INDIVIDUAL: Agent Aqua and company
GROUP SIZE: Thousands
NATURE OF GROUP: Off-road vehicle (ORV) riders
INCIDENCE OF SOCIOMETRY: A Functional plain grey steel (American grade-school-style) drinking fountain was installed in the middle of miles of 300-foot high dunes frequented by ORV riders, or “duners”.

Algodones sand dunes, better known as Glamis, are an area of 118,000 + acres of BLM land, three hours east of San Diego. The Dunes were once a bombing range, and are now a movie backdrop, travel route for immigrants, and a playground for duners. Summer temperatures reach 120 degrees (f) during the day and may not go below 100 at night. The need for a water fountain was obvious.

The fountain was solitary in the dunes for several months, during which time is agents made regular visits to the site to check water levels and battery status. On-board sound- activated tape recorders noted only passing aircraft, thunderstorms, and coyotes.

Early contact with the fountain was by ORV riders who later reported seeing the metallic reflection in the distance. They investigated, concerned that the immobile metal object was a broken-down ORV, a potentially lethal problem on the exposed dunes.

Subsequently the location of the fountain was noted by duners via Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates and posted on several websites: http://www.off-road.com/dunes/xfiles/fountain.html

Traffic to the fountain increased as more and more people heard the rumors. Eventually the fountain became an impromptu meeting place.

is agents encountered such a gathering during a routine maintenance visit on Easter weekend. Carrying six gallons of purified water and a deep-cycle marine battery on their backs, they were met by dozens of duners who asked, “Where are your bikes?” Concerned with the quality of the water, many did not drink, but did fill their helmets for a refreshing cool-off in the 100 degree + heat.

Subsequent visitors to the dunes frequently rode to the fountain to meet up and shoot group photos, which were then posted on the internet. Many personalized the fountain with graffiti or left notes stating the dates and times of their visit. Visitors to Glamis, Thanksgiving, 1997 were estimated at more than 34,000.

Maintenance crews of is agents went regularly to the fountain over a two-year period. Despite months of testing regarding the extent of shifting sand levels, is agents arrived at the fountain site on one such trip and were unable to locate the structure. After some months an is agent noticed a glint of the hooded bubbler - the only part of the fountain that remained above sand level. The fountain was then excavated to its former level and immediately restored to service.

After two years, is agents removed the fountain and all other evidence of the structure.