News.bytes, Bureau of Land Management California ISSUE 727 - JUNE 3, 2016 - Memorial Day - Your Public Lands - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events MEMORIAL DAY Honoring Those That Have Fallen On Memorial Day, we honor those that have fallen in the service of our nation. You can take part by visiting Colonial era sites like George Rogers Clark National Historical Park in Indiana, a Civil War battlefield like Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee or a memorial on the National Mall like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. These memorials, cemeteries and battlefields help remind us of the extraordinary sacrifices made to keep us united and free. (America's Great Outdoors Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,57vm,hrc5,1bct,ijo3 The King Crest Trail a National Recreation Trail This Memorial Day, BLM featured one of the newest national monuments – Mojave Trails National Monument just east of Los Angeles, California. Spanning 1.6 million acres, the Mojave Trails National Monument includes rugged mountain ranges, ancient lava flows and fossil beds, and spectacular sand dunes. The monument also contains irreplaceable historical resources, such as the longest-remaining undeveloped stretch of the iconic Route 66 and World War II training camps. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,i86g,j892,1bct,ijo3 Related: Mojave Trails Steller Storyook (Your Land Your Story campaign) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,3vib,gzll,1bct,ijo3 PBS Broadcast "Sands of War" over Memorial Day Weekend A total of 218 broadcasts on 139 channels elected to air "Sands of War" representing 49% of PBS family of stations total channel coverage. 72% of broadcasts were on stations most watched channels and six of the top ten broadcast markets including Los Angelos, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta and Houston picked up the program. Additional major markets received the program in Phoenix, Detroit, Miami, Cleveland, Orlando, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Las Vegas and San Diego. "Sands of War" was available to a potential PBS audience of 143,729,000 people over the Memorial Day Weekend. Related: “Sands of War” is a 30-minute documentary that recounts the story of the Desert Training Center (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,4e3u,f4vw,1bct,ijo3 Video: Memorial Day Weekend on Public Lands Great to see this father filming his son enjoying Lark Canyon OHV area. Lark Canyon has over 30 miles of motorcycle trails and is one of two designated OHV riding areas in San Diego, California. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,1epp,jfe9,1bct,ijo3 YOUR PUBLIC LANDS President, Governors Proclaim June 'Great Outdoors Month' Seemingly in tandem with schools getting out for the summer, President Barack Obama, Governor Jerry Brown and the governors of 41 other states are declaring June Great Outdoors Month. “This month, as we enjoy the natural splendor of our nation, let us stay true to a uniquely American idea — that each of us has an equal stake in the land around us, and an equal responsibility to protect it. Together, let us ensure our children and grandchildren will be able to look upon our lands with the same sense of wonder as all the generations that came before,” President Obama states. (My Mother Lode News) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,52pv,gqi9,1bct,ijo3 Related: Join in June for Great Outdoors Month 2016! (Great Outdoors Month website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,m40q,g5eq,1bct,ijo3 Bus Service Now Available for Bizz Johnson Trail Visitors Local bus service and a program offering bike shuttles for large groups will make this summer's trips on the Bizz Johnson National Recreational Trail convenient by eliminating the need to arrange vehicle shuttles. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,eok5,hf22,1bct,ijo3 AmeriCorps Crew Helps Maintain Fort Ord Seven enthusiastic workers from the Pacific Region Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) helped the Bureau of Land Management with a variety of maintenance projects at Fort Ord National Monument in May. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,i3q7,h5jd,1bct,ijo3 Veterans Cemetery Under Construction at Fort Ord Nestled in the shadow of Artillery Hill near the Fort Ord National Monument is the site of the future Central Coast Veterans Cemetery. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,a1vt,bqk,1bct,ijo3 EKIP Field Trip Goes “Mountain Time” The high elevation ridges of Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument are a familiar site for students at Agua Caliente Elementary School. Every day they see a mountainous backdrop from the playground. Last week brought a new experience for 124 fourth graders; they traveled by bus, tram car and used their own trekking power to experience a wide range of ecosystems in the National Monument. Starting at the desert floor’s sandy washes they traveled by bus to a natural creek and oak woodland, then by tram car to pine forests, exploring along the way. (News.Bytes story) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,21f8,4z5b,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Day of discovery: Fourth-grade students learn about nature, recycling at Desert Discovery Center Desert Dispatch, May 26, 2016 Rose Beardshear passed around two pieces of rabbit fur to fourth-grade students from various Barstow Unified School District schools on Thursday and shared an interesting fact. Beardshear, who is the Interpretive Specialist for the Bureau of Land Management’s Barstow field office, told the students that Native Americans would make a blanket out of 100 rabbit furs back when they populated the Mojave Desert. The students’ eyes widened as they touched the fur. Beardshear was one of four presenters at the Desert Discovery Center during the annual recycling program that targets fourth-grade students. