Stewardship and smiles at Samoa Dunes: BLM California hosts National Public Lands Day event

More than thirty volunteers rolled up their sleeves to enhance the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area in northern California, a 300-acre visitor area where the public can enjoy many recreational activities, including hiking, surfing, fishing, sightseeing, beach combing, OHV riding, birdwatching, picnicking and kayaking.

Volunteers got busy painting crosswalks, picking up litter, installing new boundary signs along the beach, and placing a new interpretive panel in the OHV Rock Crawl Area. These improvements made an immediate impact-boosting safety, promoting stewardship, and enriching the visitor experience.

After a productive morning, the event shifted into high gear with a lively Poker Run. Riders navigated the dunes, collecting playing cards by completing rock crawl challenges and visiting educational booths focused on OHV safety, snowy plovers, and native coastal dune plants. Music, refreshments, and prizes for the best poker hands added to the festive atmosphere, giving volunteers a well-earned opportunity to enjoy the dunes they helped improve.

"This was a chance for people to practice stewardship and celebrate together in one of our area's most popular public lands sites," said Park Ranger Anna Arsic. "We couldn't have done it without our awesome partner, Emerald Triangle Off Road."