WILD HORSES AND BURROS

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:25:03 -0700

Title: News.bytes, issue 439 - BLM California - 07/08/10

A publication of Bureau of Land Management in California

Issue 439 - 7/8/10

THIS WEEK IN NEWS.BYTES:

- Wild horses and burros

- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

- Not for educators only: Wildlife trivia question of the week

- Wildfires and prevention

- Renewable energy

- Employee profile

- Headlines and highlights 

- Selected upcoming events 

     Also see this issue of News.bytes online at:

      http://www.blm.gov/ca/news/newsbytes/2010/439.html

    WILD HORSES AND BURROS

          "BLM issues decision for Twin Peaks wild horse and burro gather" (BLM news release, 7/7/10)

          The Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle Lake Field Office today issued a   decision to remove excess wild horses and burros from the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area near Susanville, to protect range conditions and wild horses. “The current population of wild horses and burros in Twin Peaks is far above the number the range can handle,” said Northern California District Manager Nancy Haug. “Our horses are healthy and we want them to remain healthy. We must manage the population at appropriate levels to maintain a balance on the range.”

          http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/NC1083_twin_peaks_decision.html 

          "Proposed roundup of wild horses criticized" (Sacramento Bee, 7/5/10)

      "The 'gather,' as the roundup at the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area is called, is designed to ensure that 'excess' horses and burros are humanely removed to protect both the animals and the land, federal officials say. But, as has been the case with past roundups, the Twin Peaks plan is generating fervent opposition."

      http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/05/2869337/proposed-roundup-of-wild-horses.html 

      "Wild horses and burros available for adoption in Lakeside, CA" (BLM news release, 7/8/10)

      There will be 30 young animals available for adoption at the Pillsbury Ranch in Lakeside, Calif., on July 17-18. The 25 wild horses and ten burros were gathered from public lands in California and Nevada. They have been wormed and vaccinated, and are in excellent health. Potential adopters may view the mustangs and burros  1 - 6 p.m. Friday. 

      http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/NC1083_lakeside_adoption.html 

RELATED: "Radio announcement: BLM wild horse and burro adoption event July 17-18 in Lakeside" (BLM California)

"My horse, she’ s an  honest  horse. She is eager to try new things...." Hear from an adopter ... and plan on attending the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption at Pillsbury Ranch in Lakeview,  July 17 - 18. For more information  see the news release above or call 866-4MUSTANGS. The following is a 30-second .mp3  file:

        http://www.ca.blm.gov/5z4c 

        Wild horses and burros on Facebook!

        The Bureau of Land Management  invites you to visit our wild horse and burro program's new Facebook page.   If you have a mustang or burro that is doing great things, we would like to know about it and we would love to share it on Facebook.  We like stories with lots of pictures.  Please take a moment to check out our site and share it with all your friends!

        http://www.facebook.com/BLMWildHorseandBurro

        "Wild horse and burro program" (BLM California)

        http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html 

      ARRA      - BLM FUNDS UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009

      The project below was funded with part of approximately $40 million in ARRA funds appropriated to BLM-California.

    "ARRA funds used to remove safety hazard, increase habitat" (News.bytes Extra)

        A project on the Carrizo Plain National Monument has removed a public safety   hazard at an abandoned ranch while providing additional habitat for special   status species.

        http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsbytes/2010/439xtra_arra_selby.html 

    "BLM reopens access to Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark" (BLM news release, 7/6/10)

      Reconstruction of the access road and parking area began on June 12 with funding provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “This completed ARRA project provides the public with a smooth all-season paved road and replaces the former largely un-maintained gravel road,” states Raymond ‘Rusty’ Lee, BLM Needles Field Office manager.

    http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/CDD1082_amboy_reopen.html 

 NOT for EDUCATORS ONLY:  

    WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION of the WEEK: 

      What strategy does the Great Plains toad use to perpetuate the species?

    (a.)	Laying eggs in numerous rotting logs throughout its range – this increases the odds that not all will be found and eaten by predators.

(b.)	Laying eggs in wetlands all during the dry season – swarms of eggs are then activated over a wide area, during the first big rain.

(c.)	Laying up to 20,000 eggs – this increases the chance that some of that large number will survive.

(d.)	Giving birth to live tadpoles – this gives offspring the ability to evade predators immediately after birth.

