News.bytes, Bureau of Land Management California ISSUE 715 - March 10, 2016 - Wildflowers - BLM California Employees - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events WILDFLOWERS BLM Hosts Wildflower Tours of South Coast Range Wildflowers are at peak bloom in the San Joaquin Valley! BLM Natural Resource Specialists Ryan O’Dell and Mike Powers of the BLM Central Coast Field Office hosted two wildflower tours of the interior South Coast Range BLM lands at Tumey Hills in southern San Benito County and Monocline Ridge in western Fresno County. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,azvt,1bc9,1bct,ijo3 Happy #TravelTuesday! Wildflowers are popping up everywhere near BLM California’s Ridgecrest Field Office. Situated at the edge of the Mojave Desert and the toe of the Sierra Mountains, Ridgecrest is a great place to be if you want to see the super bloom. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,b82a,1trt,1bct,ijo3 Tecopa Peak Superbloom by Nancy Good Tecopa Peak Super Bloom, Just Outside of Death Valley The Amargosa River Natural Area, located at the south end of Tecopa Valley, occupies the heart of the Tecopa Basin, east of the southeastern corner of Death Valley National Park. The narrow Amargosa Canyon is known for its dense greenery and the shallow Amargosa River, complete with "hanging gardens" and a small waterfall. The river flows year-long, dropping south from Nevada, and finally flowing into Death Valley National Park. (BLM Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,46zv,i6ko,1bct,ijo3 BLM CALIFORNIA EMPLOYEES Volunteers Break Ground on Sheehy Memorial Fitness Park Howling wind and driving rain did not deter a group of northern California firefighters and volunteers, as they broke ground near Redding for development of a physical fitness park to be named in honor of a fallen smokejumper. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,6hdm,7rfp,1bct,ijo3 Related: Fitness park built to remember fallen firefighter (KRCR) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,izd0,ddf8,1bct,ijo3 Celebrating Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day the Bureau of Land Management California is proud to recognize eight archaeologists who have a combined 79 years of service with the federal government. Featured here, these women are wonderful representatives of BLM’s Archaeology Program. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,lzvd,amkc,1bct,ijo3 Related: Presidential Proclamation — Women’s History Month, 2016 http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,6snq,mg4s,1bct,ijo3 BLMer Mary Prinzbach Recieved Patriot Award Mary Prinzbach, BLM California Program Analysis Officer received the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for her efforts to support Ryan Tran, BLM California Budget Analyst and citizen warrior (member of Army National Guard or Army Reserve). “I nominated Mary for this award because she has made it easy for me to perform my duties as an Army Reserve Soldier,” said Tran. “She has not only been very supportive of me being in the Reserve but also went above and beyond to adjust deadlines to accommodate my duty schedule.” (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,b88g,m9oy,1bct,ijo3 Celebrating Employee Appreciation Day BLM manages 15.2 million acres of public lands in California - nearly 15% of the state's land area - and 1.6 million acres in northwestern Nevada. On Employee Appreciation Day and every day we are thankful for our hardworking employees! (BLM Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,4bwv,5fm9,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Linda Mullally, Away We Go: Desert trails lead to dates and monuments The Monterey Herald, March 6, 2016 I hear the words “Palm,” “springs” and “desert” in the same sentence and I immediately envision miles of parched sandy acres interrupted by sprawling green patches where snowbirds line up to swing sticks at tiny white balls… The multi-agency Visitor Center (National Forest and Bureau of Land Management) boasts exhibits about desert wildlife, vegetation and cultural history, and a well-stocked bookstore operated by volunteers from Friends of the Desert Mountains. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,at13,8y7m,1bct,ijo3 3 new monuments designated Coyote Chronicle, 3/3/2016 President Barack Obama designated three new national monuments in the California desert to protect 1.8 million acres of landscape. The designation was requested by Sen. Dianne Feinstein in an August 2015 letter, who fought to protect land that wasn’t included in the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, according to the LA Times. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,eeb9,juta,1bct,ijo3 New designation sought for Trinidad Head Eureka Times-Standard, March 7, 2016 More than 80 years after Trinidad Head was designated a California Historical Landmark, city officials are considering adding a federal designation for the rocky promontory. The Trinidad Coastal Land Trust is asking the City Council to support the designation of 13 acres of federal Bureau of Land Management property as a California Coastal National Monument. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,i9h3,fg5n,1bct,ijo3 Op-ed: Today’s public-lands challenges require more diverse stakeholders The Salt Lake Tribune, March 5, 2016 This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the National Park Service, and the more than 84 million acres of preserved cultural and historical landscapes that have helped shape America. We celebrate the rich history of an organization that conserves some of America’s most pristine natural and cultural wonders for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. However, this and future generations look much different than those 100 years ago. The National Park Service and other public land management agencies (the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Refuges) need to make some significant changes if they are to meet the needs of a changing American cultural landscape. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,ha2n,lhwc,1bct,ijo3 California Desert: Tortoise relocations challenged The Press-Enterprise, March 8, 2016 An environmental group filed a legal challenge Tuesday, March 8, to the military’s plans to move more than 1,400 protected desert tortoises out of an expansion area at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,awm1,d8gf,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS This Week at Interior -- March 4, 2016 Lots of things happened last week including the 167th birthday of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Watch full video HERE. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,89a3,gaf8,1bct,ijo3 Lyndia and Her Adopted Mustang Kilchii Connect Thanks to Extreme Mustang Makeover “I just love this horse so much and could never give him up. I still can’t thank the Extreme Mustang Makeover and BLM enough for the opportunity to train and later adopt such an amazing horse! I’m one proud mustang owner and can’t stop bragging about how lucky I am. Mustangs are one of the most fascinating & all-round great breeds I know. I’ve seen what they can do and I’m just blown away, especially by my Kilchii.” http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,htn8,6wwb,1bct,ijo3 Read more about the connection between one of America’s mustangs, Kilchii, and Lydia Smith. It is something we never tire of hearing about; the unique bond adopters form with their mustang when they get past the hurdle of the first touch and continue down the training trail as a team. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,czm5,5ez,1bct,ijo3 BLM Matches Weanlings Gathered from Soda Fire with Local 4-H Groups for Gentling and Adoption Did you know… Since 2009, BLM Idaho has partnered with local 4-H groups like the University of Idaho 4-H and BLM Wild Horse Training Program and the East Idaho 4-H and BLM Wild Horse Program to gentle and train wild horses? The 4-H clubs gain horsemanship experience and add value to these young horses by handling them regularly, which benefits future adopters. Since the program began, 4-H clubs in Idaho have trained and gentled more than 250 young horses. Read full story on the My Public Lands Tumblr http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,6hhq,4qvc,1bct,ijo3 http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,kseo,774r,1bct,ijo3 http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,bnx1,8qud,1bct,ijo3 Interior aims to get more youth on public lands The Hill, 3/4/2016 Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is trying to give underrepresented youth better access to recreation opportunities on federal land.The effort is part of the Obama administration’s Every Kid in a Park initiative. The program, coinciding with the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, offers free park access to fourth graders and their families, among other incentives to get children into federal parks. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,7ojk,cphx,1bct,ijo3 Related: Secretary Jewell Signs Order Promoting Access to America’s Public Lands for Under-Resourced Youth (DOI Press Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,5jqg,3jdj,1bct,ijo3 Bundy, 18 others indicted in 2014 range standoff in Nevada ABC News, 3/3/2016 Federal authorities rounded up 12 people in five states on Thursday, bringing to 19 the number of defendants facing conspiracy, assault and threats charges in a 2014 armed standoff over grazing cattle on U.S. land near renegade cattleman Cliven Bundy’s ranch in southern Nevada. Arrests of alleged co-conspirators in Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Oklahoma and New Hampshire came after a federal grand jury in Las Vegas expanded an indictment already filed against Bundy. It also names two adult Bundy sons and five other men already in federal custody following the end of a nearly six-week armed occupation of a wildlife refuge in Oregon. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,e1pj,j6bz,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK Calliope Hummingbird How small is the Calliope Hummingbird? a. as small as a bumble bee b. they are the smallest bird species found north of Mexico c. at about 3 inches long, each one weighs less than a penny d. both b and c UPCOMING EVENTS March 12 : Birds of Prey Presentation in Garberville North coast residents and visitors will have the chance to get a close look at live raptors and learn more about them in a Birds of Prey presentation Saturday, March 12, at 3 p.m., at the Redwood Playhouse, 286 Sprowel Creek Rd., in Garberville. Staff members from the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center in Arcata will bring a great horned owl, western screech owl, a northern spotted owl and a red-tailed hawk or peregrine falcon to the presentation. They will discuss these rescued birds and describe their rehabilitation from injuries. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,2csq,3azk,1bct,ijo3 March 12: BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program Adoption in Apple Valley, California BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program adoption will be in Apple Valley, California on Saturday, March 12 from 9 am – 5 pm. Join us for the Extreme Cowboy Race supporting the Wounded Warrior Project and special needs families. (BLM Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,l03g,8g5o,1bct,ijo3 March 18-20: Halter-Gentled Mustangs, Wild Horses and Burros Available for Adoption in Angels Camp More than 20 wild horses, including animals gentled and trained to ride, will be offered for adoption Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 101 Frogtown Rd. in Angels Camp. The Bureau of Land Management will offer 18 wild horses, two 3-year-old geldings gentled under a trainer incentive program, and three 5-year-old geldings trained by Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center inmates to saddle and ride. Eight burros also will be offered. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,18p8,8abs,1bct,ijo3 March 19: Berryessa Snow Mountain Monument Dedication and Spring Festival Planned Federal agencies and partners will hold a spring festival and dedication ceremony Saturday, March 19, to celebrate establishment of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cowboy Camp, east of Williams along California State Highway 16, about a mile south of Highway 20. The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument was established by President Obama on July 10, 2015. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,9gyz,ey4t,1bct,ijo3 April 2: Public Meeting Scheduled to Address Land Use in the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Representatives from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Marine Corps will host a Resource Management Group meeting on April 2, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Lucerne Valley Community Center, 33187 Highway 247 East, Lucerne Valley, Calif. The purpose of the meeting is to communicate the Marine Corps’ plans to conduct a large-scale exercise August 1-31, 2016 that will include training in the congressionally established shared use area of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,d993,4zbu,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER How small is the Calliope Hummingbird? Answer: d. both b and c The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird in North America north of Mexico. Despite its small stature, it breeds in the chilly mountain environments of the northwestern United States. The male’s magenta burst of rays at its throat make it a standout from other hummingbirds. Tiny but tough, these birds are the smallest long-distance avian migrant in the world, spending winters in Mexico and a few small pockets of the southern U.S. Source: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2hnj5,3xn3,466y,c4ld,1bct,ijo3 Photo of Calliope Hummingbird by Glenn Bartley, VIREO (Visual Resources for Ornithology) - the world-wide bird photograph collection of The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
