News.Bytes, Bureau of Land Management California ISSUE 768 - JUNE 8, 2017 - Great Outdoors Month - Your Public Lands - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH Find Your Way June marks Great Outdoors Month and the start of the #FindYourWay campaign, an inter-agency and partner effort to celebrate our nation’s many rivers and trails. The BLM, along with our many partners and our fellow U.S. Department of the Interior agencies, invite you to start your own adventure on the thousands of miles of waterways and paths that cross our country. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,aed6,2cuv,1bct,ijo3 Related: #FindYourWay on America’s Scenic and Historic Trails (DOI Blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,io12,36z8,1bct,ijo3 Related: BLM, Partners Launch #FindYourWay to Celebrate America’s National Trails and Wild & Scenic Rivers Systems (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,ah3v,as8p,1bct,ijo3 #FindYourWay With Alex: An Americorps Intern with BLM California Alex Studd-Sojka is an AmeriCorps intern with American Conservation Experience working for the Bureau of Land Management in the California State Office. Over the next year, Alex will be exploring California’s many rivers in anticipation of 2018’s 50th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic River Act. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,9joz,6448,1bct,ijo3 Fishing, Boating in Northern California This National Fishing and Boating Week, get on the road and into the water at your public lands in northern California. Whether you like fishing, boating or hiking, we’ve got you covered with these top recreation spots. (USFWS Medium) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,41a4,5na7,1bct,ijo3 ATV Safety Week Take time to learn about proper operation of your machine, find out about helmets and protective gear, and take advantage of free ATV RiderCourse training. (Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,ahwd,dvoy,1bct,ijo3 Bus Shuttles Offered for Bizz Johnson National Recreational Trail The Bureau of Land Management encourages the public to take advantage of the Lassen Rural Bus service for the Bizz Johnson National Recreational Trail. The service offers bike shuttles for large groups, which helps eliminate the need to arrange vehicle shuttles. Trail users can take advantage of the West County Commuter Route operated by Lassen Rural Bus from Mondays through Saturdays. Bike rack-equipped buses leave from stops in Susanville and can drop cyclists, hikers and runners off at Devil's Corral, Fredonyer Summit and Westwood. Return biking or hiking trips to Susanville are about 7, 18 and 30 miles on the Bizz Johnson Trail. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,ky2u,eagc,1bct,ijo3 YOUR PUBLIC LANDS BLM and Volunteers Clear Pacific Crest Trail Using Traditional Tools As thru-hikers make their way north along the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, the BLM and volunteers from the Pacific Crest Trail Association and Backcountry Horsemen of California have been hard at work clearing hundreds of trees from the trail in several BLM-managed Wilderness areas between Walker Pass and Kennedy Meadows. (My Public Lands Tumblr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,9bzr,deuz,1bct,ijo3 Storm Water Control Project at Iron Mountain Shooting Area Crews have completed as storm water control project at our Iron Mountain shooting area near Redding and all four shooting spots are now open to the public. We appreciate the patience of the public while we completed this important project. We ask that shooters clean up their targets and shell casings when enjoying the Iron Mountain area. Please be aware of fire dangers when shooting. Fire restrictions limiting shooting hours, ammunition types and target types will go into effect this summer. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,a8c8,b2gk,1bct,ijo3 Kid's Ocean Day 1,000 students, chaperones, bus drivers, volunteers, Friends of the Dunes staff, California Conservation Corps Foundation crew members and BLM staff participated in Kid's Ocean Day, a dunes cleanup and restoration project near the City of Eureka. This annual event occurs at the Mike Thompson Wildlife Area, South Spit, at Humboldt Bay. BLM cooperatively manages the area with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, local government and tribal partners. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,b16o,flpd,1bct,ijo3 Recap from Canoemobile 2017 at Cosumnes River Preserve About 700 elementary and middle school students from the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District participated in Wilderness Inquiry’s third annual Canoemobile. Students paddled in 24-foot Voyageur canoes and participated in environmental education activities at Cosumnes River Preserve. (BLM California YouTube) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,8aau,2cm5,1bct,ijo3 Recreational Trails are Calling Recreational trails near Susanville, California are in great shape for the summer season, and a huge thanks goes out to a seven-person AmeriCorps crew that recently completed a month's work in northeast California. AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region Green 5 Team left its mark on more than 20 miles of trails, including some sections that had been badly damaged by severe winter weather. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,ar7x,cgvh,1bct,ijo3 California Coastal National Monument at Trinidad The ink is barely dry on a new management plan for the Trinidad Lighthouse on the North Coast, and the BLM Arcata Field Office is already hard at work improving the site for your next visit. The California Conservation Corps Foundation helped remove invasive ivy and other plants that were crowding out native plants and blocking stunning ocean views at the lighthouse site on Trinidad head. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,25xl,dkrf,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Current Fire Restrictions -BLM Bakersfield Field Office Issues Fire Restrictions http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,dk4h,c2wq,1bct,ijo3 -BLM Initiates Stage III Fire Restrictions in the California Desert District http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,eba0,16ru,1bct,ijo3 -BLM Initiates Emergency Fire Prevention Closure for Whitewater Canyon, Riverside County http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,gujn,4dk4,1bct,ijo3 For the latest wildland fire information be sure to utilize InciWeb and the CAL Fire Information website. http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,l4t8,ju2,1bct,ijo3 http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,9128,675b,1bct,ijo3 Studying the Western Pond Turtle Bureau of Land Management National and BLM California Barstow Field Offices recently sponsored the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a Western Pond Turtle Augmentation Feasibility Study for rare populations of turtles occurring along the Mojave River. This report documents one of the exciting observations from the field. Big thanks go out to partners from USGS and The Living Desert for their work on this project. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,tsi,kp60,1bct,ijo3 Amargosa Vole Study For a year, a scientific team consisting of California Department of Fish and Wildlife, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and U.S. Geological Survey biologists have conducted intensive research into the life cycle of this little vole. This important research study partially funded by the National Bureau of Land Management and BLM California offices, shares data and action recommendations. Results provide invaluable guidance to the BLM Barstow Field Office efforts to recover this highly endangered desert species and manage the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River which the voles call home. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,3qo4,cayk,1bct,ijo3 This We'll Defend Fort Ord National Monument hosted a 12 mile ruck competition for soldiers competing in the Platoon Sergeant of the Year competition. Staff Sergeant Ivery of the 229th was on his way to easily win the ruck while humping his 50 pound pack up and down the steep hills above Badger Hills Trailhead while passing civilian hikers. The 229th is attached to the Presidio of Monterey, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. If SSG Ivery wins the competition that includes other skills such as marksmanship, tactical and weapons knowledge and orienteering, he will represent the unit in the national Platoon Sergeant of the Year competition this September at U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,hcuv,l6ck,1bct,ijo3 Annual Yucca Valley Grubstake Days Crews from the California Desert Interagency Fire Program participated in the Annual Yucca Valley Grubstake Days, a long-standing tradition to Yucca Valley, embracing the rich mining heritage that the community is proud of! It was a wonderful opportunity for members of the military, veterans and firefighters from BLM, National Park Service and CAL Fire to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,9khd,9qid,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS Secretary Zinke Signs Order to Improve Sage-Grouse Conservation, Strengthen Communication and Collaboration Between States and Feds U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, signed a Secretarial Order 3353 to improve sage-grouse conservation and strengthen communication and collaboration between state and federal governments. Together, the Federal government and states will work to conserve and protect sage-grouse and its habitat while also ensuring conservation efforts do not impede local economic opportunities. (DOI News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,b61p,h7sl,1bct,ijo3 6 Interior Infrastructure Projects that Benefit the Public While the Interior Department might not immediately come to mind when talking about the nation’s infrastructure, the Department maintains a vast number of roads, bridges, dams, transmission lines and canals across the country. As the steward for America’s public lands, Interior’s infrastructure projects help millions of visitors experience our national treasures, provide water to the West and support American jobs. (DOI News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,gu7j,g4i,1bct,ijo3 Related: President Trump Kicks Off Infrastructure Week (White House Blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,4qd9,76sz,1bct,ijo3 Secretary Ryan Zinke Appoints Utah's Greg Sheehan as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced the appointment of Greg Sheehan to the newly-created position of Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Prior to his appointment, Sheehan served as Director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Service. Sheehan has more than 25 years of experience with the State of Utah working in wildlife and natural resource management. (DOI News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,36ag,8khw,1bct,ijo3 Secretaries Zinke and Perdue Stress Inter-Departmental Collaboration as Wildfire Season Approaches U.S. Secretary of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue joined forces in Boise, Idaho, at the National Incident Fire Command Center (NIFC) for a tour and briefing on the upcoming wildfire season. Following the events, the secretaries sent a memorandum to wildland fire leadership highlighting the importance of inter-departmental collaboration in protecting communities and managing public lands. In the memorandum, Zinke and Perdue stressed the need for working together as they anticipate the 2017 wildfire season to be “another challenging year.” (DOI News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,i0uv,k2qc,1bct,ijo3 Secretary Zinke Applauds President Trump's Action to Restore America's Energy Destiny U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke applauded President Donald J. Trump's decision to eject the United States from the Obama-era, multi-national Paris Accord. The Department of the Interior is in charge of most energy development on federal lands, including oil, gas, coal, wind, geothermal, and other sources, as well as oil, gas and wind on the Outer Continental Shelf. (DOI News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,cqk7,ghgj,1bct,ijo3 American Recreation Coalition Honors BLM Employees with Awards The national non-profit American Recreation Coalition honored two Bureau of Land Management employees from Oregon and Wisconsin for their outstanding efforts to enhance outdoor recreation on federally managed public lands. A Colorado non-profit organization, nominated by the BLM, also won an award. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,4hi9,blhm,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK True or false? Fine-scale habitat information can provide insight into species occupancy and persistence that is not apparent at the landscape-scale. Such information is particularly important for rare species that are experiencing population declines, such as the threatened Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus). Keep reading for answer below. UPCOMING EVENTS Now - January 2018: Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Events The BLM offers wild horses and burros for adoption or purchase at events across the country throughout the year. Upcoming wild horse and burro adoption events are planned into 2018. The most current adoption and purchase event schedule is provided on the BLM website. All times are in local time. Event information is shown in local time and subject to change without notice. Please call the Wild Horse and Burro Information Call Center at (866) 468-7826 for the most updated information. (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,l7lj,93xu,1bct,ijo3 Related: Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento on June 9-11 (BLM California Facebook) Related: Related: International Agri-Center in Tulare on June 9-11 (BLM California Facebook) June 10: Reptile Bioblitz On June 10 and 11 from 5:30 to 10:00 pm each night, the BLM Bishop Field Office is partnering with University of Georgia Ph.D. student Adam Clause to host an educational and scientific field inventory of wild lizards and snakes in the Volcanic Tablelands area north of Bishop, California. Space is limited! RSVP required. For additional details, contact volcanictablelands@xxxxxxxxx. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,71cl,gusl,1bct,ijo3 June 13 and 27: Scorpion Hunts Join a nocturnal adventure in search of these mysterious creatures! Learn about scorpions and use an ultraviolet light to find them from 7:30-9:00 pm in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Call (760) 862-9984 or (760) 641-8832 to RSVP! (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,f342,lfxs,1bct,ijo3 June 20: Dune Discovery Get ready to make tracks at this action-packed evening exploring sand dunes! Seek out signs of animals that thrive in this special desert environment from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Call (760) 862-9984 or (760) 641-8832 to RSVP! (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,iw2w,6qnb,1bct,ijo3 June 24: Volunteers Welcome at Bald Mountain Trail Improvement Project Day Volunteers are welcome to help the Bureau of Land Management improve single-track trails in the Bald Mountain Trail Network east of Susanville, in a project day set for Saturday, June 24. Volunteers will clear rocks and smooth out ruts and small gullies caused by winter storms. Anyone interested should meet at 8 a.m. at the fire station near the junction of Lassen County Road A-3 and Sunnyside Road north of Janesville. Those who arrive late can follow signs to the trailhead and hike to meet the work parties. The project concludes at 1 p.m. (BLM News Release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,a66b,acvb,1bct,ijo3 Related: Thank you to volunteers for work on National Trails Day! (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,me8v,aifl,1bct,ijo3 September 30: National Public Lands Day National Environmental Education Foundation's National Public Lands Day (#NPLD), sponsored by Toyota USA is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. NPLD connects people to public lands in their community, inspires environmental stewardship and encourages use of public lands for education, recreation and general health. Bring your family, friends, students or coworkers to spend the day outdoors giving back to your community by pulling invasive species, maintaining trails, picking up trash and so much more. Stay tuned for more details. (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,bytv,jyop,1bct,ijo3 September 30 and November 11-12: Fee-Free Days on BLM-managed Public Lands The unique and diverse natural landscapes and world-class visitor facilities on BLM-managed lands are among America’s greatest treasures, and most of these lands and waters are open for recreational use. Through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the BLM and other Federal agencies -- including U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- collect recreation fees to maintain and improve the quality of visitor services and amenities. Visitors may purchase recreation passes that cover many recreation fees. On fee free days, recreation standard amenity and day use fees on Bureau of Land Management lands are waived. (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,hi0f,bko,1bct,ijo3 October 6-8: Norco Horse Affair See you in City of Norco - Horsetown USA! BLM's Ridgecrest BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program Corrals will be participating in the Norco Horse Affair on October 6, 7 and 8. BLM will be bringing 10 burros and 20 wild horses for adoption. (Norco Horse Affair Facebook event) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,ldpm,jdik,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER True. "Fine-scale habitat information can provide insight into species occupancy and persistence that is not apparent at the landscape-scale. Such information is particularly important for rare species that are experiencing population declines, such as the threatened Yosemite Toad (Anaxyrus canorus). Our study examined differences in physical characteristics of occupied and unoccupied toad breeding pools within meadows, and then used a logistic regression model to evaluate if occupancy was related to the physical microhabitat variables. We found that occupied pools on average were deeper by 0.7 cm, warmer by 3°C, and had 50% more surface water along the short axis of the pool. Mean water depth, mean water temperature, the amount of surface water in the pools, mean detritus depth, and mean vegetation height were significant predictors of toad occupancy. Despite variation in larger-scale environmental conditions such as yearly winter snow cover and precipitation, occupancy was not related to individual years and microhabitat requirements for toad occupancy appear to be relatively constant. Pools were very shallow water bodies (mean depth 4.35 cm for occupied pools), and differences in physical microhabitat variables for suitable breeding sites were small but significant. This underscores the importance of fine-scale habitat information for breeding and reproduction of A. canorus, and for species persistence and management." (USFS Pacific Southwest Research Station website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2ub84,3xn3,k6un,g5lb,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 http://www.blm.gov/ca/
