AL MORRISSETTE Special to the Daily Press

March 21, 2008 - 12:05PM

I attended the ground breaking ceremony of the El Mirage Recreation Area Visitor Center on March 12.

Wow! That name is a mouthful, but the design, time and effort of the facility is worth it.
Several people spoke before the actual golden-shovel soil-turning.

Bureau of Land Management Barstow Field Manager Roxie Trost was the first to speak.

She explained how they got the grant funding for the project, which is $1 million from Green Sticker revenues, $1 million from a BLM grant and an $800,000 deficit that needs to be resolved.

BLM Desert District Manager Steve Borchard gave an overview of the project and how the visitor center will enhance the OHV and wilderness area by providing a historical background and current information.

Daphne Greene, deputy director for the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, brought into perspective how the Green Sticker program is in partnership with the El Mirage OHV Area, though the area is under the jurisdiction of the BLM.

Creating the most active hands-on partnership is the Friends of El Mirage, whose spokesperson Ed Waldheim took little time in approaching the next speaker, Brad Mitzelfelt, for funds to help reduce the $800,000 deficit.

Waldheim chairs the organization which is a coalition of federal, state and county agencies.

In the late 1970s, Waldheim, Jim Livermore and Paul Davis created the organization to keep the area open to outdoor recreation, conservation and preservation.

Borchard gave Waldheim a “thank you” gift from the BLM, which consisted of an architect rendering of the visitors center on a wooden display box.

Dearly missed at this event was Paul Davis, who is probably the biggest advocate of the community and dry lake. But Paul is suffering from arthritis to the point he needed to stay home.

In conclusion, San Bernardino 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt gave insight how the county is working with the BLM by providing “fee free” disposal sites for the BLM to deposit rubbish and other materials. They are also working on tortoise habitats and other conservation activities.

Through the county’s Filming and Photography Division, El Mirage has been the background and location for several movies and videos. In 2007, 113 movie permits were issued. So far in 2008, they have had 17 issued.

The modern facility is located overlooking the dry lake. It will also feature an observation deck for views of the surrounding mountains.
The construction was contracted to Maxfour Engineering. Maxfour has designed the facility.

Construction is to start this week, with expectations that completion would be in September.

During the refreshment period after the ground breaking ceremony, Trost did confirm that the BLM will start charging a fee for a recreational permit starting on Oct. 1.

The fee will be $15 day permit, $30 weekly permit or $90 annual permit. The fees will be designated for maintenance of the 24,000-acre El Mirage Recreation Area.

Now, for readers that are wondering “what else is in El Mirage?”

I will write about that next time
 

Terry Work

CORVA - California Off Road Vehicle Association

Vice President Sales & Marketing

Phone:1-800-42-corva box 513 - 1-661-722-3310 (home)
E-mail: terry@corva.org or tpwork@yahoo.com

www.corva.org