EL CENTRO, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on a proposal to adjust recreation permit fees at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) to continue to provide essential services, increase customer service, and enhance recreation opportunities and experiences for public land visitors.

Recreation permit fees are an important revenue source for Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area’s continued operation, management and maintenance.

“Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is one of the busiest recreation areas in the state and these proposed fees will help the BLM continue to provide safe and enjoyable recreation opportunities and experiences for visitors,” said Matt Lohr, El Centro Field Manager. “The fee structure for ISDRA permits has not been adjusted to cover increasing operating and maintenance costs and reflect market conditions since 2013.”

The proposal considers increasing recreation permit fees for primary vehicles – the street-legal vehicles used for transportation to ISDRA. The need for the proposed fees were determined through fair market analysis, historical revenue, and operating costs. The proposed recreation permit fees would be $55 for off-site weekly permits, $70 for on-site weekly permits, and $185 for season permits, effective Oct. 1, 2025. 

Revenue from recreation fees support off-highway vehicle grants for Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue, law enforcement; trash collection and removal; facilities maintenance of ranger stations; vault toilets; sand removal from access roads; camping pads; and other services. All recreation fees collected at sites are reinvested directly back into the local recreation program to expand and improve recreational opportunities as authorized by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004.

The proposed El Centro Draft Recreation Site Business Plan outlining existing and proposed recreation permit fee changes and operation and maintenance costs, is available for public comment for 30 days. Submit public comments by Nov. 25, via mail to the BLM El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243 or via email at BLM_CA_web_EC@blm.gov.

The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is one of the most popular off-highway vehicle areas in the United States, attracting the highest concentration of visitors of any BLM recreation area nationwide with more than 1.2 million visitors each year.

EL CENTRO, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management is looking for enthusiastic individuals to reside and work as volunteer campground hosts at two locations in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA).

Join our team as a volunteer camp host and make a positive impact on the community, while immersing yourself in one of California’s most extraordinary landscapes. In this role, you will engage with visitors from all walks of life and help support the BLM’s multiple-use mission.

Located in the eastern Imperial Valley, ISDRA is accessible from Highway 78 in the Glamis area and off Interstate 8 at the Grays Well Road exit. On average, ISDRA receives approximately 1.2 million visitors each year with the majority of visitation occurring between mid October and mid April, which is considered the high use season. ISDRA campground hosts will stay on site during the high use season to serve as public contacts. They also provide assistance when the ranger stations are closed.

The BLM needs a camp host at Glamis on Gecko Road Pad 1, where they can dry camp without hookups for water or electricity. Another available camp host site is adjacent to Buttercup Ranger Station, which offers full hookups for water, electricity, and sewer dump. Inside Buttercup Ranger Station there is a washer and dryer available for use by the camp host.

Interested individuals can fill one of the volunteer camp host positions during the high use season, starting in mid October and lasting through mid April. At both locations the hosts live on site in their self-contained recreational vehicles. The BLM provides camp hosts with a minimum monthly reimbursement of $250 to cover living expenses. The hosts greet visitors and provide information on recreation in ISDRA, including where to purchase permits and rules and regulations for the area. Camp hosts also complete light maintenance at campgrounds and day use areas. Your local knowledge will help visitors navigate the area, recreate safely and enjoy their adventures.

Those interested in the volunteer campground host position should contact the BLM El Centro Field Office, 760-337-4400, or email Roger Rubio at r1rubio@blm.gov.

Learn more about Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area including rules and regulations for the area.