BLM California Newsbytes Issue 696

Title: Untitled Document

Tule Mountain Wilderness Study Area

ISSUE 696 - OCTOBER 15, 2015

- Youth
- Headlines and Highlights
- BLM and DOI Highlights
- Wildlife Trivia of the Week
- Upcoming Events

YOUTH

Kids Experience America’s Great Outdoors @ the Los Angeles County Fair

The America’s Great Outdoors interactive, outdoor exhibit is where agencies, students and volunteers gathered during the Los Angeles County Fair to spread the word about getting out and connecting with nature! (BLM Newsbytes) 

Getting Ready for the Youth Summit

Students at La Familia High School are getting ready for Southern California’s Youth Summit. The Environmental Club meets on Thursdays at lunch time in Mrs. Rivera’s room. This week they learned about the November 13 Youth Summit, reviewed choices of workshops to take and filled out a registration form. (BLM Newsbytes)

Related: BLM Youth Summit

California Conservation Corps

On Saturday, Oct. 3, young military veterans who are part of the California Conservation Corps began a trail project in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management – California (BLM) and other partners at Cotoni-Coast Dairies, public lands just north of Wilder Ranch State Park on Highway 1. (BLM Facebook)

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Interest in Trinidad Lighthouse extends Across the Nation

Members of the United States Lighthouse Society finally got the chance to tour the Trinidad Lighthouse in late September, with members traveling from as far away as Boston for the opportunity to climb into the lantern room and take in spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the California Coastal National Monument. (BLM Newsbytes)

Sharing One of Your Favorite Time Lapse Series This Weekend

Twenty-five miles south of Alturas, California, in Northeastern Lassen County, the Tule Mountain Wilderness Study Area was the scene of wildfire in September 2012. (BLM Tumblr)
Bob Wick’s amazing photography of the area in the aftermath can be found at BLM California YouTube.

Preserve is Hidden Treasure

Recordnet.com, 10/13/2015
The greatest refuge in the Central Valley, home to an incredible diversity of birds, animals, trees and plants, spanning more than 50,000 acres, is set along the only untamed river in California, between Sacramento and Stockton. Yet, few people know of the Cosumnes River Preserve and its natural treasures, or actually have gone afield to enjoy it. (Read full story)

Related: Cosumnes River Preserve

Celebrate Fall On Your Public Land

As part of an ongoing celebration of public lands and recreation, we will continue to highlight popular autumn activities in the weeks ahead. We will feature activities that include hunting, fishing, and hiking on our Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter accounts and through traditional media to provide the public with ideas, inspiration, and opportunities to get outdoors and enjoy some of the nation’s most amazing places. (BLM Tumblr)

Single-Track Trails Maintained on National Public Lands Day

Single-track trails managed by BLM’s Bishop Field Office were improved as part of the National Public Lands Day celebration volunteer event Sept. 27. (BLM Newsbytes) 

Rails to Trails Festival, Marathon Draw Big Crowd to Susanville

Railroad handcar racing, a fall festival and a marathon drew throngs to Susanville, California’s  historic railroad depot and the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail over the Columbus Day Weekend, for the 23rd annual Rails to Trails Festival. (BLM Newsbytes)

BLM California Celebrates the Old Spanish Trail

California’s 3rd annual Old Spanish Trail Day Celebration kicked off at the BLM’s Desert Discovery Center (DDC) on Oct. 3 with an action-packed day of hands-on history that engaged the entire community. (BLM Newsbytes)

National Fossil Day

5th Annual National Fossil Day October 14, 2014
National Fossil Day is a celebration organized to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational value. (BLM Facebook)

Feinstein Pushes Obama to Create Desert Monuments

The Desert Sun, Oct. 13, 2015
More than 1,000 people packed the Whitewater Preserve on Tuesday, enduring the lingering October heat as they cheered — or booed — Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s calls for President Barack Obama to establish three national monuments in the desert. In an interview following Tuesday’s event, Ruiz wouldn’t take a position on the potential use of the Antiquities Act. But while many public commenters opposed the use of executive action, it was clear from the cheers and boos that most of the people gathered at Whitewater supported the idea. (Read full story)

Related: Interior, USDA Officials Join U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein for Public Meeting on Conservation of Mojave Desert

