The tree huggers are at it again:

DESERT: Off-road advocates argue such a move could lead to riding limits at Dumont Dunes.

10:00 PM PDT on Monday, April 10, 2006
By JENNIFER BOWLES
The Press-Enterprise

An environmental group on Monday filed a petition with the federal government seeking endangered or threatened status for a desert-dwelling lizard, saying off-roading in wind-sculpted dunes of remote San Bernardino County is leading to the reptile's demise.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service generally takes 90 days to decide if such petitions warrant further review, said Al Donner, an agency spokesman in Sacramento.

If that's the case, Donner said, it could take another few years to determine if the Mojave fringe-toed lizard should be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Off-roaders were concerned that another protected species in the desert could lead to riding limits at Dumont Dunes, much like a threatened plant has done at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area near the Mexican border.

"With the amount of closures in the last 10 to 15 years in the desert, we feel strongly that each additional closure needs to be done in a legal and proper way," said Fred Wiley, executive director for the Off-Road Business Association, which has an office in Temecula.

Each year, some 140,000 visitors go to the 10,500-acre Dumont Dunes, said Doran Sanchez, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which operates the dunes.

The petition for the seven-inch, black-flecked lizard is focused on a specific population of the reptile that lives around the Amargosa River, which meanders through Inyo and San Bernardino counties. The lizard also lives in other parts of Southern California and Arizona.

Daniel Patterson, desert ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, which submitted the petition, said the dunes are unique habitat islands and therefore typically harbor scores of rare and native wildlife.

"They're just being hammered by off-roading," he said. "We're hoping to provide protection before they get closer to extinction."

IF THIS KEEPS UP THERE WILL BE NO MORES PLACES TO RIDE!
We all need to band together to stop this!

 

Preety bad when people get this boerd and have to think of stuff to ruin it all. Lizard out in the middle of the dunes. I would like to see some people park on the road and go intot he dunes walking to find a little lizard:\. Just another way they can shut down our dunes. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

California also would lose alot of money if they keep shutting these places down. Less people = less money. Since the nature of kind is greedy. I think that is the only thing with us. Little lizards.... or..... the big stack of green bills? I'd prefer the money. =p my 2 cents!

 

Man I hate those bastards!!!

 

Ive never even been to the dumont dunes and if they get there way it sounds like I may never get to go this blows f*****g tree hugers need to be stoped.

 

One word...ECOLOGY. If you don't understand it, please take the time to research the topic, it's very interesting [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Although I do disagree with taking away our riding areas, I do think there has to be some sort of protection for the ecosystem. We are dealing with closures in the Oregon dunes also because of the Snowy Plover losing its habitat, but I believe there is a way to help protect the bird and still give us more than enough room to continue to enjoy riding in the dunes. I think the same can be done with the lizard in Dumont and I don't think you have to worry about your area getting closed off too much. Mainly because of what Kharper said "Less people = less money. Since the nature of kind is greedy. I think that is the only thing with us." [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]