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ISSUE 688 - AUGUST 20, 2015 |
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- National Seed Strategy
- Youth
- National Conservation Lands
- Headlines and Highlights
- BLM and DOI Highlights
- Wildlife Question of the Week
- Upcoming Events
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NATIONAL SEED STRATEGY |
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Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the release of the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration today. The
strategy will guide efforts to restore public lands after landscape-scale ecological changes such as wildfires and hurricanes. (BLM
Tumblr)
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Use of locally collected native seed and strong partnership involvement are critical components in ongoing coastal prairie restoration projects in BLM-California’s
Arcata Field Office. Locally collected seed is propagated in a nursery and grass plugs are grown. (BLM Newsbytes)
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The National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration was released yesterday
– a comprehensive, science-based strategy to address the threat of wildfires that are damaging landscapes across the West. (BLM
Tumblr)
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Once a wildfire is extinguished, the clock starts ticking on how long land managers and landowners have to keep
non-native invasive plants from taking over, compounding the loss to the surrounding to the ecological and human community. Not only do invasives crowd out native plants, but they also can provide a new crop of fire fuel for the next wildfire season and cause other imbalances in the greater
ecosystem. (BLM Tumblr)
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LA Times, 8/17/2015
“These are complex systems that differ region to region,” said Olwell, plant conservation program manager for the federal Bureau of Land Management.
“You can’t interchange parts of it and think it’s going to function the same way.” On Monday, the U.S. government is announcing a new approach to ecosystem maintenance. Read full story
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YOUTH |
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Through an innovative partnership with the Californian State University’s Water Resources and Policy Initiatives and the Forest Service, the BLM established an
internship this summer where Magdalena Gudino a civil engineering major from California State University, Sacramento, helped conduct studies on ponds at the Cosumnes River Preserve affected by the methylation of mercury, documenting the location of invasive plant species, and up-keeping the
preserve’s pond water levels. (Newsbytes Extra)
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On July 31, nearly 40 summer campers from the Shafter Youth Center became Backyard Biologists with help from the BLM Bakersfield Field Office staff. The BLM Bakersfield
Field Office participated as part of the summer camp’s Animal Week. (Newsbytes Extra)
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NATIONAL CONSERVATION LANDS |
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Welcome to the August #conservationlands15 Social Media Takeover! Today’s 15h posts feature urban escapes- BLM national Conservation Lands close
enough to home for everyday getaways, like the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument in California! (BLM
Tumblr)
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Check out the August #conservationlands15 “Top 15″: 15 Amazing Urban Escapes on BLM’s National Conservation Lands! Close to Home, But
a World Away. (BLM Tumblr)
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Although the Perseids Meteor Shower peaked earlier this week, its not too late to catch some great meteor watching this weekend as the shower winds down. Look to the
northeastern sky in the late night and pre-dawn hours. This image was taken last night in the newly designated Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument in California. Public lands have dark skies away from city lights and offer great places for star gazing. (BLM Instagram)
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HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS |
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Over 11,000 firefighters are battling 15 active wildfires across California. A minor cooling trend and a rise in humidity tonight through Friday in Northern California will aid firefighters in their efforts to contain the over a dozen wildfires.CAL FIRE recommends that all residents be prepared for wildfire by
remembering “Ready, Set, Go!” Being “set” for a wildfire means that the public have a wildfire action plan that includes what items they would take if evacuated. Learn more about being “set” at www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
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The Sacramento Bee,
8/18/ 2015
Citing extremely dry conditions, the federal Bureau of Land Management this week announced new fire restrictions on public lands
managed by its Mother Lode Field Office. These restrictions prohibit all open fires on public lands, including campfires in campgrounds. Officials said restrictions will remain in effect until further notice. Read full story
Related: BLM Mother Lode Field Office Starts Additional Fire Restrictions (BLM News Release)
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KRCRTV, 8/19/2015
CAL FIRE is battling the Horse Fire in Southern Humboldt County that has now grown to 250-acres.The fire was reported on August 18, 2015 by a person in Petrolia. The person reported seeing a plume of smoke.The Horse Fire is burning six miles northeast of Shelter Cove on the Kings
Range. CAL FIRE said the fire is burning within an area that is very remote and is not accessible by road. It is also burning within an area that has been burned before and is left with dead or dying trees. Read full story
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Several roads, trails and campgrounds in the King Range National Conservation Area on California’s Lost Coast are temporarily closed because of a 250-acre
wildfire.The Bureau of Land Management said the Buck Creek, King Crest, Miller Loop, Lightning, Rattlesnake Ridge, Horse Mountain Creek and Paradise Royale Mountain Biking trails are
