News.bytes, Bureau of Land Management California ISSUE 719 - April 7, 2015 Facebook Twitter Flickr YouTube tumblr Instagram - Your Public Lands - Youth - Renewable Energy - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events YOUR PUBLIC LANDS Enjoying the California Coast While driving near Sonoma Coast State Park don't forget to enjoy the views of the California Coastal National Monument. Connecting the Pacific Ocean with the land, the 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, and 1,665 acres of public land onshore in the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,ixas,blyh,1bct,ijo3 Related: Harbor seal pups learning to swim near China Cove. (Point Lobos Foundation Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,26am,k67e,1bct,ijo3 Most visitors to BLM land seek quiet activities, study says San Bernardino Sun, April 2, 2016 A first-of-its-kind survey shows that nearly two-thirds of visitors to the 246 million acres of public land across 11 western states and Alaska enjoyed quiet — as in nonmotorized — recreation activities. In California, there were 4.9 million visits during 2014 to the state’s 15.2 million acres overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, says a recent study from Pew Charitable Trusts. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,cafa,9n5v,1bct,ijo3 Related: The Economic Value of ‘Quiet Recreation’ on BLM Lands (The Pew Charitable Trusts) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,6dfr,bv9h,1bct,ijo3 AmeriCorps NCCC Shares Team Green 1 Travels and Work at Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Edison Velez III, Project Outreach Liaison for AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region shares the travels of Team Green 1! "The corps members of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Team Green 1 have been dreaming of working in the outdoors with the Bureau of Land Management since before they came to California in October 2015. Since the team’s start, they have had service projects in Salt Lake City, Utah, Redding, California and now in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in California." (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,lfof,drvl,1bct,ijo3 Introducing California’s Newest National Monuments National Recreation and Park Association, April 1, 2016 The presidential declaration mandates that each monument, consisting of land already owned by the federal government, be given a higher protective status and be managed with the over-arching goal of preserving and protecting it for generations to come. All current use of the land — existing mining operations, recreational off-road travel, utility corridors and military training drills — continue to be allowed in these areas now defined as national monuments. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,22zf,xbb,1bct,ijo3 Mojave Trails Monument: Craters, mountains and dunes, oh my! The Press Enterprise, April 2, 2016 Whether a nature lover or an explorer, the 1.6 million-acre has a little something for everyone. It is the largest of three national monuments in the California desert that were established by President Barack Obama in February; the others are Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,gsd9,ixlo,1bct,ijo3 No foolin’ on #AprilFools Day! Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area. It’s the perfect time to visit the Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area, a valuable historic and natural resource that presents many recreational and educational opportunities. From the lush riparian areas surrounding the Sacramento River and its tributaries to the expanse of the rolling hills of blue oak savannah, the Sacramento River Bend offers diverse habitat for bald eagles, osprey, migratory and song birds, deer, and salmon. The area also offers numerous recreation opportunities for hunting, camping, hiking, boating, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,2nze,9azq,1bct,ijo3 Related: More photos. (BLM California Flickr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,d1wf,977h,1bct,ijo3 YOUTH Spring Fever at Rainbow Basin’s Owl Canyon Campground Spring fever was in the air at the Rainbow Basin Owl Canyon Campground on March 19, 2016. Girl Scout troops from Barstow, Newberry Springs, and Yermo held their Jamboree over the weekend to teach outdoor living skills from beginning to master levels. The training included Leave No Trace ethics, trail signage, camping etiquette, examining habitats of various animals, and knot tying. Also participating were Boy Scouts from Riverside and the Army Cadets of Bakersfield. Park Ranger Art Basulto, BLM Barstow Field Office, provided an interactive, hands-on program, as part of the training for the scouts. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,h4vc,66n9,1bct,ijo3 Over 750 Every Kid in a Park passes given to 4th graders by BLM in California President Barack Obama created Every Kid in a Park so fourth graders and their families could discover our wildlife, resources, and history for free. 4th graders and their families have free access to more than 2,000 federally-managed sites within a one-hour driving distance of their home. BLM California is proud to help fourth graders and their families enjoy public lands. Over 750 Every Kid in a Park passes have been given out by BLM to 4th graders in California. (News.Bytes Story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,jzjw,i8jb,1bct,ijo3 Related: Every Kid in a Park (Official website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,86aq,hemr,1bct,ijo3 Every Kid in the Park Day at Headwaters Forest Reserve Fortuna Elementary 4th grade classes enjoying the magic of Falk history and discovering creatures like banana slugs and Ensatina salamanders! They also took away free National Park passes that are good through August! (Friends of Headwaters Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,6kp8,915w,1bct,ijo3 RENEWABLE ENERGY Interior Department Approves 287-Megawatt Soda Mountain Solar Project in Southern California As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution, create jobs and move our economy toward clean energy, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Janice Schneider today announced approval of the Soda Mountain Solar Project on public lands managed by the BLM in California. (Department of Interior Press Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,gekm,4ri9,1bct,ijo3 Related: President Obama’s Climate Action Plan (White House website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,cduz,loqw,1bct,ijo3 Related: Soda Mountain Solar Record of Decision (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,hgrp,9icu,1bct,ijo3 Environment: Soda Mountain solar plant OK’d The Press-Enterprise, April 5, 2016 Despite objections from environmentalists, the Obama administration on Tuesday, April 5, approved the 287-megawatt Soda Mountain solar energy plant for a remote part of the Mojave Desert. The 1,767-acre project being developed by Bechtel is located on land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, about six miles southwest of Baker. “Soda Mountain is another step forward toward diversifying our nation’s energy portfolio and meeting the state of California’s growing demand for renewable energy,” said BLM Director Neil Kornze. The project is consistent with BLM’s landscape approach for the California desert, which supports careful development of renewable energy while protecting the resources and places that make the desert special, Kornze said in a statement. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,4lqh,cux6,1bct,ijo3 Feds approve controversial remote desert solar plant near Baker San Bernardino Sun, April 5, 2016 The project will provide enough power for more than 86,000 homes and help toward meeting Obama’s Climate Action Plan goal of 20,000 megawatts of power derived from renewable energy project on public lands by 2020, the BLM statement said. The agency said it spent more than three years consulting and working with a variety of federal and state partners, members of the public and others to develop a “comprehensive environmental analysis” of the Soda Mountain project area and devise a project design that preserves scenic vistas, reduces potential impacts to wildlife in the area and protects groundwater. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,3de7,f1bq,1bct,ijo3 “Solar-Generated Electricity” Teaching Guide Available Does the need for carbon-free renewable energy outweigh the potential risks to wildlife habitats, cultural and historical resources, and recreation areas? Middle school teachers can explore this question with their students with Solar-Generated Electricity, the latest teaching guide in the BLM's Classroom Investigation Series. The three-activity unit describes how solar facilities on public lands work, examines the tradeoffs in detail, and illuminates the factors that affect decisions about where to build solar electricity plants. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,de0t,8dfd,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS BLM Central Coast Field Office Dedication Planned The BLM will hold a dedication and open house for its new Central Coast Field Office on April 8. The dedication by BLM State Director Jerry Perez will be held at 1:15 p.m., followed by a public open house until 3 p.m. The new office opened in February following a move and name change from Hollister. "We would like to invite everyone to come visit our new office and learn more about opportunities to enjoy public lands in Central California," said Rick Cooper, Central Coast field manager. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,k1qr,awfk,1bct,ijo3 Spring Festival celebrates Berryessa Snow National Monument The California Aggie, April 6, 2016 On March 19, a Spring Festival was held at Cowboy Camp near Williams, Calif. to celebrate the new Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument (BSMNM), a region that stretches from northeast Napa County into the Mendocino National Forest. The event was held by the United States Bureau of Land Management, which controls the land, and the Mendocino National Forest, as well as Tuleyome, the organization that spearheaded the designation of the national monument. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,f1wz,90xn,1bct,ijo3 Video: Prepare for Wildfire with Defensible Space Despite a wet winter, tens of millions of trees are dead, increasing wildfire risk. Learn more about maintaining your Defensible Space now! (CAL Fire Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,gnbq,bpxc,1bct,ijo3 Military: Extent of training delayed by tortoises still undecided The Press Enterprise, April 2, 2016 The extent of military exercises in the Johnson Valley aren’t yet known about a month after a plan to move endangered desert tortoises out of the area was delayed, military officials told about 30 people at a meeting Saturday, April 2. The delay, prompted by a legal challenge filed March 8, has put a crimp in utilizing 88,000 acres — part of land added to the Marine base in Twentynine Palms in 2013 — for an intended large-scale live-fire exercise in August. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,32yb,e43j,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS Every Kid in a Park Scavenger Hunt For the month of April, the BLM will host a Social Media Every Kid in a Park Scavenger Hunt on Facebook! Clues will be posted weekly on state Facebook pages, and answers can be found be on all of our BLM social media channels. Whoever finds the most items wins! The national winner(s) will be announced in the beginning of May. Look for the first clue on BLM Alaska’s Facebook page on Thursday and remember to post your answers as a comment in each Clue Post. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,92yl,g5cl,1bct,ijo3 April is "Keep America Beautiful" Month This week, USA Today featured the top 50 Department of the Interior Instagram posts of all time. The stunning photos of American public lands and wildlife include several managed by the BLM: the Wave at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona and a supermoon over Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Monument in California, pictured here. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,fxuo,jim7,1bct,ijo3 Officials sign unusual pact to tear down hydroelectric dams The Olympian, April 6, 2016 Endangered salmon blocked for nearly a century from hundreds of miles of the Klamath River in Oregon and California are expected to return en masse under unusual agreements signed Wednesday to tear down four hydroelectric dams. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who signed agreements with the governors of both states, said the plan would bring about one of the largest river restoration projects in the history of the U.S. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,hg2h,9ede,1bct,ijo3 Related: Two New Klamath Basin Agreements Carve out Path for Dam Removal and Provide Key Benefits to Irrigators (Department of Interior News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,egje,12t4,1bct,ijo3 $8.8 Billion Settlement Reached with BP Sets Stage for Important Restoration Work to Gulf of Mexico This week, a federal court in New Orleans approved a $20.8 billion settlement to resolve civil claims resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It is the largest recovery of damages ever approved for injuries to natural resources. This settlement is a momentous step towards restoring the Gulf – bringing amount of funding dedicated to this iconic ecosystem. (Department of Interior News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,m46n,5eg6,1bct,ijo3 Video: This Week at Interior Secretary Jewell’s first official visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico; USGS releases its first-ever hazard maps for natural and human-induced earthquakes; millions of dollars in grants for tribal wildlife habitats; the Manhattan home of a noted LGBT activist is now an official historic place; commemorative coins mark the National Park Service’s centennial; and it’s National Park Week, April 16 – 24. (Department of Interior YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,jixn,2i4a,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK What is unusual about the way that the pallid bat feeds? a) It grinds up food in its stomach with pebbles it has swallowed. b) It competes with vultures for desert carrion. c) It eats seeds, instead of the flying insects that most other bats eat. d) It eats mostly from the ground, including scorpions. e) It feeds off of nectar and cactus pulp, instead of insects. f) It places its little bat utensils to the left of its plate, while most bats place them to the right. Keep reading for answer below UPCOMING EVENTS 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 at9:00 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,2idxr,3xn3,j5xu,d0im,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,2idxr,3xn3,5h0y,jz4b,1bct,ijo3 April 18-19: Meetings Set for BLM Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan Anyone interested in public lands in Shasta, Trinity, Siskiyou, Butte and Tehama counties has an opportunity to share with the Bureau of Land Management their values regarding these lands, in public meetings set for this month in Redding and Weaverville. These informal meetings will be early opportunities for public involvement as the BLM begins developing the Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,mbyh,70k6,1bct,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,2idxr,3xn3,e2ua,e84t,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER What is unusual about the way that the pallid bat feeds? d) It eats mostly from the ground, including scorpions. This is one of the few bat species that specializes in eating off the ground rather than in flight. As a result, their diet is quite different from other bats. Source: “Pallid Bat – Antrozous pallidus” (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2idxr,3xn3,iyv9,gtdv,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/
