A publication of Bureau of Land Management in California Issue 668-4/3/2015- Visit us on Facebook -- Follow us on Twitter -- Share us with friends and colleagues! THIS WEEK IN NEWS.BYTES: - Discover the Desert - Discover the Coast - Headlines and Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - BLM and Department of the Interior Highlights If this message does not show up properly in your email, you can see it online at: http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,jf8d,gtc,1bct,ijo3 DISCOVER THE DESERT Roosevelt Abandoned Mine West Shaft Rebuild (News.bytes Extra) In an area southwest of Blythe, California, lies the Mule Mountains district that lays claim to active gold and copper mining between the 1930's and 40's. Long since abandoned, these mine locations are now home to major bat colonies including a number of maternity and winter roost for California leaf-nosed bats. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,3qcs,jeml,1bct,ijo3 4th Annual Alabama Hills Day Packed with Activities (Sierra Wave, 3/31/2015) Come celebrate the 4th annual "Alabama Hills Day" on Saturday, April 11th from 9am to 3pm in Lone Pine, CA. The purpose of the event is to celebrate this scenic landscape and educate the public about the wide variety of groups/activities that access & interact with the Alabama's. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,4v52,7cbi,1bct,ijo3 RELATED:Alabama Hills Webpage (BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,bysw,cv8w,1bct,ijo3 Desert to Sky (The Desert Sun, 3/30/2015) After a hot hike beneath the open sky, I turn the bend into what I call nature's spa, a breathtaking California fan palm oasis. I settle under the shade of a Murray Canyon palm, and listen for the rustle of dried tree "skirts" and rest my toes in the cooing creek water. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,an03,8cn7,1bct,ijo3 Discover the Desert (BLM Website) The desert offers a variety of ways to discover nature, adventure and travel. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,ehnu,aie3,1bct,ijo3 DISCOVER THE COAST 'Stargazing in Paradise' Outing to be Offered in King Range (BLM News Release) 'Stargazing in Paradise,' an astronomy outing, will be offered free to the public Friday, April 24, in the King Range National Conservation Area on California's Lost Coast. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,2ts5,mc1s,1bct,ijo3 RELATED:Discover the Coast (BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,jksk,gqng,1bct,ijo3 Sheep Are Back to Work at Fort Ord (The Salinas Californian, 3/31/2015) More than 1,300 ewes and their lambs are back at work on the Bureau of Land Management's Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,6jt8,aidq,1bct,ijo3 The Sheep Are Baaaaaack! (BLM Facebook) Fort Ord National Monument will be home to a flock of sheep for the next three months. These sheep are part of a program to reduce fire danger, encourage the growth of native plants, and control non-native species. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,ldkm,lmhd,1bct,ijo3 Weaners Conserve Energy, Prepare for Journey North to Alaska,(The Cambrian 3/25/2015) The beach at Piedras Blancas is quiet in March and April. Mostly weaners sleeping. Between naps, they go into the water, to practice holding their breath and learn to swim. As the days pass, they spend more time in the water, swimming and diving, until they are ready to launch into their first migration. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,8afb,96qs,1bct,ijo3 RELATED:Discover the Coast (BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,jzdw,lc56,1bct,ijo3 RELATED:Piedras Blancas (BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,gn42,iyo2,1bct,ijo3 CALIFORNIA HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Arcata Field Office Marks 15 Years of Headwaters Restoration Success (News.bytes Extra) When the Headwaters Forest on California's North Coast came into public ownership more than a decade ago, there were high expectations that its ancient redwoods would be protected, its already-logged forests would be nurtured toward old-growth status and threatened wildlife species would find refuge in protected habitat. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,8hez,1h2n,1bct,ijo3 A Great Weekend for Volunteers @ Knoxville Recreation Area(News.bytes Extra) The support from our partners and volunteers is essential to fulfill our mission here at the Ukiah Field Office. Last weekend we were lucky to have multiple groups come out to work hard to help support public lands. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,ey52,mc4z,1bct,ijo3 RELATED:Knoxville Recreation Area(BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,gkqr,2ndp,1bct,ijo3 Hit the Trails ! (BLM Instagram) It might be time to plan your trip to Stevens Trail on the North Fork of the American Wild and Scenic River.http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,b9e1,7hae,1bct,ijo3 This National Walking Day (BLM Tumblr) We are sharing a few of our favorite places to walk or a hike-on your public lands, and with a view! http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,j6qn,6ire,1bct,ijo3 Fire restrictions for BLM Hollister lands (The Salinas Californian, 4/1/2015) Beginning April 15, the Bureau of Land Management will place precautionary fire restrictions on public lands managed by the Hollister Field Office. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,3fnj,bt8a,1bct,ijo3 RELATED: BLM Announces Fire Restrictions for Lands Managed by Hollister Field Office (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,9mfo,3bk5,1bct,ijo3 Plant Identification Class (BLM Facebook) Plant The Needles Bureau of Land Management and the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe Environmental Department collaborated to put on a native plant identification class for tribal members and other people from the community of Havasu Landing, CA. A BLM Natural Resource Specialist talked about some of the major plant families in the desert and how to distinguish them from one another. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,1v9h,6ctf,1bct,ijo3 Splintering Desert Plan Worries Environmental Groups (San Bernardino Sun, 3/30/2015) Leaders of several major environmental groups say they are uneasy about a decision this month to separate federal and state parts of a desert land-use plan involving 22.5 million acres of federal and non-federal desert land in California. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,g5l2,82q6,1bct,ijo3 BLM Shouldn't Change its Goals for Renewable Energy or Conservation (Victorville Daily Press, 3/30/2015) About half of California's desert is public land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These public lands are our lands, and because of that, we have a say in how these lands are managed. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,bjvo,a296,1bct,ijo3 Don't Let Clean Energy Projects Stain National Parks (Sacramento Bee, 4/1/2015) Interior Secretary Sally Jewell recently outlined the Obama administration's plans for renewable energy, emphasizing a goal for the United States to become a top producer of solar and wind power. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,kusj,feae,1bct,ijo3 Cemex Hits Back at BLM, Asks For More Information On Concerns (Santa Clarita Valley Signal, 4/1/2015) Two weeks after the Bureau of Land Management issued a letter declaring itself able to cancel Cemex mine contracts in Soledad Canyon, the mining firm released its own letter expressing bewilderment at the federal agency's move. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,j6mr,mc60,1bct,ijo3 Editorial An Unnecessary Delay for Mojave Desert Renewable Energy Plan (LA Times, 4/1/2015) Federal and state officials have spent six years examining how best to allocate land in the Mojave Desert to satisfy two disparate environmental imperatives: renewable energy to reduce Californians' thirst for gas and oil, and conservation to preserve unique places and protect wildlife in the desert's fragile habitat. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,lkrs,3luy,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK What times of the year do harbor seals give birth? ------> See answer near the end of this issue of News.bytes. UPCOMING EVENTS April 3: BLM, Communities will Celebrate New Bridge (BLM News Release) Community residents from rural areas of Butte County will join officials from the Bureau of Land Management Friday, April 3, to celebrate opening of a new bridge over Butte Creek and completion of other road and bridge improvement projects. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,1ucz,fce,1bct,ijo3 April 4: Sheep Appreciation Day (BLM Facebook) To celebrate the return of the sheep, Fort Ord National Monument and FORT Friends will be hosting Sheep Appreciation Day.http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,8tn3,1kfc,1bct,ijo3 April 25: The Friends of Jawbone (Jawbone.org) will be holding their 19th Annual Moose Anderson Day Clean up on Saturday, April 25, 2015. Pre-registered volunteers receive a free t-shirt, BBQ lunch, and raffle ticket. Visit Jawbone.org for more information and to register. May 2: The Friends of El Mirage (elmirage.org) will be holding their annual Spring Clean up of the El Mirage Open Area on May 2, 2015. Pre-registered volunteers receive a free t-shirt, BBQ Lunch, and raffle ticket. This year's event will also include a special drawing where four lucky winners will get to name four of El Mirage's resident tortoise ambassadors! Visit elmirage.org for more information and to register! May 9: BLM Desert Advisory Council to Reschedule Ridgecrest Business Meeting (BLM News Release) Due to unforeseen circumstances, the scheduled public meeting of the Desert Advisory Council scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2015 in Ridgecrest has been rescheduled for May 9, 2015 in Riverside, Calif. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,dodq,8sgi,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE TRIVIA ANSWER What times of the year do harbor seals give birth? Answer: Harbor seals give birth between mid March and mid May to a single pup that weighs 20-24 pounds. The pup typically doubles in weight during its first month of life due to the high fat content of its mother's milk is (40% fat vs. 4.5% in humans).Pacific Grove Museum SOURCE:Pacific Grove Museum (pgmuseum.org) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,278lq,3xn3,hsaa,h4f8,1bct,ijo3
