For Release: January 18, 2006
Contact: Doran Sanchez (951) 697-5220; E-mail: Doran_Sanchez@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-06-24

BLM Publishes Decision on Palo Verde Land Exchange

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published a notice of availability (NOA) of a decision to exchange approximately 2,000 acres of public lands in eastern Riverside and Imperial counties in and around Palo Verde Valley and Mesa for more than 29,500 acres of private inholdings in Imperial and San Bernardino counties within wilderness areas and other environmentally significant areas. The publication initiates an official 45-day public protest period.

Desert District Manager Steve Borchard said the exchange culminates more than nine years of effort between BLM and the Catellus Development Corporation (and the successor in interest, Eugene and Marian Gabrych and Empire Communities of Fallbrook, Calif.) to exchange public lands near the Colorado River with agricultural development potential for 37 parcels of private lands, all inholdings or adjoining federal wilderness, wildlife refuges, or other special areas.

"This exchange brings into public ownership lands with outstanding natural values and consolidates ownership within existing federal units for more efficient management. The lands leaving public ownership fully meet all criteria necessary for transfer, as they are isolated tracts and unmanageable from a public use perspective, while offering significant potential for local development," Borchard said.

The lands to come into public ownership include lands within the Indian Pass and Palo Verde Wilderness Areas in Imperial County and the Cleghorn, Newberry Mountains, Rodman Mountains, and Trilobite Wilderness Areas in San Bernardino County, all administered by BLM. Also to come into federal ownership as part of the exchange are lands adjacent to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, and the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge in Imperial County administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as lands in Gilmore's Camp, upstream from Draper Wash and Draper Lake, and desert tortoise habitat, all in Imperial County. The public lands to be conveyed to the private interests are all administered by BLM and identified as no longer needed in federal ownership.

As required by BLM regulations, the NOA is being published in local newspapers of record as a legal notice. A copy of the NOA is posted on BLM's website at www.ca.blm.gov/cdd or may be obtained by contacting the BLM at (951) 697-5390, or at the Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, Calif. Borchard said written protests must be submitted to the same address to his attention no later than March 4, 2006.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office - 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California - (951) 697-5220