ISSUE 777 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 - From the Field - Hunting and Fishing - Headlines and Highlights - BLM and DOI Highlights - Wildlife Question of the Week - Upcoming Events FROM THE FIELD Video: Have you ever heard of a LACT unit? Learn more about a Lease Automatic Custody Transfer unit or LACT from Clint Anthony, BLM Petroleum Engineering Technician. BLM California manages nearly 600 producing oil and gas leases covering more than 200,000 acres. Between 80% and 90% of all surface-disturbing activities related to oil and gas activities occur in the San Joaquin Valley on public lands administered by Central California District, Bakersfield Field Office. More than 95% of all Federal drilling occurs in established fields within the Kern County area of the San Joaquin Valley. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,av5i,fcsg,1bct,ijo3 Desert Safety Tip Visitors need to be careful when exploring the desert during our infrequent, but powerful summer rain events. Last month, Afton Canyon experienced a large flash flood during a one day rain event. As can be seen from the staff gauge readings located in the canyon, this event resulted in a sudden surge of water through the canyon -- almost doubling normal water depths over night. As captured by U.S. Geological Survey monitors, this was a powerful flood event. In fact, this event lead to a derailment of a train going through the canyon at the time. So be sure to be careful when recreating in desert canyons during summer storms! (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,58yk,hpi8,1bct,ijo3 Making Use of Horsepower to Build Trails BLM's Eagle Lake Field Office continues to make progress building new trails for horseback riders, mountain bikers and walkers on Bald Mountain southeast of Susanville. Last weekend, good old-fashioned horsepower supported our mini trail dozer on the hillside. Volunteers Pete and Sandy Jansen, members of the Back Country Horsemen of America's Lassen-Modoc Unit, packed in 20 gallons of diesel fuel to support the work. That gave the dozer operator four days of trail building time. Thanks to volunteers for supporting work on public lands! (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,bsp6,dsfo,1bct,ijo3 HUNTING AND FISHING California’s General Deer Season Opens Sept. 16 Across Much of the State; Hunters Advised to Check Area Closures Before Heading Out Deer season is already underway in California’s A and B4 deer hunting zones along the coast, but the majority of general zones – B1-B3, B5, B6, C1-C4, D6 and D7 – open Saturday, Sept. 16. Several other deer hunting zones – D3-D5 and D8-D10 – open the following week, on Saturday, Sept. 23. Severe winter weather conditions took a toll on some migratory deer populations and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) reduced the number of tags for a few popular areas in order to sustain herds over the long term. Not all populations suffered heavy winter losses, however, and CDFW’s trail cameras and fecal DNA studies revealed bucks out there for the taking. (CDFW news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,2kri,j3ux,1bct,ijo3 30 Great American Places September is a month tailor-made for sportsmen and women and there is no better place to spend it than on our public lands. The dog days of summer have given way to cooler temperatures and a multitude of opportunities beckon hunters and anglers: brown trout chasing streamers, elk bugles ringing through the mountains, ruffed grouse bursting from underfoot, brook trout aglow in spawning colors, hatches of blue wing olives, salmon returning home to spawn… We all have our favorite public lands where we savor these experiences and this September we are celebrating them with 30 Great American Places. (Trout Unlimited) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,hpk8,4ibw,1bct,ijo3 Hunting and Fishing on America's Public Lands This fall, BLM California is joining California Department of Fish and Wildlife to celebrate hunting and fishing on America's public lands. You’ve heard that millions of California’s trees have died from drought and bark beetles. Weakened by lack of water due to five consecutive years of drought, over 102 million conifers and hardwood trees were unable to fight off attacks from bark beetles and died. It is important for outdoor recreationalists, especially hunters to watch for falling trees. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,mb1x,17fc,1bct,ijo3 Follow along using the hashtag #HuntFishCA on Facebook and Twitter. Share your hunting and fishing photos with us! Everything You Need to Know about Hunting on Public Lands Hunters have played a major role in the conservation of the nation’s wildlife resources since the late 19th century. American conservation giants like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold were both avid sportsmen. Their passion for wildlife and hunting helped shape our nation’s wildlife management philosophy and public lands as we know them. By maintaining ethical traditions and respecting nature, sportsmen and women continue to be vital stewards of wildlife and habitat today. (DOI blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,6fgq,j4g2,1bct,ijo3 