, nearly 1.7 million acres in all, as havens for the tortoise, Crowe said. Human intervention would be limited, he said.
However, environmentalists have been saying that vehicles will be allowed to drive through washes, key foraging areas for the tortoise.
"They will allow people to drive up and down the washes as they please. That's unacceptable," said Michael Connor, executive director of the Riverside-based Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee.
Reach Jennifer Bowles at (909) 368-9548 or jbowles@pe.com
HOW TO COMMENT
People have until Sept. 3 to object to the plan for desert land in southeastern California.
Send letters to:
U. S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau of Land Management (210)
Attn: Brenda Williams
Box 66538
Washington, D. C. 20240
See the plan at www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/neco.htm or call Dick Crowe at (909) 697-5216.
:eek: :eek:
ENVIRONMENT: It would make two off-roading spots in the area off-limits to most humans.
08/03/2002
By JENNIFER BOWLES
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
A federal agency wants to close two off-roading areas and create desert-tortoise havens as part of a management plan for 5.5 million acres of public land in eastern Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial counties.
The plan, called the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Plan because of the region it encompasses, was released to the public Friday by the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, said Dick Crowe, the agency's head planner.
The public has until Sept. 3 to raise any objections before the agency makes the plan final, Crowe said.
The plan, developed over eight years, covers much of the eastern half of Riverside County and large chunks of Imperial and eastern San Bernardino counties. It is the first of several regional strategies aimed at balancing the needs of desert tortoises and other rare species and the interests of recreationists, environmentalists, miners, ranchers and other users.
Accommodating such diverse needs is difficult, and the plan has drawn criticism.
The BLM wants to close 5 percent of the area's dirt roads and close Ford Dry Lake and Rice Dunes. The dry lake and dunes are seldom used for recreation, but the planned closures were criticized by off-roaders who have seen some desert playgrounds placed off-limits.
"We lose either way, because it's being used too much or the areas aren't being used enough," said Vicki Warren of Corona, a spokeswoman for the American Sand Association, a nonprofit riding club.
Crowe said the sparse use of the off-road areas gave the agency a chance to preserve the unique habitats -- dunes and a playa -- and the species that use them.
The BLM also will create two wildlife management areas, nearly 1.7 million acres in all, as havens for the tortoise, Crowe said. Human intervention would be limited, he said.
However, environmentalists have been saying that vehicles will be allowed to drive through washes, key foraging areas for the tortoise.
"They will allow people to drive up and down the washes as they please. That's unacceptable," said Michael Connor, executive director of the Riverside-based Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee.
Reach Jennifer Bowles at (909) 368-9548 or jbowles@pe.com
HOW TO COMMENT
People have until Sept. 3 to object to the plan for desert land in southeastern California.
Send letters to:
U. S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau of Land Management (210)
Attn: Brenda Williams
Box 66538
Washington, D. C. 20240
See the plan at www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/neco.htm or call Dick Crowe at (909) 697-5216.
:eek: :eek: