BLM California Newsbytes Issue 694

Title: Untitled Document

Supermoon seen from Berryessa Snow Mountian National Monument (Photo by Bob Wick, BLM)

ISSUE 694 - October 2, 2015

- BLM CA State Director
- National Public Lands Day
- Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan
- Headlines and Highlights
- BLM and DOI Highlights
- Wildlife Question of the Week
- Upcoming Events

BLM CA STATE DIRECTOR 

Jim Kenna Retiring after 40 Years of Public Service

A 40 year career promotes reflection on all that has happened, all that has changed.  Across the entire time, the vast majority of people I have encountered work hard and are devoted to public service.  To them, it is important work to serve their fellow citizens and to conserve public lands as an American heritage.  In my experience, this is just as true today as it was 40 years ago.  The difference is that it is not fashionable to compliment public employees.  So let me do that – thank you to all of you, inside and outside of government, who seek to provide good public service, work hard and act with integrity.  Public service is an honorable undertaking. (BLM Newsbytes)

ICYMI: BLM-California State Director Receives Meritorious Service Award from Interior Department (5/26/2015)

Jim Kenna, BLM-California State Director, was recently presented the Department of the Interior’s Meritorious Service Award during a recent all employee meeting in Palm Springs, California. The presentation of the award by Director Neil Kornze, was held following a visit by Secretary Jewell to the Palm Springs area, highlighting the BLM’s role in establishing the nation’s largest solar project on public lands that is now delivering clean, renewable energy to American consumers. (BLM Newsbytes Archive) 

BLM Announces Leadership Appointments in Three Key States, New Mexico, Nevada and California

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Neil Kornze announced today that he has selected three veteran land managers to serve in state director positions in New Mexico, Nevada and California. (BLM News Release)

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY

Video: National Public Lands Day – Clear Creek Preserve 2015

Volunteers came out on National Public Lands Day to the Clear Creek Greenway, where the BLM manages public lands along the Creek that is important salmon habitat. (BLM YouTube)

Volunteers Clean up River, Trail for National Public Lands Day

A team of youth and adult volunteers pulled about 20 pounds of trash from the Susan River and completed a maintenance project on the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail as part of the Great Sierra River Cleanup and National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 19. (BLM Newsbytes) 

National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day Volunteers at the Cactus Spring Trailhead improved the trail, campground, and surrounding areas making it cleaner and safer for visitors to the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. (BLM Facebook)

National Public Lands Day Event in Alabama Hills

The BLM Bishop Field Office, the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group and more than 25 community volunteers joined in constructing a mile and a half of new multiple-use trail in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine in honor of National Public Lands Day. (BLM Newsbytes) 

National Public Lands Day at Keysville Recreation Area

The Keysville Recreation area contributes a wealth of both natural and cultural resources to California. It is located west of Lake Isabella and Kern Valley, in the lower elevation of the Greenhorn Mountains. Historically, the area is tied to the Native American Tubatulabal Tribe and the gold miners who migrated to the region in the mid-19th century. (BLM Newsbytes)

Volunteers + Public Land + Work =Fun

Trail builders, weed whackers, tree trimmers and cowboys and cowgirls alike, arrived by electric car, jeep, horseback, and on foot!! Volunteers of all ages showed up at a remote trailhead in the Santa Rosa Mountains to celebrate National Public Lands Day. A third of the group raised their hands when I asked “for whom is this their first volunteer experience?” (BLM Newsbytes)

DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN

Landmark Exchange of Desert Lands Would Advance California’s Conservation and Clean Energy Goals

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and California State Lands Commission (SLC) are pursuing an exchange of state and federal lands in the California desert that will protect conservation lands, facilitate renewable energy development, and provide immediate and ongoing revenue for California’s retired teachers. (BLM Newsbytes) 

Related: BLM Flickr

State Lands Commission and Bureau of Land Management Announce Intent to Pursue Landmark Land Exchange

“The proposed land exchange advances the state and federal conservation strategy of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan by consolidating federal lands within National Conservation Lands,” said Bureau of Land Management California State Director Jim Kenna. “The consolidation of federal lands promotes the continuity of wilderness and wildlife corridors while supporting renewable energy goals. (BLM News Release)

Landmark Exchange of Desert Lands Would Advance California’s Conservation and Clean Energy Goals

Imperial Valley News, 10/1/2015
Sacramento, California – The California State Lands Commission (SLC) and the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are pursuing an exchange of state and federal lands in the California desert that will protect conservation lands and facilitate renewable energy development. (Read full story)

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Supermoon-Eclipse From Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument

BLMer Bob Wick shared these supermoon-eclipse shots from yesterday evening at Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument in California. The trees in the foreground are blue-oak woodlands which are iconic in this Monument. (BLM Tumblr)

California Coastal National Monument

Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the land, the California Coastal National Monument provides unique coastal habitat for marine-dependent wildlife and vegetation on more than 20,000 rocks, islands, exposed reefs, and pinnacles along the California coastline. (BLM Facebook)

Check out this photo gallery for more protected sites: Five Amazing Places Protected By the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Anonymous Donors Contribute $1000 to the Mendocino College Coastal Field Station

Daily Journal, 9/25/2015
On Aug. 1, Mendocino College hosted an open house at its Coastal Field Station north of the town of Point Arena, as a part of the “Discover the Coast” event coordinated by the Bureau of Land Management and the local coastal community. Science faculty set up poster displays in the classroom, had hands-on activities in the lab space and offered short tours of the college property to the public. (Read full story)

Who Owns The Nation’s Public Lands?

