USACE PHOTO BY BROOKS O. HUBBARD IV

SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION

USACE Los Angeles District park ranger Mary Carmona secures the gate at the Deep Creek Road entrance May 17, 2020. Vandals have continually cut the locks and removed the chains that secure the gate at several of the USACE Mojave River Dam basin entrances in San Bernardino County. The area, also known as the “Deep Creek Spillway,” is located on federal property and is restricted to authorized motor vehicles and personnel.

district that we know of that has this responsibility. We have had to adapt our nationwide program, that focuses heavily on rural settings, to an urban setting.” The district developed its first Ranger program in fall 2018, staffing six full-time rangers who target four natural resource management areas: recreation management, resource management (environmental stewardship), visitor assistance, and interpretation. Rangers also support the district’s flood risk management mission.

“First, this is a brand-new program that is being implemented within one of the highest-populated areas of the nation,” said Robert Moreno, a senior park ranger with the Los Angeles District. “We are building the program from [the] ground up in an area that has dry basins and leased recreation areas. Our mission is the same as other programs across the nation in that we care about our natural resources and indirectly manage our leased resources.” The Ranger program is managed by the district’s Operations Division. The division is responsible for the operation and 95