Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreational Area Dust Control Plan
The Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is the largest SVRA operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and is very popular with visitors in the cooler months of the year, usually late October to mid-April. Historically, the SVRA has attracted up to 1.3 million annual visitors, primarily on weekends and holidays. Recent trends indicate about 600,000 annual visitors. The main uses of the park are open riding and camping. The SVRA also hosts special events, such as rides or drives, celebrity rider promotional events, church events, weddings, filmmaking, military training, corporate vehicle testing, geocaching, and charity “treasure” hunts. Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) Rule 800 requires a dust control plan (DCP) for operations capable of generating fugitive dust (PM-10) from anthropogenic (man-made) sources. Thus, the DPR was required to prepare a DCP.
UltraSystems, as a subcontractor to Tetra Tech, Inc., was responsible for preparing the DCP. As required by Rule 800, the plan contains inventories of paved and unpaved roads, open areas and restricted use areas in the SVRA. It also identifies roads and areas that have priority for emission controls, and specifies control measures. The plan was approved by the ICAPCD and is currently under review by the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