California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2015

On October 8, 2015, the BLM was invited to testify on S. 414, California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2015 before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, & Mining.  Statement of Steven A. Ellis Deputy Director, Operations Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, & Mining S. 414, California Desert Conservation & Recreation Act of 2015 October 8, 2015  (BLM Website)

Cadiz Chief to Tackle Desert Water Transfer Project Roadblock

The Sun, 10/11/2015
The CEO for embattled Cadiz Inc. has a plan to keep alive a controversial project to transfer ancient groundwater in a remote part of San Bernardino County’s Mojave Desert to parts of Orange County and other locations, where it could serve as many as 400,000 people. (Read full story)

Interior Secretary, Congressman Lobby For Wildfire Funding Plan In El Cajon

KPBS, Oct. 14, 2015
Federal officials on Wednesday toured the Cal Fire Incident Command Center in El Cajon in an effort to highlight the threat of wildfires. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell joined Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, who is calling on Congress to create a funding plan that would treat wildfires similar to natural disasters. (Read full story)

Festival Celebrating Salmon Set for Saturday

Redding Record Searchlight, Oct. 14, 2015
Janet Bogue of Cottonwood has already taken her great-granddaughter out to Coleman National Fish Hatchery to see the spawning salmon. Bogue and her great-granddaughter, 4-year-old Asilyn Bogue, had the place to themselves last week. There were very few visitors when they arrived in the morning. (Read full story)

Late BLM Fire Chief Important to all of SoCal

The inscription on black marble lists Richard “Dick” Franklin as a fire management officer, a civil service title that doesn’t truly capture the footprint of Franklin’s career, his wife says. Franklin, before his retirement in 2004, was the fire chief for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s California Desert District and its 3.5 million acres of protected lands and wilderness areas that span the U.S.-Mexican border to the northern tip of Ridgecrest, and from the Arizona and Nevada state lines to Malibu. (Read full story)

BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS

Welcome to the October #Conservationlands15 Social Media Takeover!

This month’s takeover features bucket list adventures and locations on your National Conservation Lands.  From hiking slot canyons and lava tubes to fishing and diving on both coasts, follow us all day for your must-do fall travel destinations. (BLM Tumblr)

Bucket List of Bucket List- Climb a 14’ER or Three in Colorado as the October #Conservationlands15 Social Media Takeover Continues!

Three of Colorado’s beloved 14,000 foot peaks are located in southwest Colorado within two BLM managed Wilderness Study Areas.  Handies Peak, at 14,048 feet, is a relatively moderate climb by 14’r standards. Its summit offers a truly pristine vista of endless peaks with few human developments. (BLM Tumblr)

WILDLIFE TRIVIA OF THE WEEK

Wildlife Trivia of the Week 

Common raccoons are nocturnal animals that are adept at many forms of locomotion, including climbing, walking, running, and swimming. Unlike most animals, raccoons can descend a tree backward or forward. Their diverse means of getting around allow them to eat almost anything! Raccoons are highly omnivorous, which means they eat both plants and animals. The plants they eat may include berries, fruits, nuts, and acorns.

SOURCE: BLM Wildlife Database

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

A glimpse into the lives of northern California’s first inhabitants will highlight Archeology 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 19: Knoxville Area Scattered Public Tracts Public Meeting Planned

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office will hold a public meeting on public lands identified for potential exchange in the Resource Management Plan Amendment and to modify the Knoxville Area of Critical Environmental Concern boundary. (BLM News Release)

October 24: Fall Color Bike Ride Planned for Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail

A special ‪fall colors‬ bike ride and shuttle service will be offered Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail in northeast California. The bike ride, mostly downhill on a smooth and wide gravel trail, is ideal for families. RSVP and more information at (BLM News Release)

 October 29-30: BLM Advisory Council Plans Meeting in Mendocino

Management issues for Central California will be on the agenda when the Bureau of Land Management’s Central California Resource Advisory Council meets Oct. 29-30 in the Mendocino area. The RAC will meet from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, at the Mendocino Hotel, 45080 Main St., Mendocino, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Time for public comment is reserved from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (BLM News Release)

November 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)

November 8: California Wild Horse & Burro Adoption @ Davis

The next Wild Horse and Burro Adoption will be held at Davis. Location is at the Donkey Welfare Symposium UC Davis Animal Science Barns La Rue Road and Putah Creek Lodge Drive 1-4 pm. We hope to see you at an adoption! California Wild Horse & Burro Adoption Schedule (BLM Website)

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