Related: BLM California hunting webpage (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,gqvn,4460,1bct,ijo3 HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS Burning Man Temple Being Built From Trees Killed In Drought You’ll notice this year’s Burning Man Temple looks a lot different than previous years’ laser cut jigsaw designs of David Best. Best has handed off the task to his previous lead engineers and architects, who’ve come up with a simple but striking concept composed of flat panels. But that’s not the most significant difference in this year’s Temple, as this year’s builders have a new ecological focus in which they’re using wood from trees killed by drought conditions and global warming. (SFist) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,31jm,5f4n,1bct,ijo3 Energy Commission Awards Grant to Address California’s Dead Trees The California Energy Commission approved a $5 million research grant today to address the unprecedented tree die-off across the state and turn dead trees to energy. More than 100 million trees have died across the state due to drought and bark beetles since 2010, and the dead trees can fuel larger, more damaging wildfires. The Fall River Resource Conservation District will use the grant to develop and operate a biomass facility in the Burney-Hat Creek area in Shasta County. The project supports the state’s effort to reduce fire risk by converting dead trees to energy. The project, one of the state’s first commercial community-scale biomass gasification plants, will use forest waste from local high fire hazard zones. (California Energy Commission news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,ek1k,etg0,1bct,ijo3 2017 California Public Lands Facts California is one of the most diverse states in the nation with public lands extending across rangelands, forests, high mountains, deserts and coast. The abundance of natural resources on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management throughout California supports the BLM’s multiple-use mission, while providing important economic benefits to Californians and the nation. BLM California has a strong history of meeting the nation’s growing energy needs, including oil and gas, renewable energy production and mining, and often sets the standard for sustainable development, while ensuring our natural, recreational, historical and cultural resources will be available for future generations. (BLM California Flickr) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,cnps,eht4,1bct,ijo3 Related: 2017 California Public Lands brochure (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,bf7e,6hux,1bct,ijo3 BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS Overview: Department of the Interior and Federal Government Support Hurricane-Battered U.S. Virgin Islands The Department of the Interior is expediting all possible support and assistance to the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands and FEMA in the wake of destruction from Hurricane Irma. FEMA continues to lead the efforts of Interior and others in the federal family to support territorial, tribal, local, private-sector, and non-profit partners to address the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Irma—on the islands as well as the mainland. (DOI news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,bje,e23z,1bct,ijo3 Related: In Case You Missed It - Secretary Zinke talks Hurricane Irma and More (DOI news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,1gje,1k1k,1bct,ijo3 Related: Secretary Zinke Encourages Expedited Release of $223 Million in Advance Payments to the U.S. Virgin Islands (DOI news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,hrn3,8tg9,1bct,ijo3 Secretary Zinke Directs Interior Bureaus to Take Aggressive Action to Prevent Wildfires U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke directed all Department of the Interior bureaus, superintendents, and land managers at all levels to adopt more aggressive practices, using the full authority of the Department, to prevent and combat the spread of catastrophic wildfires through robust fuels reduction and pre-suppression techniques. This year-to-date, 47,700 wildfires have burned 8 million acres across the country, with the majority of the devastation in the states of California and Montana. High-profile fires in Yosemite and Glacier National Parks have caught national headlines, however millions of acres of forest and grassland have burned in recent months. (DOI news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,5w3t,2cqx,1bct,ijo3 Related: US West's Wildfires Spark Calls to Thin Tree-Choked Forests (U.S. News) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,2nzj,cyto,1bct,ijo3 Volunteer for National Public Lands Day National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. Held every year on the last Saturday of September, National Public Lands Day brings together hundreds of thousands of individual, student and organizational volunteers to help maintain and restore America’s treasured places. Public lands are managed by public agencies but belong to and are enjoyed by everyone. These special places provide us with outdoor recreation, education