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,irjw,78po,1bct,ijo3 Capps Attends 15th Anniversary Carrizo Plain National Monument Event Republican Lois Capps (CA-24) participated in a tour of the Carrizo Plain National Monument that highlighted the changes in the area over the last 15 years since the Monument gained federal designation. The event was hosted by Friends of the Carrizo Plain, the Federal BLM, and the Carrizo Plain National Monument Advisory Committee. The group discussed the state of the Monument, the future of the Carrizo Plain, and local conservation efforts. (Lois Capps News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,hq8d,m8h4,1bct,ijo3 Related: Carrizo Plain National Monument (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,b97b,bjnp,1bct,ijo3 Chimney Fire burns 1,000 acres near Kernville, evacuations ordered ABC Bakersfield, June 2, 2016 300 firefighters are now on scene battling the Chimney Fire. According to the Bureau of Land Management, 9 Mile Road is closed off to the public, the Pacific Coast Trail is closed between Highway 178 and Kennedy Meadows. Canebreak Road is also closed. Read full story www.turnto23.com/news/breaking-news/inyo-county-brush-fire-chimney-fire-smoke-visible-in-kern-county Related: Incident Information Sysyem (InciWeb) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,3goe,b2nx,1bct,ijo3 Related: Chimney Fire Updates (Twitter) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,6thj,dndm,1bct,ijo3 Bark Beetles are Active in the Spring and Summer Be careful when trimming or removing dead and/or infested trees during warmer months when bark beetles are most active. Damaging a healthy trees can attract bark beetles. Learn more about safely removing dead trees. (CAL Fire website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,e0zj,b8l3,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS Video: Drone pilots are posing problems for wildland firefighters So far this year, there have been four reports of unauthorized drone flights over or near wildfires in the United States and Canada. Last year, there were at least twenty documented instances of unauthorized drone flights over or near wildfires in California, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming and Washington, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Aerial firefighting operations in these states were temporarily shut down on at least twelve occasions and there were two cases of near misses with drones, BLM officials said. (ABC Boise) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,gecv,gbht,1bct,ijo3 The Bureau of Land Management Uses Esri Story Maps to Encourage Public Land Exploration Directions Magazine, May 31, 2016 The BLM now uses Esri Story Maps to encourage exploration of the United States' public land treasures. The story maps document the travels of BLM wilderness specialist and photographer Bob Wick and were designed to acquaint citizens with the wonders of BLM-managed scenic land. As part of a larger BLM awareness campaign called My Public Lands, Wick's travelogues were published every Tuesday last winter and featured in the bureau's #traveltuesday Tumblr blog. The #traveltuesday campaign represents the extension of the bureau's geographic information system (GIS) into a social media outreach tool. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,2w8p,dkfc,1bct,ijo3 Related: Great Outdoors Month Travel Itineraries (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,15q7,6z3u,1bct,ijo3 Feds make it easier for kids to get outdoors Lake Tahoe News, June 1, 2016 As a kid, Sally Jewell spent a lot of time outside. Her parents took her to her first national park when she was 4 years old, and by age 15, she’d scaled Mount St. Helen’s with a group of friends. But the current Secretary of the Interior, now 60, isn’t as interested in recounting her childhood adventures as she is in trying to ensure that all American kids have the same opportunity to get outdoors that she had. Her latest initiative seeks to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds experience the wilderness. Her new Secretarial Order aims to do just that, by making it easier, faster, and less costly for youth organizations to obtain permits to explore public wild lands on overnight or multi-day trips. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,cwtw,clgs,1bct,ijo3 Jewell’s all hands, all lands vision draws strength from Interior employees Idaho Statesman, June 2, 2016 As Jewell enters the final eight months of her tenure as Obama’s Interior secretary, she’s taking on a more forceful role as defender of the federal government’s place in the West and the value of federal employees in their work and their communities. Read full story http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,1qqz,bmme,1bct,ijo3 Video: This Week at Interior May 27, 2016 $10m in grants for wildfire resiliency, bouncing back from the Soda Fire, and helping Canada fight the Fort McMurray fire; the First Lady delivers the commencement address at the Santa Fe Indian School; three more tribes join the Land Buy-Back Program; a sneak peak at the National Park Services theme study for Asian American/Pacific Islander historic landmarks; and it’s Memorial Day 2016. (Department of Interior YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,hqgb,2cp8,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK Which of these apply to the entrance of a San Joaquin Kit Fox burrow? a) They are constructed to look like rabbit burrows, to lure unsuspecting prey. b) They decorate them with shiny objects they find on the ground, perhaps to frighten away predators. c) They may have three dozen separate entrances to the place. d) None — they don’t use burrows, but shelter in thick stands of brush or tall grass. e) They are rougher around the edges but more colorful and creative than the pre-assembled fox burrows. Keep reading for answer below UPCOMING EVENTS June 1: BLM Offering Firewood Cutting Permits at Recreation Site near Ferndale BLM is offering firewood cutting permits at the Lost Coast Headlands recreation site, six miles west of Ferndale.Permits will be available for purchase beginning Wednesday, June 1 and offered while supply lasts. Permits can be purchased at the Arcata Field Office, from 7:45 am to 4:30 pm Monday - Friday at 1695 Heindon Road in Arcata. Permits will allow wood cutters to remove downed trees from the recreation site in the designated wood cutting area. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,jxaj,hkuf,1bct,ijo3 June 3: Free Nighttime Photography Workshop - June 3 A free workshop entitled, "Nighttime Photography: Tips and Tricks," will be presented Friday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m., in the King Range National Conservation Area. Participants will meet at the King Range Project Office, 768 Shelter Cove Rd., in Whitethorn to carpool to the workshop site. Participants will return to the office by 12:30 a.m. All are welcome; however, the focus will be for intermediate photographers with a digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera. Pre-registration is not required. Participants should also bring a headlamp or flashlight, warm clothing, and water. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,infa,5158,1bct,ijo3 June 4 and June 11: BLM Revises Meeting Locations and Times for Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area Tours Due to anticipated high heat conditions, the BLM, Barstow Field Office, has revised the meeting time and location for the previously scheduled Rasor Road Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area tour rides and meeting. The scheduled tour rides will provide a more detailed opportunity for the public to provide comments and concerns regarding land use, off-highway vehicle area access, visitor services, off-highway vehicle recreational opportunities, facilities, resource values, and monitoring. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,dhy2,azwb,1bct,ijo3 June 4: National Trails Day June 4, 2016 is American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, the country’s largest celebration of trails. National Trails Day events will take place in every state across the country and will include hikes, biking and horseback rides, paddling trips, birdwatching, geocaching, gear demonstrations, stewardship projects and more. (American Hiking Society website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,1jox,510o,1bct,ijo3 June 4: Alabama Hills Volunteer Day Planned The Alabama Hills Stewardship Group and the BLM will help celebrate the American Hiking Society's National Trails Day with a volunteer work day on Saturday, June 4. Volunteers will maintain and construct a trail connecting Lone Pine and Whitney Portal from 8 a.m. to noon. Participants should meet at the corner of Whitney Portal and Movie roads. Dress for outdoor work with comfortable, sturdy shoes, gloves and a hat. Bring sunscreen and water. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,9uln,8y9w,1bct,ijo3 June 14: Meeting Scheduled for Northwest California Integrated Resource Management Plan Anyone interested in public lands in Humboldt, Mendocino, Shasta, Trinity, Siskiyou, Butte and Tehama counties has an opportunity to share with the BLM their values regarding these lands, in a public meeting. The meeting will be held Tuesday, June 14, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the BLM Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, in Arcata. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,m340,3dyg,1bct,ijo3 June 15: Experimental Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles Collect Data on Sage grouse Habitat BLM's Eagle Lake Field Office will offer an informational meeting on local use of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on June 15 from 5-6 pm. A UAV crew will demonstrate how UAVs collect data with examples of how the data is used for observing, monitoring, and measuring the landscape. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,d0zw,frkr,1bct,ijo3 June 16: BLM Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Solar Project in Kern County BLM Ridgecrest Field Office has scheduled a public scoping meeting on Thursday, June 16 at the Mojave Veterans Memorial Building, 15580 O Street, Mojave, California from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to solicit comments from public agencies and the public on concerns and interests for the Camino Solar Project proposed by Aurora Solar, LCC, on variance lands identified in the BLM Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,d10l,j8uz,1bct,ijo3 June 23: Central California Residents Appointed to BLM Advisory Council, New Nominations Accepted Four Central California residents have been appointed to the BLM Central California Resource Advisory Council. The BLM is accepting additional nominations until June 23. Jeffrey Froke of Pebble Beach and Laurie Collom of Bakersfield were appointed to represent the public at large. Froke is an ornithologist and former state park ranger and game warden. Collom is a real estate appraiser. Bob Schneider, Davis, a co-founder of Tuleyome, was appointed to represent environmental organizations. Reb Monaco, Hollister, a retired educator and former San Benito County supervisor, was appointed to represent dispersed recreation. The Central California RAC advises BLM officials for the Hollister, Mother Lode, Bakersfield, Ukiah and Bishop field offices. The appointments were made by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell for three-year terms. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,lspj,kymm,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER Which of these apply to the entrance of a San Joaquin kit fox burrow? c) They may have three dozen separate entrances to the place. San Joaquin kit foxes are mainly nocturnal animals that stay burrowed in their dens during hot weather. However, on cool days you may find one of these small foxes basking in the sun or hunting down a meal. They excavate dens in loose soil, with up to 36 entrances and from three to 24 separate dens within, reaching depths of up to 10 feet. Source: San Joaquin Kit Fox – Vulpes macrotis mutica (BLM California Wildlife Database) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2k28s,3xn3,h61u,85jj,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/
