BLM - El Centro Field Office
These comments mainly pertain to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA). The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) Ground Operations grant provides needed services for the recreation area. This service provide a safe recreation experience by keeping the access to the ISDRA open, provide clean restrooms and provides trash collection services. This recreation area is located in the sand dunes and the natural movement of the sand can create access issues if the roads and camping areas are blocked by sand. This can prohibit access for emergency vehicles and prohibit visitor access. This grant provides some of the resources to allow for the removal of the sand from the roads and camping areas to ensure a safe environment for the visitors and the BLM staff. One question I would ask associated with this grant request is why the hourly rate for skilled and non-skilled Seasonal Maintenance Worker’s is the same. It would seem that a skilled worker should command an hourly rate above a non-skilled worker. Richard Holliday - 3/28/17
The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) north dunes ranger station (Cahuilla) is over 37 years old and needs to be updated. A new ranger station was installed a few years ago in the south dunes at Buttercup to provide visitor services in this area. In order to secure additional funding for the upgrade of the Cahuilla facility engineering needs to be completed. This grant request will support the engineering and design so that when additional funds become available this project can be completed. This ranger station provides services to thousands of visitors over the course of the recreation season and provides a safe and secure working location for the BLM employees. I support this planning grant to provide the required design of this important visitor services facility. Richard Holliday - 3/28/17
These comments mainly pertain to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA). The El Centro Safety grant provides seasonal park rangers that provide EMT and other safety services to the ISDRA recreation visitors. The seasonal park rangers provide a host of services for the visitors. These park rangers must have training in many areas to provide a safe environment for the recreation visitors. Richard Holliday - 3/28/17
Support this grant. Comments: Question 6 - add Applicant had meetings with multiple stakeholders as discussed in discription. Question 14- Add Tracking, Add other: Towing certification, EMT/First Responder, search and Rescue. Question 15- Only one can be selected. Jane Arteaga - 4/3/17
I would like to comment on the BLM El Centro office State Park grants on behalf of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association. The grant for Ground Operations needs to be funded to manage high use areas the office manages. I am curious why the rate for a skilled and unskilled Seasonal Maintenance Worker are paid the same amount. In the law enforcement grant you mention you are partners with the American Desert Foundation. I find this odd, as I understand that organization is out of business. I am curious where the radar units will be placed that are being requested. I love the idea of officers wearing cameras. I am not sure how the grant is written, as it says quantity one for $3000, yet in the text it says they cost $599 each. I figure you really want 5 cameras. I like the idea of a toy hauler to set up remote outposts, like at Superstion or Plaster City during busy times. I am not sure about the cost of the computers. The Dell Latitude E6420 XFR is no longer available according to the Dell website and used/refurbished ones cost well under $1000. Far less that the $8250 in the grant. Other than these minor points, this grant is important to maintain law and order in these busy OHV areas and should be funded as fully as possible. The planning grant is very important, as it is going to begin the process of replacing the existing Cahuilla Ranger station. The Cahuill Station is constructed of very old trailers fashioned together and is makeshift at best. This station services the northern part of the Imperial Sand Dune Recreation Area, an area which gets about 2/3 to 3/4 of all the visits the dunes receives. By all the visits means 700,000 to 800,000 vistits per season. A huge number for any area. Having a quality structure will allow the BLM to service their visitors much better. The safety grant is a very reasonable request given the high number of visitors and healthy match. This grant should be funded as fully as possible. Ed Stovin - 3/29/17