and relaxation; volunteering is a way for the public to give something back. The beauty and importance of public lands inspire us all, and we hope to see you outdoors for this year’s National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 30. (DOI blog) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,coad,ltfs,1bct,ijo3 Related: BLM Volunteer Site Map (BLM website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,hiks,6qrl,1bct,ijo3 Feedback on Recently Updated BLM.gov Website We recently updated our website. Content is updated daily and we would like to thank you for your patience. If you encounter issues with the site please let us know so we can better serve you. Please email us at newmedia@xxxxxxx. WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK Fill in the Blank Thirty years ago, the cute, bandit-masked ______________ was thought to be extinct until a Wyoming rancher found a small group of them living on his land. Now, the ______________ population has reached more than 500 in captive breeding programs and select reintroduction sites around the West. Keep reading for answer below. UPCOMING EVENTS Now - September 24: Visit the LA County Fair The 2017 edition of the America’s Great Outdoors exhibit at the LA County Fair in Pomona, California is well underway and goes until September 24. For the past 20 years, a half a million people visit our two acre outdoor site, co-managed by the Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District; the Forest Service, Angeles District; and the Los Angeles County Fire Department – Forestry Division. Also participating is the National Park Service. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,2ah6,lgzc,1bct,ijo3 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,2x26o,3xn3,ijjv,ixbr,1bct,ijo3 September 14-16: BLM Hosting Three-Day Wild Horse Adoption Event The Bureau of Land Management in cooperation with the Modoc National Forest will offer wild horses for public adoption, Thursday through Saturday, September 14-16, at the BLM’s Litchfield wild horse and burro corrals near Susanville. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,3sne,4yl3,1bct,ijo3 Related: Meet the horses (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,aeh3,7cq4,1bct,ijo3 September 16: Volunteers Welcome at National Public Lands Day Event Along the Susan River Volunteers are invited to celebrate National Public Lands Day and the Great Sierra River Cleanup by joining the Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field Office and Lassen Land and Trails Trust on Saturday, Sept. 16 to clean up the Susan River. Volunteer teams will clean up debris and litter in and around the river to beautify the Susan River Trail and improve habitat for migratory birds. The BLM will provide bags and plastic gloves. Volunteers should bring gloves, hats, water, sunscreen and buckets, and wear clothing suitable for outdoor work. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,3kxo,j46u,1bct,ijo3 September 22: BLM Hosting National Public Lands Day Events on the North Coast The public is invited to celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering with the BLM to help care for the public lands at the historic Trinidad Lighthouse and at the King Range National Conservation Area on California’s North Coast. National Public Lands Day, organized by the National Environmental Education Foundation, is the nation’s largest single day volunteer event for public lands. (BLM news release) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,7kxv,9rxz,1bct,ijo3 September 30, October 28 and November 18: National Public Lands Day Events Near Palm Springs, California BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office has a National Public Lands Day event for everyone! Save the date for five volunteer opportunities in Dulzura, Mountain Center, Morongo Valley, Desert Hot Springs and La Quinta, California. Contact the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office at (760) 833-7100 for more information. (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,egm6,2vva,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) 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,2x26o,3xn3,1boc,251g,1bct,ijo3 Related: Meet the horses and burros (BLM California Facebook) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,12c7,72jm,1bct,ijo3 October 14: Fall Wild Horse Adoption Join BLM and Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department to adopt inmate trained, saddle started mustangs on Saturday, October 14 in Elk Grove, California! (WHB website) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,d8ha,52d4,1bct,ijo3 WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER Thirty years ago, the cute, bandit-masked black-footed ferret was thought to be extinct until a Wyoming rancher found a small group of them living on his land. Now, the black-footed ferret population has reached more than 500 in captive breeding programs and select reintroduction sites around the West. (How The West Will Be Won -- For The Black-Footed Ferret via Science Friday) http://www.elabs10.com/ct.html?ufl=0&rtr=on&s=x8pbwi,2x26o,3xn3,5wbp,irpo,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/
