Proposed Ordinance Change Threatens Rural Neighborhoods http://desertvalleystar.com/article.php?a=628by desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Jobe, If the fines do not impress the OB campers, perhaps an appeal to thier better nature will. Prohibition of camping near water sources is not arbitrary. This being desert, wildlife depend upon access to the water during the night. It's a matter of life and death for them.by desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I read the story. I posted my inquiry to the readership of this group in order to obtain other perpectives. If anybody has any other insights into the matter, I remain interested in hearing them.by desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Any ideas as to why the meeting was postponed?by desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Jobe, Nice image - definitely a Gopher Snake. They get big out here in the desert! Harmless, non - venomous, and not aggressive unless you pester it or try to pick it up. They may bite if you try to handle them; the biggest risk from this is infection. One of a Gopher Snake's defense strategies is to hiss and shake their tail rapidly in dry grass or leaves to try to convince you that they aby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Ordinance 3973 is constitutional, and consistent with state and federal law. SBCO Code Enforcement officer Hugh Oram patiently explained that to Ken and other readers at the DUSA message board a few weeks ago. SBCO Head of Code Enforcement also explained this yesterday for the attendees of the Ordinance 3973 hearing in San Bernardino. An old adage comes to mind that goes something to the effect oby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Not that I'm aware of. Some were used (older) when I acquired them. I think life expectancy on PV panels varies with type and the kind of service environment they are installed in. Based on my experience, 20 years is an overly conservative estimate for life expectancy. I can't rule out the possibility that there has been some degradation in power output with age, but if so it has not been noticeaby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi OMG, It can be done if you really want to. I've been running my residence on solar electric (PV) for nearly 20 years now, and I'm not wealthy by any stretch of imagination - it was just that important to me. I did it one or two panels at a time, building my household PV array incrementally over several years. I definitely agree with your initial premise; there really should be solar on eachby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Here's something else from the Des USA board folks in the Juniper Flats area might find of interest. http://www.desertusa.com/cgi-bin/mb/message.cgi?view=forum4&thread=84544.msg Allen July 1, 2007 3:25 P.M. .... I ride when and where I want with no regard for the Hesperia Ordinance or the County's. Matter of fact, I just went on a ride with Ty Davis a few days ago. We rode up into the Junipby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Allen is making an excellent case for why Ordinance 3973 needs to be kept intact and unchanged. For more information on how you can help protect Ordinance 3973 and your quality of life, visit http://www.orvwatch.com.by desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Paul, The big concern here is that a small but vocal group of riders is working diligently to overthrow or weaken the ordinance, and if they succeed we could loose the protection we are currently afforded by ordinance 3973! There is a lot of scary misinformation circulating about the ordinance, and this activist riding group is monopolizing on rider fears to turn out large numbers at the upby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT * ACTION ALERT San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to will meet on Tuesday, July 24 to consider changes that would weaken the county ORV ordinance Rider's groups successfully lobbied the board to take up the matter and have recommended changes that will allow for large, uncontrolled stagings of ORVs in residential areas IF YOU VALUEby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Celtfire, How close is the location where the graffiti is to the nearest road? There's a class of "wheelbarrow" type portable compressors that could be wheeled in to the site on a trail if the going is not to steep or arduous, and providing the distance isn't great. Markby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Wizard, Sand blasting is probably going to be the most effective way to remove that paint. I have no idea where the kind of fools who commit such acts come from. Sometimes I think they air drop them into the desert at night when we aren't looking! ;-) Markby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Yep - you've got to watch for 'em. Years back, I darn near sat on a scorpion while skinny dipping in a pool in the Santa Ynez Mountains. Pays to check your towel twice before parking your butt when swimming in the back country! ;-) Desert Dudeby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Leave the snake alone and it will leave you alone. Desert Dudeby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I've been hearing that "we need more funding" refrain from the San Bernardino Co. SO for so many years it just makes me roll my eyes! ;-) That's not to say that there isn't some merit to thier refrain; there is. As citizens, we need to get behind local law enforcement when they apply for grants such as those provided by the state OHV Moter Rec. Division. They look closely at the amounby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Jobe, I believe that the blame for this endless deja-vu of litigation challenging every BLM Planning decision can be laid squarely on the door step of the BLM and the administrative policy wonks that pull thier strings. The WEMO plan was formulated in direct violation of myriad existing federal laws and policies, including NEPA, Presidential Executive Orders, and Endangered species legislation. Bby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Wizard, I checked out the website. It loaded reeaall slloowwww on my old Mac Laptop, but I was able to open and view it. Purge your browser's cache, restart, and try again. If that doesn't get you in to the site, it may be that your computer (or software) is not quite compatable with the site. Keep up the good work on your SC series; your posts are thought provoking and I look forward to themby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Chuckawallas are pretty cool lizards. The elevation where I live is too low for them, but perfect for desert iguanas. I've derived a lot of entertainment watching them do thier little territorial routines on a hot day. One will intrude on another iguana's space. Next, a "Pushup" contest ensues, followed inevitably by a mad dash as the interloper is chased off. The funniest part is thatby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Wizard, It is indeed a Gecko - a Banded Gecko, I think. They are found throughout the Mojave Desert, even out my way near 29 Palms. Geckos are nocturnal creatures, and the only North American lizard I know of that has a voice. Geckos will "squeak" during territorial scuffles with other geckoes, or when they are terrified. It does look like he had a recent close call with some predatorby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Wizard, My sympathies regarding your nieghbors! Having been "blessed" with nieghbors with similar notions out where I live, I know what you are experiencing - and it ain't pretty, especially if you moved moved to a rural venue to enjoy the peace, quiet, and clean air. The San Bernardino County ORV Ordinance doesn't take effect until July First, so you will need to look to other remby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the assistance, Mojave. I managed to obtain a PDF copy of the WEMO ROD today. As I expected, they totally ignored my community's concerns. I am glad to see though, that the Juniper Flats area got some concessions. desertdudeby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hi Laughing Bear, We have a few "WEMO related issues" out in my neck of the woods, too. I've been searching the Federal Register for the WEMO ROD since I saw your post, but no luck so far. Would you mind posting a link to it? Thanks for the assist. BTW, you folks have a great web site here. desertdudeby desertdude - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California