ISSUE 722 - APRIL 28, 2016 Facebook Twitter Flickr YouTube tumblr Instagram - Earth Day - Your Public Lands - Discover the Desert - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events EARTH DAY Earth Day 2016: Celebrating America's Newest Conservation System! The Bureau of Land Management is proud to share an ongoing series of vintage posters depicting some of the spectacular landscapes of our National Conservation Lands. BLM’s National Conservation Lands conserves, protects, and restores nationally-significant landscapes and places that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations. These lands include over 875 areas (more than 30 million acres) of national monuments, national conservation areas, wilderness areas, and other federally-designated special places. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,ajxq,fhrv,1bct,ijo3 Related: Vintage posters series. (My Public Lands Flickr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,m6qi,jo0t,1bct,ijo3 Every Kid in a Park at 2016 Earth Day Event at Southside Park BLM employees, Seymour Antelope, partners from Bureau of Reclamation and Generation Green Team from Grant High School celebrate Every Kid in a Park and Earth Day. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,g4ct,1wu3,1bct,ijo3 Related: Every Kid in a Park. (BLM California Flickr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,f89j,8oxv,1bct,ijo3 Ukiah Field Office celebrated Earth Day at Ukiah High School BLM's Ukiah Field Office celebrated Earth Day at Ukiah High School along with many community partners including Audubon California. On Earth Day and every day we are thankful for public lands. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,hbv1,hyvn,1bct,ijo3 Desert Discovery Center hosts annual Earth Day event Desert Dispatch, April 23, 2016 In celebration of Mother Earth, the Desert Discovery Center in Barstow hosted its annual Earth Day event Saturday morning as residents came out to enjoy a day in nature. This year’s theme focused on “Earth cycles” as hundreds of people participated in the educational programs and activities. The event kicked off with the center opening its new nature trail improvement project as residents were welcome to add the finishing touches to the trail that surrounded the center. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,e1vf,3erz,1bct,ijo3 YOUR PUBLIC LANDS Wilderness Volunteers on the Lost Coast Last week, the BLM hosted a Wilderness Volunteers service trip at the King Range National Conservation Area in California. For the fourth year, volunteers from across the country camped and worked in the wilderness, cleaning the beaches and campsites and clearing trails for visitors. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,kz0d,j4ks,1bct,ijo3 26th Anniversary of the Sea Otter Classic On April 14-17, Fort Ord National Monument hosted the 26th Anniversary of the Sea Otter Classic with other partners in the Monterey Area. Known as a sprawling and energetic “celebration of cycling”, Sea Otter is cycling’s North American season opener. Cross-country mountain bike and road bike venues use road and trail systems within Fort Ord National Monument. Professional and amateur athletes alike make the annual trip to the Monument to participate in some of the sport’s most competitive and enduring events. Hundreds of pro cyclists, including national, world, and Olympic champions attend Sea Otter to race and meet with fans. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,2x7j,l29j,1bct,ijo3 DISCOVER THE DESERT Geologic wonder for your bucket list! The Mecca Hills Wilderness is near the town of Indio, about an hour southeast of Palm Springs, California. The dramatic and colorful Mecca Hills were formed by the convergence of the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate along the San Andreas Fault. The powerful fault system there has pushed up and overturned layers of rock—some over 600 million years old—which provide important information to scientists about the impact of earthquakes on the Earth’s crust. And mineral deposits in the Mecca Hills result in hues of rose, pink, red, purple and green. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,l0g1,krdw,1bct,ijo3 Related: Discover the Desert (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,6upe,7e60,1bct,ijo3 Lassen County 5th Graders Spend their Day in the Desert Held annually in the spring, all 5th graders from Lassen County are invited to tour the Belfast Petroglyph site and see Willow Creek as part of a local outdoor education program. The Lassen County Environmental Education Collaborative coordinates the yearly event and is a partnership among the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, Lassen National Forest, Lassen County Office of Education and the non-profit Lassen Land & Trails Trust. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,fz8h,4mnp,1bct,ijo3 Inyo County’s unearthly beauty San Francisco Examiner, April 24, 2016 The vast, mountainous high-desert landscape of Inyo County — which looks (and actually was) made for epics — boasts a number of superlatives: the tallest peak in the lower 48 states (14,505-foot Mt. Whitney), the lowest point in North America (282 feet below sea level in Death Valley), and the oldest trees on the planet (5,000-year-old bristlecone pines). But it also lays claims to some major scientific advances — thanks, in part, to its isolation. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,2mv2,js8k,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Volunteers honor fallen firefighter Luke Sheehy Volunteers continue construction of a physical fitness park that will be dedicated to the memory of a northern California smokejumper who died in the line of duty. The Sheehy Memorial Fitness Park, opening to the public this summer, will be dedicated to the memory of Luke Sheehy, a Redding-based U. S. Forest Service smokejumper who died fighting a fire in northeast California’s Warner Mountains in the summer of 2013. Sheehy had also served on a BLM hotshot crew. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,aep1,k7hg,1bct,ijo3 10 Animals UC Davis Is Working to Save Davis scientists don’t just study animals. Often, they save them. They’re putting on gloves to carefully wash gooey oil from sea birds’ wings. They’re breeding Amargosa voles after their desert habitat dried up. They’re following mountain lions into the hills of Southern California to track their genetic decline and overall health. It’s work befitting the world’s No. 1 School of Veterinary Medicine, which saves thousands of animals each year, whether at its teaching hospital on campus or in the forests of Africa. (UC Davis Environment News website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,5y9t,an5e,1bct,ijo3 Pit River Tribe Scores Court Victory in Battle for Medicine Lake Indian Country Today, April 25, 2016 Since the early ‘80s, Seal and many other Pit River people have fought to protect the Medicine Lake Highlands from plans by the Bureau of Land Management and energy corporations to develop geothermal power there, which would industrialize the pristine volcanic landscape and risk contaminating the lake with hydraulic fracturing. After decades of activism and 12 years of litigation, the Pit River Tribe and their allies scored a landmark victory in federal court on April 19, when Judge John Mendez ruled the BLM illegally extended 26 geothermal leases to Calpine Corporation without any tribal consultation or environmental review. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,lji7,elrm,1bct,ijo3 U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $750,000 For Emergency Repairs to Federal Roads Throughout Northern California U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced the immediate availability of $750,000 in Emergency Relief funds from the Federal Highway Administration to stabilize and repair roads damaged by heavy rains on federal lands throughout northern California. (Department of Transportation New Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,eqcq,m4cp,1bct,ijo3 Santa Cruz County moving forward in Davenport cement plant reuse effort Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 16, 2016 The cement plant in Davenport closed in 2010. For a century, the operation there blasted for limestone and then crushed and processed it into cement… Now the next chapter for 106-acre site will likely look much different. Santa Cruz County is starting to explore how to reuse the decommissioned plant, which is still owned by Cemex Corp. County officials announced Friday that the process has begun for recruiting a consultant who will spearhead a coastal restoration and reuse plan. Bids are due May 20. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,1hhz,70b4,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS Community Celebration of National Conservation Lands Each day, we work hand-in-hand with local communities to manage and care for public lands. It’s where outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike find solitude, adventure, and fun. These are their lands. Your lands. Show your love for those lands! From Earth Day to Memorial Day Weekend, share your photos and videos of the vintage poster locations with the #YourLandYourStory Flickr group. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,4vah,hzs5,1bct,ijo3 Related: Your Land Your Story photo group. (My Public Lands Flickr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,fme5,jq4x,1bct,ijo3 Related:Your Land Your Story book. (My Public Lands Steller) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,a70x,k13h,1bct,ijo3 Share the Experience 2015 Photo Contest Winners Share the Experience gives amateur photographers the chance to showcase their skills by capturing the beauty of the nation’s public lands and waters. The top-prize photograph, made by Yang Lu of El Segundo, California, captures a dramatic sunrise at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. Winners came from other categories including Historic, Adventure, Night Skies, Scenic, Wildlife and Fan Favorite. The Interior Department's Instagram account showcases stunning photos of America’s public lands and frequently features contest submissions. (Department of Interior blog) One View: Don’t let Congress stall united public land management Reno Gazette-Journal, April 26, 2016 Managing hundreds of millions of acres of public land owned by every American is no small task. People have competing interests and every American, whether they work for the oil and gas industry, raise livestock, hike, hunt, or simply enjoy open spaces has a say in how that land is managed. In 1976, Congress adopted the Federal Land Policy and Management Act to provide guidance to the Bureau of Land Management for use of public lands. That law directs the BLM to provide for “multiple use,” defined as “The management of the public lands and their various resource values so that they are utilized in the combinations that will best meet the present and future needs of the American people.” FLPMA does not mandate that every use be accommodated on every acre; rather, it calls for balancing public demands and providing for a mix of land uses – including active development, passive use and protection. That rule has served America well for over 40 years. Read full story Video: This Week at Interior April 22, 2016 The future of conservation, and the impact of parks on the national economy; millions of dollars in grants to protect waterfowl, and to fund conservation and recreation projects coast to coast; spending Earth Day in the Everglades; the next class of wildlife detector dogs is ready for duty; and a former president gets a new title: park ranger. (Department of Interior YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,he9p,ebdo,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK Which of the following is true for alligator lizards? a) Alligator lizards like to be out in the open. b) Their tails can reach twice the length of their body if it has never been broken off and regenerated. c) The head of a female is broader than a male’s with a more triangular shape. d) Alligator lizards avoid water because they cannot swim. Keep reading for answer below UPCOMING EVENTS April 28 and May 4: Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Open Houses The U.S. Forest Service Mendocino National Forest and the BLM Ukiah Field Office will hold two open houses to provide the public with information on the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and monument planning process. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,j9al,40eb,1bct,ijo3 May 5: Wildlands Conservancy in celebrating your new California Desert National Monuments The celebration, hosted by The Wildlands Conservancy at its Whitewater Preserve, a gateway to the Sand to Snow National Monument will take place from 9 am to 12 noon on Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Whitewater Preserve. (Wildlands Conservancy website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,fj2j,5dlq,1bct,ijo3 May 12: BLM Takes Comments on Proposed Vegetation Management Program BLM Redding Field Office is requesting public comments regarding a proposed weed and vegetation management program. Comments on the environmental assessment will be accepted through May 12. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,3pj8,at1a,1bct,ijo3 May 17: Public Invited to Free Lecture on Marine Research North coast residents and visitors are invited to learn about ongoing marine research in a lecture titled, "Changing Conditions in our Coastal Waters." Brian Tissot will be presenting Tuesday, May 17, at 7 p.m., at the Redwood Playhouse, 286 Sprowel Creek Rd., in Garberville. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,ir6m,jtxt,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 News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,diz8,iis0,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER Which of the following is true for alligator lizards? b) Tail can reach twice the length of their body if it has never been broken off and regenerated. Alligator lizards, genus Elgaria, are members of the family Anguidae, a family of lizards found in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Alligator lizards are generally secretive, tending to hide in brush or under rocks, although they are often seen foraging out in the open or on roads in the morning and evening. They are common inhabitants of suburban yards and garages. The tail can reach twice the length of its body if it has never been broken off and regenerated. The tail of an alligator lizard is easily broken off, as it is with many lizards. The tail will grow back, although generally not as perfectly as the original. A lizard may detach its tail deliberately as a defensive tactic. When first detached, the tail will writhe around for several minutes, long enough to distract a hungry predator from the lizard. The head of a male is broader than a female’s with a more triangular shape. Moves with a snake-like undulating motion, often tucking the rear legs up against the side of the body and pulling itself along on its belly with the front feet. The slightly prehensile tail can be used to wrap around vegetation when climbing. Alligator lizards are also good swimmers, sometimes diving into the water to escape by swimming away. Photo by Eric Morgan, BLM. Source: California Herps, Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of California http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2j4ok,3xn3,4kll,jjy0,1bct,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
