For Release: June 26, 2006
Contact: Doran Sanchez (951) 697-5220; Steve Razo (951-697-5217)
CA-CDD-06-79

Palo Verde Land Exchange Completed

On behalf of the United States public, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has taken title to more than 29,500 acres of private inholdings within wilderness areas in Imperial and San Bernardino counties in exchange for approximately 2,000 acres of public lands in eastern Riverside and Imperial counties.

Desert District Manager Steve Borchard said the exchange culminates more than nine years of effort between BLM and the Catellus Development Corporation and its successor in interest, a San Diego investor, 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 are 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, and lands in Gilmore's Camp, upstream from Draper Wash and Draper Lake, and desert tortoise habitat, all in Imperial County. The public lands conveyed to the private interests are all administered by BLM and identified for as no longer needed in federal ownership.

-BLM-

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