closed for public safety, along with the Tolkan and Horse Mountain campgrounds and the King Peak, King Range and Saddle Mountain roads. (BLM News Release)
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The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is asking for public comment on issues that should be addressed when it develops an environmental assessment analyzing potential environmental
impacts associated with amending the plan that guides management of the Headwaters Forest Reserve. The Resource Management Plan amendment would enable the agency to use methods unavailable in the original plan to continue thinning previously-harvested timber stands so that they can achieve
old-growth forest characteristics. (BLM News Release)
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Monterey Herald, 8/17/2015
It is a historic moment for the Carmel River. The San Clemente Dam, which has blocked migrating fish since 1921, is coming down as I write this. For the first time in
our lives, 25 miles of spawning and rearing habitat will be open to the threatened South-Central California Coast Steelhead. Read full story
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office intends to write a programmatic Environmental Assessment
(EA) that will consider how small-sized mining operations would be authorized in the Ridgecrest resource management area. Small mining operations would include actions that require BLM-authorized plans of operation, but are limited in size. (BLM News Release)
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BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS |
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The National Fire Preparedness Level is raised to 5, as 60 large active wildfires burn across 13 states; Secretary
Jewell travels to Ohio and Wisconsin as she renews her call for full and permanent funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund; the latest listening session on the federal coal program. (BLM YouTube)
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BLM Montana/ Dakotas manages about 8.3 million acres of public lands and 47.2 million acres of mineral estate in Montana, North Dakota, and South
Dakota. Join #mypubliclandsroadtrip as we explore those lands and resources – from beautiful views, unique wildlife, historical and cultural resources, and much more! (BLM
Tumblr)
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WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK |
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Can you guess what creature the Axolotl Lakes in Montana are named after?
Keep reading for answer
below |
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UPCOMING EVENTS |
Wild horses that have been halter trained and saddle started will be offered for public adoption Saturday, Aug. 22, as part of the Murieta Mule Classic event beginning at 9 a.m. at the Murieta Equestrian Center,
7200 Lone Pine Dr., in Rancho Murieta. (BLM News Release)
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With their cameras in hand, Volunteer Naturalists will await your arrival at the Cosumnes River Preserve’s Visitor Center. These guided photo walks give visitors the chance
to walk along the Cosumnes River Preserve’s Wetlands Walk, a 1+ mile loop trail that takes you through wetlands and riparian forest. Expert advice from the Preserve’s Professional Photographers will enable you to take the finest pictures of the flora and fauna that surrounds you. Meet at
the Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center. Be sure to bring your camera along, tripod or monopod are also very useful! To learn more about this event visit Cosumnes River Preserve webpage.
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A challenging hike, spectacular views and the opportunity to learn wilderness survival skills are all part of a free, day-long outing, Saturday, Aug. 22, in the King Range
National Conservation Area on California’s Lost Coast. The nine-mile hike is arduous, leading through Hidden Valley and up Chemise Mountain, where participants will enjoy views of mountain valleys, forests and the Pacific Ocean. (BLM News Release)
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The Bureau of Land Management’s Northern California Resource Advisory Council will convene for a meeting and field tour Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 26 and 27, in the conference center at the Oxford Suites, 1967Hilltop Dr., in Redding. (BLM News Release)
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The Habitat Restoration Team is an opportunity to gain practical work experience in restoration and land management while helping to advance the Preserve’s goals to provide
sustainable habitats for Central Valley plants and wildlife. Workdays are a great way to connect with the local environment and are ideal for individuals seeking service learning hours. To learn more about this event visit Cosumnes River Preserve webpage.
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The Dumont Dunes Subgroup to the Desert Advisory Council (DAC) has scheduled a public meeting forTuesday, September 8, 2015 in Barstow from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (BLM News Release)
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The next field trip and meeting of the California Desert Advisory Council will be held September 11-12, 2015 in San Diego. (BLM News Release)
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Don’t miss the next Piedras Blancas Light Station living history tour, on the evening of October 24th. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the light
station at twilight, get a feeling for what life at the light station was like in the old days, and view the sunset.
For more information about this event visit Piedras Blancas Light Station (BLM Website)
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WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER |
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Can you guess what creature the Axolotl Lakes in Montana are named after?
Answer: Barred Tiger Salamander
Montana’s Axolotl Lakes are named after a peculiar creature that live just under their waters. The Montana axolotl is a barred tiger salamander stuck in the larva stage. So
essentially, this creature is half-fish and half-salamander. Axolotl Lakes are roughly 15 miles from Ennis, Montana, and the basin is the only place these strange axolotls are found in the state besides a few lakes by Yellowstone
SOURCE: My Public Lands Tumblr
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