National Public Radio, 9/24/2015
Who owns the land? That question has dominated the long and complicated history of the America West. The region has dealt with clashes between environmentalists, the federal government, ranchers, mining interests, and developers often over grazing, road construction, water and mineral rights. But, argument under lying it all is: Who owns these lands? (Read full story)

Forest Management, Wildfires and Climate Change

Capital Press, 9/24/2015

Climate change doesn’t cause wildfires so much as wildfires release more greenhouse gases that many believe cause climate change. As firefighters struggle against the deadly plague of wildfires that has scorched the West this year, politicians are chiming in with their theories about what causes them. (Read full story)

Sweet U.S. Government Land Deals Charge Up Energy Companies: Report

Newsweek, 9/27/2015
When most Americans think of federal lands, pristine national parks like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone come to mind. But American taxpayers actually own much more than that—nearly 650 million acres, almost 30 percent of the land area of the U.S. (Read full story)

Cemex Appeals Decision to Cancel Soledad Canyon Mining Contracts

Signalsscv,com, 9/29/2015
Cemex has appealed last month’s Bureau of Land Management decision to cancel its mining contracts in Soledad Canyon, a spokeswoman for the BLM said Tuesday. (Read full story)

BLM Reopens Comment Period for West Mojave Route Network Project

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will take public input on the West Mojave Route Network Project (WMRMP) and associated Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for an additional 120 days. The reopening of the comment period, which originally closed in June, is in response to public requests. (BLM News Release)

Cook Bill Would Create National park, Expand Johnson Valley OHV Area

Hi-Desert Star, 10/1/2015
Congressman Paul Cook, from Yucca Valley, introduced his own desert conservation, mining and recreation bill Thursday in the House of Representatives. The California Minerals, Off-Road Recreation and Conservation Act would add land to the Johnson Valley off-roading area and give several other places in the Morongo Basin added government protection. (Read full story)

BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS

BLM Seeks Comment on Draft Update to Measurement Standards for Oil Produced on Public Lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced a proposed rule today to update and replace its regulations governing the measurement of oil produced from onshore Federal and Indian leases. The requirements contained in the proposed rule reflect advances in measurement technology and critical updates in standards and practices. (BLM News Release)

Judge Blocks Federal Oil, Gas Drilling Rules Pending Lawsuit

AP, 9/30/2015
A judge on Wednesday blocked new nationwide regulations for oil and gas drilling on federal lands from taking effect while a lawsuit moves ahead, pointing to a law that prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating hydraulic fracturing. (Read full story)

WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Which animal is listed under the Endangered Species list?
a) Point Arena Mountain Beaver
b) Sea Otter
c) Deer
d) All of the above 
Keep reading for answer below

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 3: Old Spanish Trail Days set for Saturday in Barstow

Desert Dispatch, 10/1/2015
The Old Spanish Trail Association Mojave River chapter, Bureau of Land Management and Desert Discovery Center will host the third annual Old Spanish Trail Days on Saturday.This year’s event marks the second consecutive time it will be held at the Desert Discovery Center, according to the center’s Jane Laraman-Brockhurst. (Read full story)

October 17: BLM Plans Free Public Archaeology Day along Pit River

A glimpse into the lives of northern California’s first inhabitants will highlight Archaeology Day, a free, family-friendly event, Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management Pit River Campground in eastern Shasta County. (BLM News Release)

October 24: Fort Ord National Monument National Public Lands Day

Land management and rehabilitation including: habitat restoration, seed collection, trail maintenance, weed abatement and garbage removal. Following project work, volunteers are treated to a BBQ, live music and prizes. For more information visit Publiclandsday.org 

Novemeber 5-6: Northern California Resource Advisory Council

Field Tour of the California Coastal National Monument; Business Meeting agenda includes discussion of land use planning issues affecting public lands managed by the BLM Redding and Arcata Field Offices and land use plan amendments for sage grouse conservation affecting the Eagle Lake and Applegate Field Offices. (BLM Website)

November 6: Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

Save the Date! November 6, 2015 marks the 15th anniversary of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument – and we want you to celebrate with us! (BLM Facebook)

WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER

Which animal is listed under the Endangered Species list?

Answer: a) Point Arena Mountain Beaver
The Point Arena mountain beaver is federally listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered, and is considered a mammalian species of special concern by the State of California. Mountain beavers are the only extant member of the family Aplodontidae, and are considered the most primitive living rodents. Mountain beavers are stout, compact and cylindrical and have a broad, massive, laterally compressed skull.

SOURCE: U.S Fish & Wildlife, State & Federally Listed Endangered & Threatened Animals of California 

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