 Piper Mountain Wilderness  |
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- 2018 Planner |
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| 2018 PLANNER | ||||||
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Enjoy the Beauty of California All Year Long with a 2018 PlannerThe Bureau of Land Management manages 15 million acres of public lands in California - nearly 15 percent of the state - and 1.6 million acres in northwestern Nevada. This year’s monthly planner features stunning public lands across the state with impressive employee photography. Get your FREE planner while supplies last. (BLM website) |
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| CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES | ||||||
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Southern California Wildfires Burn with Little Containment as Conditions WorsenFirefighters across Southern California are battling four major wildfires, and brutal Santa Ana winds are expected to continue fanning the flames through Thursday. The weather is not cooperating with the hundreds of officials trying to contain the flames in the region. Red flag warnings have been extended across much of Southern California through Saturday, and high winds warnings are in effect for mountains and valleys in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. (ABC News) |
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Los Angeles Threatened as Wildfires Spread, Forcing Thousands to EvacuateTens of thousands in Southern California went to bed uneasy or not at all late Wednesday as fire officials warned of powerful winds overnight that could whip up a series of wildfires that have already devoured a large swath of the region. The National Weather Service was predicting near hurricane-force winds for Thursday morning in the mountains and canyons of Ventura County and northwest Los Angeles County — winds that make for rapid, unpredictable fire spreading, officials said. (NBC News) |
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Wildfires: Know Before You GoTwitter is a great place to see the latest news and information about fires.
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| HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||
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BLM Offering Firewood Cutting Permits in Lacks Creek Management AreaThe Bureau of Land Management is offering firewood permits for a designated wood cutting area in the Lacks Creek Management Area, northeast of Arcata. Permits can be purchased at the Arcata Field Office,1695 Heindon Rd., Arcata. The permits cost $10 per cord, with a two-cord minimum and a 10-cord maximum. (BLM news release) |
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Honoring the Memory of Astronaut Major Michael J. AdamsBLM's Ridgecrest Field Office recently hosted a 50th anniversary commemoration event honoring the memory of Astronaut Major Michael J. Adams who, in 1967, died during an X-15 mission over the Mojave Desert. The event was attended by over 100 people to include X-15 ground crew members who were part of the fateful mission. Brent Adams, son of Astronaut Adams, was also present. (BLM California Facebook) |
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When ‘Star Wars’ Came to California: Documents Reveal History Behind Original FilmDirector George Lucas filmed much of the 1977 blockbuster “Star Wars” in North Africa and the U.K., but to get one of the key shots in the film, the production turned to Death Valley National Park in California. (Market Watch) Related: George Lucas used an elephant from Marine World Africa USA in 'Star Wars' filming (SF Gate) Related: Historic photos from filming of "Return of the Jedi" at Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (My Public Lands Tumblr) |
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| BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||
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Not Your Ordinary Job: Apply to be a Wildland Firefighter TODAYDo you enjoy the outdoors? Looking for adventurous career? Want a job that challenges you physically? A wildland firefighting job might be for you! Wildland firefighters often travel to remote locations, many that are rarely seen by most people. (My Public Lands Tumblr) Related: USAJOBS website |
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Interior Jumps into the Top Ten Best Places to Workthe Partnership for Public Service announced its yearly report titled "The Best Places to Work." In the first year under U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has improved from 11th place to 9th place among all the large agencies. Secretary Zinke has made improving the work experience a priority while at the Department, and the numbers from the report show a significant jump towards reaching that goal. (DOI news release) |
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Give the Gift of Fun and Adventure this YearThe annual America the Beautiful public lands pass pass provides free entrance to over 2,000 national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges and other public lands locations -- making it the best bargain of the season and the perfect gift for family and friends. The money from pass sales goes directly to improving visitor recreation services. (USGS online store) |
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Secretary Zinke Recommends Keeping Federal Lands in Federal Ownership, Adding Three New MonumentsIn accordance with President Donald J. Trump’s April 26, 2017, Executive Order, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke released the final report outlining recommendations he made to the President on some national monument designations under the Antiquities Act. (DOI news release) |
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President Trump and Secretary Zinke Announce Modification to Utah Monuments, Resulting in 5 Unique National Monument Units Totaling More Than 1.2 Million AcresActing upon the recommendation of U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and with the support of Utah's governor, Congressional delegation, local officials, and residents, President Donald J. Trump today signed proclamations to adjust the boundaries and management of Utah's Bears Ears National Monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The proclamations modify the boundaries of those monuments and result in five unique monument units within the two monuments which protect important objects of historical and scientific interest. (DOI news release) |
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Secretary Zinke Sends Nearly $20 Million in Timber Dollars to Rural Oregon, Doubles Down on Commitment to Future HarvestsU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that the Bureau of Land Management will issue payments totaling $19.5 million to 18 counties in western Oregon, which includes $1.4 million previously sequestered funds. Under the previous administration, the sequestered funds were not scheduled to be disbursed to the counties however after working with the counties and the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary was able to deliver the full funding. (DOI news release) |
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Interior Department FY2017 Energy Disbursements Grow by $1 Billion to $7.11 Billion Under President TrumpU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue disbursements from energy and minerals production on Federal and American Indian lands and offshore areas totaled $7.11 billion in Fiscal Year 2017, an increase of nearly $1 billion over the previous year. States received $1.44 billion, Tribal governments and individual mineral rights owners received nearly $676 million, and $950 million went toward the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which invests in outdoor recreation opportunities and conservation in America's state and local parks. The funds are derived from energy and minerals production on Federal and Indian lands and U.S. offshore areas. These revenues are a critical source of non-tax funding. (DOI news release) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK | ||||||
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What’s the secret to a good bird-elk relationship? |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | ||||||
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Now - mid-December: Repair Work to Begin on Bizz Johnson Trail Flood DamageConstruction crews will begin work Wednesday, Nov. 8, repairing flood damage on a seven-mile section of the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail east of Susanville. Access through the construction sites will be closed during working hours, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but open during weekends and non-working hours. The Federal Highways Administration is funding and managing the $400,000 project. Site Works Solutions of Redding will complete the work. Officials at the Bureau of Land Management expect project completion in mid-December. (BLM news release) |
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Now - January: Wild Horse and Burro Adoption EventsThe 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) |
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Now - April 30: Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Announces Winter Visitor Center ScheduleAs the Coachella Valley begins to move into the winter months, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center will initiate its winter visitor center schedule. From October 1 to April 30, 2018, the visitor center will be open five days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday to Monday, and close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. (BLM news release) |
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December 9: BLM to Offer Wild Horses and Burros for Adoption in PalmdaleThe Bureau of Land Management will be holding a wild horse and burro adoption on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wild Horse Ranch Los Angeles, 38612 130th St. East, Palmdale. Up to 20 animals from public rangelands will be available for $125 each. (BLM news release) |
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December 14: BLM Seeks Input and Host Public Meeting on Case Mountain Forest Health PlanThe Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office is seeking public input on the development of a vegetation and forest health plan for the Bureau’s giant sequoia groves on Case Mountain, southeast of Three Rivers. The 30-day scoping period started Friday, Dec. 1. A public meeting will be held on Dec. 14 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the St. Anthony Retreat, 43816 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers, California 93271. BLM specialists will be on location to provide an overview of the project, review maps and answer questions. (BLM news release) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER | ||||||
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What’s the secret to a good bird-elk relationship? a) Personality "As a doctoral student at the University of Alberta, Robert Found, now a wildlife biologist for Parks Canada, discovered over years of observing their personalities that bold elk stayed, while shy elk migrated. But he noticed something else in the process of completing his research: As elk laid down to rest at the end of the day, magpies approached." (Shy Elk and Bold Birds Become Partners in the Wilderness via The New York Times) |
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