News.bytes, Bureau of Land Management California ISSUE 718 - March 31, 2016 Facebook Twitter Flickr YouTube tumblr Instagram - Your Public Lands - Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events YOUR PUBLIC LANDS Giant sequoias thrive at Case Mountain in California Three small groves – which have never been logged – protect majestic trees that are 6-16 feet in diameter! These groves are part of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area that has miles of mountain bike, foot and equestrian trails, and endless opportunities to be wowed! (America's Great Outdoors Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,aqce,f1ja,1bct,ijo3 My Summer in the King Range National Conservation Area Jason Landers, Humboldt State University student and BLM Volunteer Wilderness Ranger in the King Range National Conservation Area shared his final essay about internship experience for Environmental and Natural Resource Planning Course. "My summer as a King Range Wilderness Ranger was fun, enlightening, and unforgettable. I talked with thousands of people and spent over 400 hours helping to manage one of California’s most remote coastlines. I made great connections and I feel like I have grown as an individual. I am thankful that I spent my summer as a Wilderness Ranger." (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,lba1,aic5,1bct,ijo3 Varied Vegetation Greets Tour Attendees in San Benito and Fresno Counties Warmer weather has made this a prime time to view wildflowers on public lands managed by the Central Coast Field Office. Staff from Central Coast (formerly Hollister) Field Office recently led tours of the interior South Coast Range BLM lands at Tumey Hills in southern San Benito County on and Monocline Ridge in western Fresno County.Who knew that the Mojave Desert was so close to Monterey Bay? (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,1vpc,19e2,1bct,ijo3 Welcoming Springtime Nothing says spring quite like blooming wildflowers! Three hundred years ago, California’s Central Valley was vast grassland where antelope and elk grazed and wildflowers swept the spring landscape. Today, amid urban and agricultural development, a remnant remains in the Carrizo Plain National Monument. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,df63,c2v8,1bct,ijo3 Related: An explosion of color -- yellows, pinks, purples. (Department of Interior Instagram) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,2atm,1yt7,1bct,ijo3 Related: Beautiful wildflowers cover the Carrizo Plain National Monument in California (My Pubic Lands Instagram) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,2sr8,3l2y,1bct,ijo3 Desert Wildflowers Offer Spectacular Sights, Smells Just Outside L.A. Area KTLA 5, March 30, 2016 Conditions are just right for nature lovers in Southern California to experience an explosion of desert wildflowers blooming nearby. Photographs posted Tuesday to the U.S. Department of the Interior Facebook page show fields of yellow, pink and purple flowers growing at the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,fe3m,3ivn,1bct,ijo3 Carrizo Plain: Wildflower Wonderful NBC Los Angeles, March 29, 2016 Goldfields are making a stunning showing at the national monument... But look further north, to Carrizo Plain National Monument, where a glorious showing of goldfields has popped up in the second half of March. It's not quite a super bloom, says a monument representative, so don't cleave to that notion (and avoid disappointment). The showing is strong, however, and if goldfields happen to be one of your must-see wildflowers, best get up there before April truly gets going. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,3wdl,kq3z,1bct,ijo3 Spring roars quietly on the Carrizo Plain SFGate, March 24, 2016 A word of warning to photographers: A spring trip to the Carrizo Plain is likely to result in a full memory card and a severe case of lens envy when you spy the gear that other people are using. Whether it’s vast blankets of golden wildflowers, sprinting antelopes, ancient petroglyphs, sweeping panoramas or swooping sandhill cranes, the landscape of the Carrizo Plain is so beguiling, even the laziest cell phone selfie snapper is transformed into a would-be Ansel Adams. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,b9lv,10st,1bct,ijo3 Tis the season! Phenomenal wildflower bloom captured near the Merced River. The Merced River Recreation Area is near the entrance to Yosemite National Park and provides a beautiful setting for river enthusiasts. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,569p,jjv5,1bct,ijo3 Wildflowers in the Desert Beautiful wildflowers 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 visit. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,5odk,399z,1bct,ijo3 Travel Locations for your Bucket List Last week, our My Public Lands Tumblr blog wrapped up the #TravelTuesday winter series with guest photographer and BLM Wilderness Specialist, Bob Wick. Each post featured beautiful BLM landscapes, with helpful hints for travel planning. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,5cw5,4yvj,1bct,ijo3 BERRYESSA SNOW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT Video: Spring Festival to Dedicate Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, BLM Director Neil Kornze and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell joined with hundreds of community members and local leaders on March 19 to dedicate the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument. The Monument, which is jointly managed by the BLM Ukiah Field Office and the Mendocino National Forest, was designated by President Obama on July 10, 2015, to protect nearly 331,000 acres of public lands in northern California. (BLM California YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,6poh,ib71,1bct,ijo3 Weekend Inspiration – new photos of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument The monument extends from Berryessa Peak and other lands in Napa, Yolo, and Solano counties through the spectacular lands of Lake, Colusa, and Glenn counties to the eastern boundary of the Yuki Wilderness in Mendocino County. The landscape rises from near sea level in the south to over 7,000 feet in the north, and encompasses diverse landscapes including steep canyons, scenic rivers, rolling oak woodlands and elaborate springtime wildflower displays. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,6qan,fm81,1bct,ijo3 Related: View more photos (BLM California Flickr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,1yuu,ba4f,1bct,ijo3 Video: This Week at Interior March 25, 2016 Shining a spotlight on water sustainability; dedicating the nation's newest monument; funding youth engagement in the great outdoors; taking the first step to develop commercial wind power off California; forging a new partnership between USGS and the European Space Agency; celebrating as the cherry blossoms hit their peak bloom in the Nation's Capital. (Department of Interior YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,fimd,2dd3,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Vegetation Restoration in the BLM Applegate Field Office Last Saturday, Friends of Nevada Wilderness planted over 2,400 Wyoming big sagebrush seedlings for fire rehabilitation after the Coleman Fire. The Coleman Fire was ignited in July 2014 by lightning and burned 15,000 acres of sagebrush steppe habitat important to greater sage-grouse, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope in northwest Nevada. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,936q,82vu,1bct,ijo3 Related: Volunteers Lead Wildfire Recovery Efforts on Public Lands (Friends of Nevada Wilderness Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,ep88,mecu,1bct,ijo3 BLM Applegate Field Office, Modoc National Forest and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Receive the BLM/ Forest Service Joint Conservation Project Award The BLM Applegate Field Office, Modoc National Forest and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) were presented with the BLM/ Forest Service Joint Conservation Project Award on March 16 at the 81st North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This Award recognizes development and implementation of a joint BLM and Forest Service project with outstanding conservation accomplishments for fish, wildlife, and/or native plants and their habitat on public lands, and/or facilitates their use, enjoyment or appreciation. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,gx61,9lki,1bct,ijo3 Related: RMEF Honored for Cooperative Elk Survey Work (Elk Tracks, RMEF blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,242f,jj4,1bct,ijo3 Mono County Receives National Conservation Leadership Award Mono County was honored with the Conservation Leadership Partner of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding conservation accomplishments for fish, wildlife, and/or native plants and their habitat on public lands, for their role in the collaborative effort to conserve the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,6yar,hiz7,1bct,ijo3 Related: Mono County Receives National Conservation Leadership Award (Mono County Media Advisory) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,lqbb,2ksw,1bct,ijo3 Castle Mountains Monument: A glimpse at Old West history The Press Enterprise, March 26, 2016 Castle Mountains is the most remote and hardest to access of the three monuments created in the California desert by Obama. But all of them – Castle Mountains, Mojave Trails and Sand to Snow – fill gaps in a critical conservation mosaic. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,di1o,abm0,1bct,ijo3 House Republicans open probe of new California national monuments SFGate, March 29, 2016 House Republicans opened an investigation Tuesday into President Obama’s designation of three new national monuments in the California desert that protect more than 1.8 million acres of public land, along with six other monuments Obama has designated since January 2015. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,4mxb,fccm,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS The Economic Value of ‘Quiet Recreation’ on BLM Lands The Pew Charitable Trusts, March 31, 2016 Nonmotorized recreation on the 246 million acres of our nation’s land overseen by the BLM supports 25,000 jobs and generates $2.8 billion for the U.S. economy, according to the first study focused entirely on the economic contribution of “quiet recreation” visitors on BLM lands. “Quiet Recreation on BLM-Managed Lands: Economic Contribution 2014” was conducted by the independent firm ECONorthwest and commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,46gr,c7h0,1bct,ijo3 Honoring Trailblazing Women at the BLM Featuring three trailblazing women who were the first in their field at the BLM in the 1960s and 70s for Women's History Month: Elaine (Mosher) Pearsons, Lynell Schalk, and Caroline Peters. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,cxol,m4el,1bct,ijo3 BLM Sets Meeting of National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board for April in Redmond, Oregon The BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet on April 13-14 in Redmond, Oregon, to discuss issues relating to the management and protection of wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands. (BLM Press Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,1pep,c0au,1bct,ijo3 BLM Announces Three Selections for National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board The BLM announced the selections for three open positions on its nine-member National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. Ginger Kathrens of Fort Collins, Colorado, has been appointed for the category of humane advocacy; Ben Masters of Bozeman, Montana, has been appointed for the category of wildlife management; and Steven Yardley of Beaver, Utah, has been appointed for the category of livestock management. Each individual will serve a three-year term on the Advisory Board. