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DECEMBER 1, 2007: PLEASE SEE * FINAL UPDATE *
THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. UNTIL I GET A CHANCE TO REVISE IT, HERE'S THE LOWDOWN. THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL WAS SENT THIS MORNING (7/24/07): LIFE THREATENED BY LAWBREAKING ORVS IN BLM HALEY HILLS TO: Dan
Urquidez (AZ Game & Fish)
As
you know (if you read my most recent report), a desert tortoise (Gloria)
and burrow were recently located less than three feet from the north lane
of the east Vekol wash in the Haley Hills BLM land.
If any of you did not receive my report with the accompanying
photographs, you can see it in its entirety at http://www.judykennedy.com/haleyhillsreports/july102007.htm.)
Over
the weekend, we saw heavy illegal ORV activity in the Vekol wash and right
next to Gloria’s burrow. Here’s
a photo of some of these illegal tracks – several ORVs and a full size
vehicle, probably a truck:
Existing
laws prohibiting this activity should be enforced.
More protection has been provided to areas designated as critical
habitat, even with no known tortoise sighting.
But here we have a known living tortoise with a confirmed burrow
recently sighted -- a tortoise that could be a breeding female on top of
that. While the I
am asking that immediate measures by AZ Game & Fish and/or the BLM be
taken to protect Gloria. I
know that whatever measures are taken will be temporary until better
solutions to this problem are established.
I also know that your time and resources are limited but something
needs to be done now given the urgency of the situation and the immediate
risk to Gloria’s well-being. Ideally,
the 3 major access points to the east Vekol wash illegally used by motor
vehicles should be barricaded. We
know that these barriers will not prevent all ORVs from entering the area,
but it will discourage a great number of them, and therefore significantly
reduce the threat to Gloria, other wildlife, and this sensitive
xeroriparian ecosystem. Until
these entrances are blocked, the section of the north lane of the Vekol
wash next to Gloria’s burrow should be made completely impassable to
motor vehicles. I propose
installing T-posts at approximately 2 feet intervals across the lane in 2
rows -- 1 east and 1 west of the burrow location.
This will stop motor vehicles, but will not disrupt the flow of
flood water or wildlife activity in the wash.
As
you also know, I’m more than happy to continue assisting and
volunteering my time and resources towards these efforts if given the
green light from one of your agencies. This
is public land – my land and your land.
As public servants, it is your primary responsibility to respond
and act accordingly. If you
have other ideas concerning this issue or can recommend a more effective
plan of action, please let me know as soon as possible.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
I look forward to hearing from you very soon. For
Gloria and the Judy
Kennedy P.S.
Please watch the video Desert Tortoise in the Wild starring Gloria.
My website www.judykennedy.com is undergoing a major makeover and
will be principally dedicated to the -
- Rick Lint, District Ranger,
The
copy
to: Karen
Kelleher (BLM) the legal aspect of the Haley Hills / Gloria problem
Dear
Folks,
It was
just brought to my attention that there may be some confusion as to what
makes the ORV activity in the Vekol wash and other parts of the Haley
Hills "illegal."
Long
ago, I contacted the BLM regarding this, and received this answer
from one of its managers, Karen Kelleher:
There
is only one road on this BLM land and that is an old dirt road
previously used by a rancher that formerly leased the western half of
the parcel. It crosses the Vekol wash one time and continues north
a ways before it dead ends. ORVs use this road to gain access to
the area but they do not stay on it. The majority of ORV tracks
are found off the road and in the Vekol Wash.
I also
understand that in the state of Arizona, ORV traffic in dry washes is
legal except for Pima County which has an ordinance against it.
However, this portion of the Vekol Wash is on the BLM land with the
"limited" classification, and federal law supercedes state
law. In addition, there are signs posted right in the middle of
the wash by Arizona Game & Fish at the two entrances most used
by vehicles that clearly read "no motorized vehicles" and
"not a road." These signs are largely ignored.
While
I am not an attorney, this was the law when I last checked. If it
has changed since then or if anyone has any information to the contrary,
please feel free to let me know.
Thanks
again,
Judy
Kennedy
I'LL POST THE OUTCOME WHEN RECEIVED. MEANWHILE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK UP FOR GLORIA, PLEASE CONTACT THE BLM AT THIS ADDRESS:
Email comments may be sent to: THANKS! HERE'S MORE PHOTOS:
DESERT TORTOISE LINKS ON THE WAY...
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