COMMISSION

Many of the restoration sites have had great success with only a few intrusions into the
closed areas. Some of the sites in heavier use areas require additional monitoring, and on
occasion, staff will reinforce sections that have been redisturbed.
Dust Study
In 2014, Ocotillo Wells SVRA hired a consultant to develop a pilot treatment and testing
program for various dust control treatments and to measure their effectiveness. Various
treatments included dust palliatives, wind barriers, and signage on selected park roads
and trails.
Monitors used during the project to collect fugitive dust data relative to the treatment
processes included the truck-mounted TRAKER III (Testing Re-entrained Aerosol Kinetic
Emissions from Roads) and several stationary monitoring towers. The TRAKER III
measures the mass concentration of the dust plume at the rear of the vehicle created by
its travel over unpaved surfaces. The stationary towers measure wind speed and direction,
temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and particulate matter number
concentrations.
A consultant report to Ocotillo Wells District will provide a full summary of the activities
conducted and data collected during the study as well as an evaluation of the effectiveness
and efficiency of both individual dust control practices and combinations of practices. The
report will also provide recommendations for future dust control applications to help Ocotillo
Wells District comply with the Imperial Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Rule 800
mandate for regulating fugitive dust within the park boundaries. Rule 800 provides general
requirements for control of fine particulate matter, most prominently the level of PM10
particulates. PM10, or Particulate Matter 10, is the concentration level of fine particles of
dust with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than, or equal to, 10 microns.
Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Consideration for Listing
On February 12, 2015, the California Fish and Game
Commission accepted a petition for the flat-tailed horned
lizard (FTHL) to be considered as a candidate species
for endangered status in the State of California. The
candidacy period will last one year, until the Fish and
Game Commission makes a final decision on the status
in December of 2016. As CDFW collects data and
information on the candidate FTHL, Ocotillo Wells SVRA
Flat-tailed horned lizard
is working toward management solutions for the interim, as well preparing for possible
endangered status. A data collection period has been initiated and the park’s FTHL
2017 Program Report 153