(e.)	Extensive fallout shelters under abandoned housing projects in the Las Vegas area – giving them the opportunity to survive in style amid tourist memorabilia and Elvis decorations.

------> See answer  near the end of this issue of News.bytes. 

    WILDFIRES AND PREVENTION

        "Wheel comes off truck, likely sparks wildfire" (BakersfieldNow.com, 7/6/10)

        "For some inexplicable reason, the front wheel on the driver's side" of a rental truck "came off and went sailing across the oncoming lane of traffic and into the tinder of dry grass. A wildfire soon broke out, burning at least 30 acres." The Kern River Canyon was closed "for hours" as "between 50 to 100 firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management, Kern County   Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service" fought the fire.

        http://kernrivervalley.bakersfieldnow.com/content/wheel-comes-truck-likely-sparks-wildfire 

        "Ready for Action" (Lake County Record-Bee, 7/1/10)

The "Operation Get Ready" wildfire training exercise last weekend was "designed to prepare fire personnel for this year's potential fire danger ... [and] included the participation of all fire districts in the county" plus representatives of agencies including the Bureau of Land Management.

        http://www.record-bee.com/ci_15425957 

    "BLM announces emergency fire prevention closure for Whitewater Canyon in Riverside County" (BLM news release, 7/1/10)

    Approximately 4,234 acres of public lands are affected by the closure   order. A map and description is available on-line.

    http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/fireclos_whitwater.html 

    "Take Responsibility:     Living in the wildland urban interface" (California Fire Alliance)

Learn how you can create defensibly space! Includes links to a   tip   card, brochure, online video, signup for Twitter updates, and   more. 

http://takeresponsibility.cafirealliance.com/wildland.php

    RENEWABLE ENERGY 

          "Company hopes to harness Walker Ridge" (Colusa Sun-Herald, 7/6/10)

      "Walker Ridge in western Colusa County may be the home of a future wind farm. Calgary-based AltaGas hopes to embrace wind turbine technology in the Mendocino National Forest, and has proposed a wind park on land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, located on the border of Colusa and Lake counties."

    http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/news/wind-5044-hopes-colusa.html 

    "Renewable energy fast track projects" (BLM California)

    BLM-California   is working to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio through the   “fast-track” development of wind, solar, and transmission siting on   BLM-managed public lands within the state.  

    http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/energy/fasttrack.html 

    EMPLOYEE PROFILE: Lynnette Elser...

  ...provides guidance in the development of environmental documents for renewable energy   projects in the California Desert.  This is a fairly new assignment, but Lynnette has been doing environmental work in some aspect for most of   her career. 

      http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/employee_profiles/lynnette_elser.html 

    HEADLINES and HIGHLIGHTS

      "Feinstein's desert bill awaits debate in Senate committee" (Barstow Desert Dispatch, 7/5/10)

      "A senate bill that would turn about 940,000 acres along Route 66 east of Ludlow into a national monument is currently being scrutinized in the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In the meantime, more than 60 elected officials, cities and business leaders have given their endorsement to the California Desert Protection Act...."

      http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/senate-8799-bill-route.html 

      "Bill would limit monument efforts" (Sacramento Bee, 7/7/10)

      "Rep. Devin Nunes of Fresno has introduced a bill to limit the president's power to establish national monuments that he says would endanger the livelihoods of thousands of loggers, miners and farmers ... Nunes is reacting to information suggesting that the Obama administration plans to nominate new monuments or add to current monuments."

      http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/06/2873323/bill-would-limit-monument-efforts.html 

      "BLM wants no dogs on most hiking trails" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 7/5/10)

"Palm Desert amended it trail-use ordinance, legally prohibiting all but service dogs from most Palm Desert trails. The action was one in a series of changes the Bureau of Land Management wants to initiate, said Jim Foote, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument manager ... to preserve habitat that is home to a number of endangered and protected species, in particular the Peninsular bighorn sheep."

