A publication of Bureau of Land Management in California Issue 669-4/10/2015- Visit us on Facebook -- Follow us on Twitter -- Share us with friends and colleagues! THIS WEEK IN NEWS.BYTES: - Discover the Coast - Wildfire Preparedness - Headlines and Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events 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,27fw0,3xn3,2iux,gks9,1bct,ijo3 DISCOVER THE COAST Best Places for Wildflower Viewing Spots in California (BLM Tumblr) The bloom is early this year based on the warm weather and dry conditions, so Northern California and the coast will be the better spots for the remainder of the year. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,a50c,2tfg,1bct,ijo3 Sheep Appreciation Day (Newsbytes Extra) On April 4, the Bureau of Land Management celebrated the third annual "Sheep Appreciation Day" at the Fort Ord National Monument with an enthusiastic crowd of 150 visitors. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,ctdz,kt8h,1bct,ijo3 The Sheep Are Back at Fort Ord National Monument (BLM Facebook) Last Saturday Fort Ord National Monument got together with FORT Friends and members of the public to welcome 1,200 sheep back to the open, grassy slopes of Fort Ord National Monument. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,5qvs,cxf,1bct,ijo3 RELATED:Discover the Coast (BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,jksk,gqng,1bct,ijo3 WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS DOI Agencies Host Interagency Wildland Fire Engine Academy (Newsbytes Extra) Wildland firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service and National Park Service gathered in Ione, California in April for a two-week-long intensive engine academy in order to prepare for the upcoming fire season. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,gmft,j1aa,1bct,ijo3 RELATED: DOI Firefighters (BLM Facebook) Wildland firefighters at U.S. Department of the Interior's interagency engine academy practice driving skills, hose lays, and water shuttling to prepare for the upcoming fire season. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,8pcm,9yok,1bct,ijo3 Could This Be California's Worst Year Yet for Wildfires? (AccuWeather, April 9, 2015) As widespread, historic drought conditions continue across California, firefighters are bracing for another severe wildfire season statewide. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,6nak,lva4,1bct,ijo3 Californians Know that Wildfires Happen (BLM Facebook) They also know that many of them can be prevented and their damage can be reduced with preparation. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,hbof,2a0t,1bct,ijo3 RELATED: Before you head out this summer, find out if the area you plan to visit has any wildfire activity or fire restrictions (BLM Website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,bmw9,5d8t,1bct,ijo3 CALIFORNIA HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Have You Met The Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard? (BLM Facebook) This lizard is the poster child for the San Joaquin desert grassland habitat. It is listed as an Endangered Species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and has Fully Protected status from the State of California, one of the many listed species that BLM biologists and ecologists are actively working to put on the path to recovery. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,eolv,9u2n,1bct,ijo3 Women In STEM Meet BLM California Wildlife Biologist Joyce Schlachter (BLM Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,3q5h,8psf,1bct,ijo3 New Bridge Linking Skyway to Highway 32 Dedicated (Chico Enterprise-Record, 4/3/2015) It's been a long road, but the effort to upgrade the Doe Mill Road bridge over Butte Creek is finally complete. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,fng6,c8cf,1bct,ijo3 Did Jeep Flaw Cause Chariot Fire? (San Diego Union-Tribune, 4/8/ 2015) A design flaw in the 2009 Chrysler Jeep Wrangler may have contributed to the start of the Chariot fire that destroyed almost 150 cabins and other structures in the Cleveland National Forest two years ago, an amended lawsuit contends. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,djjh,7phb,1bct,ijo3 Dog Leash Requirement in effect at Fort Ord Monument (Salinas Californian, 4/9/2015) The Bureau of Land Management is adding safety protocols to protect people on the Ford Ord National Monument during Army munitions cleanup. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,jwa7,ev2n,1bct,ijo3 Desert Off-Road Plan Draws Opposition From Environmentalists (The Sun, San Bernardino, Calif. 4/3/2015) A federal Bureau of Land Management off-road travel plan for the Mojave Desert drew stiff resistance from environmental groups at a public hearing Thursday evening. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,504h,ide1,1bct,ijo3 RELATED: BLM Press Release http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,kak6,bfxc,1bct,ijo3 Public Input Welcome on Trinidad Lighthouse Management Plan; Meetings Planned (BLM News Release) The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input as it develops a plan to manage the historic Trinidad Lighthouse and the 13 acres surrounding the Trinidad Head structure. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,62lr,8u5v,1bct,ijo3 BLM Issues Final Environmental Review for Solar Project Interconnection Line in Eastern Riverside County (BLM News Release) The BLM has issued the final environmental analysis of the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a 230 kilovolt generation interconnection (gen-tie) line and associated access road spurs across BLM-managed lands associated with the Blythe Mesa Solar Project." under the headline "BLM Issues FInal Environmental Review..." http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,73ot,becv,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK What is the diet of San Jaoquin Coachwhips? a) Nesting birds b) Bird eggs c) Lizards d) Carrion e) All of the above ------> See answer near the end of this issue of News.bytes. UPCOMING EVENTS April 23-24: BLM Advisory Council Plans Meeting at Mother Lode Field Office (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,1cne,7zbv,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,27fw0,3xn3,dodq,8sgi,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE TRIVIA ANSWER What is the diet of San Jaoquin Coachwhips? Answer: e! San Joaquin coachwhips are thin and swift snakes that will take a variety of prey. They have been known to eat nesting birds, bird eggs, lizards, snakes, amphibians, carrion, and small mammals...even bats! SOURCE: Bureau of Land Managment -California (BLM Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,aeit,kzkv,1bct,ijo3 To unsubscribe, send an email to: unsubscribe-183567@xxxxxxxxxxx -------------------- - If your e-mail program does not allow you to click on the above links to visit that Web page, copy and paste the URL into your browser's "Location" or "Address" bar. - Some online news sites require free registration to view their content online. Some news sites remove news stories from the Web soon after publication. If you plan to keep a story, you should print a copy or save the Web page to your computer. DISCLAIMER: By linking to Web sites, the BLM does not imply endorsement of those sites, or of products or advertisements on those sites. 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.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,27fw0,3xn3,4h2h,jgx0,1bct,ijo3