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,d08v,9w9z,1bct,ijo3 BLM Announces Second Webinar on Initiative to Make Land-use Planning more Collaborative, Transparent, and Effective The BLM announced today that it will host a second informational webinar on its proposed planning rule, which is part of the ongoing Planning 2.0 initiative aimed at improving the planning process. The webinar is being offered on April 13, 2016 from 3:00-5:00 pm EDT. Participants can register for the webinar by visiting www.blm.gov/plan2. This second webinar will give the public an additional opportunity to learn about the proposed rule before the comment period closes on April 25, 2016. (BLM News Release) www.blm.gov/plan2 http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,4liv,3hbt,1bct,ijo3 Related: Planning 2.0: BLM Takes Major Step Toward Modernizing Planning Process, Increasing Public Involvement (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,1xq,ep61,1bct,ijo3 Improving How We Manage Your Public Lands The BLM announced proposed revisions to land-use planning process. The revisions support a new approach that will make future land-use planning more collaborative, transparent, and effective. Land-use planning is foundational to the work that the BLM does around the country, which is why it is important to engage the public early and often in the process. The proposed changes will increase opportunities for early engagement by the general public, as well as State and Tribal governments. They also allow the BLM to adopt a broader landscape-scale approach to managing public lands and incorporate modern technology into the planning process. (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,bcyq,p6x,1bct,ijo3 Related: Secretary Jewell's Invitation to Partner with the BLM (BLM National YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,93be,h7ja,1bct,ijo3 Flexibility the focus of BLM proposed planning revision The Wildlife Society, March 24, 2016 Landscape-scale planning, adaptability and public input are key components of the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed planning process update – the first major overhaul to their resource management planning regulations in 33 years. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,ghuc,36my,1bct,ijo3 Environmental groups encourage BLM to involve public in planning Durango Herald, March 24, 2016 Leaders from environmental organizations expressed support during a conference call Thursday for a proposed Bureau of Land Management rule that would increase public involvement in the agency’s management of some 245 million acres of public lands.The effort, known as the Planning 2.0 rule, seeks to modernize BLM’s planning by increasing public participation during the creation of resource management plans and by making “revisions to clarify existing text and use plain language” so the public has a better sense of what regulations would accomplish. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,gqfm,8e3p,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK The Pacific giant salamander is SO large that it: a) bends over small bushes to eat the tender leaves at the top. b) is unable to cross mudflats that smaller salamanders navigate easily. c) weighs too much to climb most bushes. d) eats snakes. e) is used for transportation in some rural communities. UPCOMING EVENTS April 2: Public Meeting Scheduled to Address Land Use in the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area Representatives from the 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,2i7yr,3xn3,2tfr,4npu,1bct,ijo3 April 9-10: Alabama Hills Day: Plenty of great events, activities Come celebrate the 5th Annual Alabama Hills Day! Over 40 different sponsors and exhibitors will be lending their support to celebrate the scenic landscape of the Alabama Hills on April 9, 2016. This day-long event promotes the jaw-dropping beauty of this semi-primitive area and educates the public about the wide variety of groups and activities that take place there. The event will start at 9:00 am with opening ceremonies at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center (at Highway 395 and Highway 136 in Lone Pine) along with exhibits and information. (Sierra Wave Media) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,ecn8,cny2,1bct,ijo3 April 18-22: Tire Amnesty Event Attention Nevada County residents: In an effort to reduce illegal dumping, Waste Management, County of Nevada, CA and the Bureau of Land Management are hosting a tire amnesty event on April 18 – 22 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,maxj,kzfd,1bct,ijo3 May 18: Historic Route 66 Association to Host Economic Summit The BLM California Desert District, in partnership with the California Historic Route 66 Association, will sponsor a Route 66 Economic Development Symposium on May 18, 2016 in Barstow. Experts from the tourism industry also will provide insight on how California communities can develop dynamic tourism portfolios to attract national and international visitors. Discussions also will recommend strategies how to promote Route 66 attractions, including museums, historic buildings and other community attractions to enhance economic tourism development opportunities. (BLM Press Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,30on,3lzc,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER The Pacific giant salamander is SO large that it: d.) eats snakes. Source: "Pacific giant salamander - Dicamptodon ensatus" (BLM website) Pacific giant salamanders are among the largest salamanders that occur in California. Their large size allows them to eat animals such as snakes and small rodents. Photo by Alan Dyck, U.S. Forest Service. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2i7yr,3xn3,bt18,5acr,1bct,ijo3 News.bytes is a publication of the Bureau of Land Management California. Bureau of Land Management California State Office 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W1623 Sacramento, Ca 95825 (916) 978-4600 www.blm.gov/ca/ Send Comments to the News.bytes Team | Subscribe to News.bytes | View our Privacy Policy To unsubscribe, send an email to: unsubscribe-183567@xxxxxxxxxxx