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100705/NEWS01/7050311/BLM-wants-no-dogs-on-most-hiking-trails

      "BLM Northwest Resource Advisory Council to meet in Redding" (BLM news release, 7/1/10)

      Members of the Bureau of Land Management’s Northwest California Resource   Advisory Council will discuss varied natural resource conservation   topics, when they meet Thursday and Friday, July 15 and 16.

      http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/NC1082_nw_rac_meeting.html 

      RELATED: "BLM seeking members for Northwest California Resource Advisory Council" (BLM news release, 7/1/10)

      Nominations are due by July 29.  Those who have already submitted   nominations in 2010 do not have to provide new nominations. Positions are open in three categories.

      http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/NC1082_nw_rac_members.html 

      "BLM announces second planning meeting for Kanaka Valley" (BLM news release, 7/8/10)

      Tonight: The Bureau of Land Management’s Mother Lode Field Office will hold a   public meeting July 8 in Rescue for the community-based management plan   of the Kanaka Valley area near the Pine Hill Preserve. The meeting will   run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rescue Community Center.

      http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2010/july/CC1085_kanaka_valley_meeting.html 

      "16K Pot Plants Eradicated In San Benito Co" (KSBW-TV Central Coast, 7/1/10)

"More than 16,000 marijuana plants were eradicated in San Benito County   on Thursday, the first day of outdoor marijuana season." Agencies including the BLM conducted the raid.

      http://www.ksbw.com/news/24114779/detail.html 

      RELATED: "Pot farms, meth labs target of bill" (Modesto Bee, 7/1/10)

"Amid fears that public lands have become riddled by illicit drug plots, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, wrote a bill to impose 10-year prison sentences for drug production in national parks, national forests and other federal properties."

      http://www.modbee.com/2010/06/30/1234358/pot-farms-meth-labs-target-of.html 

      "103 years later, tribal land ownership is official" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 7/2/10)

"A century-old oversight by the federal government was remedied this week when the Chemehuevi Indians were finally given official title to their 32,500-acre reservation along the Colorado River in eastern San Bernardino County. Officials explained a missing signature on the 1907 document -- a trust patent -- as a 'historical anomaly'...."

      http://www.pe.com/localnews/indianaffairs/stories/PE_News_Local_D_tribe03.2308c04.html 

      "Feds target nudity, safety hazards at off-road meccas such as Glamis" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 7/5/10)

"Tension has existed for years between party animals and families with children at popular off-road playgrounds such as Imperial Sand Dunes ... The BLM banned public nudity there years ago; now the prohibition is extended to "all developed sites and areas and all ORV open areas" in the agency's Desert District, including Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial and Los Angeles counties."

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_rules06.1f52cca.html 

RELATED: "Nudity, saving spots part of new Imperial Sand Dune rules" (Imperial Valley Press, 7/7/10)

"It is part of a set of new   supplementary rules that took effect late June, but public comment is   still open on them ... None of the rules were made because   of particularly recent problems, but rather just to make people aware...." Said United Desert Gateway program   manager Charla Teeters, "Much of it seems common sense and for safety reasons."

http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2010/07/07/local_news/news03.txt 

      "Local mining claims at stake" (Victorville Daily Press, 7/5/10)

"Local mine operators worry that legislation intended to resolve a decade-long dispute over mining in Santa Clarita could instead bring a similar standoff between miners and developers to Victorville ... recently information has surfaced raising concerns over the federal land set to be swapped in McKeon’s bill: Several companies already have mining claims on it."

      http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/stake-20282-claims-grande.html 

      JOBS

      "Current job openings - BLM California" (USAJOBS website)

      Listings include biological science technician (plants), geodetic technician, contact representative, and more, including potential seasonal positions.

    http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9blm-ca.asp    

    SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
Unless otherwise noted, find more details -- and more events -- online at:

        https://www.blm.gov/ca/forms/calendar/

     July 17 - Hike to discover King Range coast's cultural history 

    Call field office for location

    July 17-18 - Wild horse and burro adoption event

    Lakeside

    WILDLIFE TRIVIA answer and related websites

    (c.)	Laying up to 20,000 eggs – this increases the chance that some of that large number will survive.

      SOURCE: "Great Plains Toad - Bufo cognatus" (BLM California wildlife database)

      Females lay up to 20,000 eggs in multiple strings.  They seek out   temporary rain pools or calm, shallow areas of streams to lay their   eggs.

       http://www.blm.gov/ca/forms/wildlife/details.php?metode=serial_number&search=2637 

       RELATED: "Bufo cognatus - Great Plains toad" (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Animal Diversity Web)

      More information, at this "educational resource written largely by and for college students."

      http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Bufo_cognatus.html 

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News.bytes published by

Bureau of Land Management

California State Office

2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834

Sacramento, Ca 95825

(916) 978-4600

http://www.blm.gov/ca/

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