 Afton Canyon  |
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- New Year New Adventures |
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| NEW YEAR NEW ADVENTURES | |||||
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Lookin' for Adventure?King of The Hammers, presented by Nitto Tire is a race unlike any other. It's considered the "toughest one day off-road race in the world." It is now part of a week long off-road festival in Johnson Valley, California. More than 45,000 spectators moved into Hammertown for the week to attend this event on BLM-managed public lands! Follow #KOH2018 for LIVE coverage from Ultra4 Racing, King of the Motos, UTV Guide and more. (BLM California Facebook) |
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Did You See the 2018 "Super Blue Blood Moon"?
In the early morning on Jan. 31, 2018, a rare moment created an extraordinary astronomical event – a super blue blood moon! Let’s break down what exactly a super blue blood moon is: |
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Play #DesertAvicachingThe new year means a chance for citizen scientists to contribute to our understanding of how birds use the desert. If you enjoy watching birds in the California desert, your observations could help BLM manage our feathered friends. BLM is funding a project spearheaded by Point Blue Conservation Science and the Great Basin Bird Observatory to create #DesertAvicashing sites throughout southern California. What is Avicashing? Avicashing is a process where birdwatchers search specific locations to spot as many birds as possible. (BLM California Facebook) |
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| NOT YOUR ORDINARY JOB | |||||
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Join the Imperial Sand Dunes TeamBLM's El Centro Field Office is hiring seasonal staff to work in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area! We are looking for a variety of job skills for multiple vacancies. Apply today on USAJOBS! (Imperial Sand Dunes Facebook) |
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Not Your Ordinary Job: Apply to be a Wildland FirefighterDo 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: NEW BLM California fire job vacancies (BLM California Facebook video) |
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Thanking Our Heroes"This past holiday season was like no other for me. For two weeks I was asked to serve as a Resource Advisor on the Thomas Fire in Southern California. While on the incident, the Thomas Fire became the largest fire in California history and it proved to be the toughest fire assignment of my career. Seeing and walking along mountain ridge after mountain ridge, once covered in green vegetation and now burned black gave me plenty to think about each day on the fireline. On the final night of my assignment, a chance encounter proved to be the biggest challenge of all and humbled me to my core." (BLM California Facebook) |
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| HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS | |||||
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BLM Lifts Whitewater Canyon Fire Prevention OrderEffective immediately the Bureau of Land Management has lifted its fire prevention closure for public land access in and near Whitewater Canyon in Riverside County. This action terminates a Whitewater Fire Prevention order issued on June 1, 2017, by the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office. (BLM news release)
Related: Updated fire restriction information available at |
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BLM and CAL FIRE Preventing Wildfires Through Pile BurnsThe Bureau of Land Management and CAL FIRE conducted another controlled burn of deadwood, branches and leaves in Shasta County on Tuesday. The wildfire prevention method, known as pile burning, helps clear all the flammable debris from the forest floor, making it harder for wildfires to start and spread. Jeremy Strait, burn boss at the Bureau of Land Management in Redding, says when it comes to wildfires, prevention is the name of the game. "An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure," said Strait, referring to the Thomas Fire in Southern California which took weeks to finally get under control. (KRCR News) Related: Future Forest Health Needs Fire to Fight Fire (The Sacramento Bee) |
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BLM Cancels Withdrawal Proposal in California DesertThe Bureau of Land Management has canceled its withdrawal application and the Department of the Interior’s proposed withdrawal of 1.3 million acres of national conservation lands from location and entry under the mining laws in the California Desert Conservation Area. In making its decision, the BLM recently reviewed mineral exploration levels and mining data in the California desert, as well as the expected impacts from future activities associated with locatable mineral extraction. The BLM concluded that impacts of future mineral exploration and mining, subject to existing environmental regulations, do not pose a significant threat to the protection of cultural, biological and scientific values. (BLM news release) |
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BLM to Consider Changes to Desert Renewable Energy Conservation PlanIn response to President Trump’s order to review regulations that unnecessarily impede energy development, the Bureau of Land Management announced that it will consider amending the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) to seek greater opportunities for renewable energy generation. (BLM news release) |
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Calvin Graham and Terrapin Earn 2018 Mustang Magic ChampionshipA trainer from Georgia won the 2018 Mustang Heritage Foundation Mustang Magic Competition on a horse from the Centennial Herd Management Area in SoCal. This horse went from California to Georgia only to come back to California when Sierra Hunewill of Hunewill Ranch in Bridgeport adopted him. (Mustang Heritage Foundation news release) |
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BLM Eagle Lake Field Office Seeks Public Comments on OHV Grant ProposalThe Bureau of Land Management’s Eagle Lake Field Office is accepting public input on management needs and projects that would benefit off-highway vehicle recreation on public lands. Public comments or suggestions submitted to the Eagle Lake Field Office before Friday, Feb. 23, will be used to develop a preliminary grant application to the California State Parks, Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. (BLM news release) |
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Valentine's Day is Just a Week Away!Share punny valentines from your public lands with family and friends. These are sure to be a hit in classrooms and workplaces alike! Download and print yours today. (My Public Lands Flickr) |
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| BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS | |||||
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BLM Oil and Gas Lease Sales Generate $360 Million in 2017In advancing the administration's goals of promoting America's energy independence, the Bureau of Land Management state offices in 2017 generated nearly $360 million from oil and gas lease sales, an 86 percent increase over the previous year's results of $192.5 million. Among these sales, which together were the highest in nearly a decade, rights to a total of 949 parcels, covering 792,823 acres, were sold. (BLM news release) |
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Walk in the Footsteps of Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln is remembered as one of our nation’s greatest presidents. His thoughtful leadership guided us through the Civil War and kept our country together. He was a powerful voice for freedom and equality. Beyond a surprising conservation legacy, connections to our 16th president are felt across the country and at the Interior Department. Check out some of the public lands dedicated to sharing President Lincoln’s life and legacy. (DOI blog) |
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Secretary Zinke Signs Declaration Recognizing Marian Anderson Mural in First-Ever Designation of a Site Under the African American Civil Rights Network ActOn the first day of Black History Month, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke celebrated the life and legacy of famed opera singer Marian Anderson by designating a mural depicting her 1939 Lincoln Memorial concert as a historic site under the African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017. President Donald J. Trump signed the Act into law in January 2018. This is the first time the Act has been used to designate a site. (DOI news release) |
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Black History Month: Exploring African American HeritageAs America’s storyteller, the National Park Service preserves and interprets important places that teach us about our nation’s history and culture, so that future generations can learn from the past. The many African American heritage sites protected and maintained by the National Park Service honor the contributions African Americans made to the nation. To help celebrate Black History month, explore a few of the more than 25 national park sites online and in person. (DOI photo gallery) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK | |||||
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Fill in the Blank: The deserts of southern and eastern California are home to a special kind of ________ known as (Asclepias subulata). |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | |||||
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Now - February 10: BLM Issues Temporary Closure for King of the Hammers RaceThe Bureau of Land Management is issuing a temporary land closure for select public lands at the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in San Bernardino County to accommodate the annual King of the Hammers race Feb. 2-10, 2018. (BLM news release) |
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Now - February 10: BLM Ukiah Field Office Offering Guided Bald Eagle HikesBLM's Ukiah Field Office will be offering free, five-mile guided hikes to look for wintering bald eagles in the Cache Creek Natural Area in Lake County. The hikes will begin at 10 am every Saturday from January 6 through February 10. (BLM news release) |
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February 13 and 23: BLM Reschedules OHV Grant Proposals' Public MeetingsThe Bureau of Land Management has rescheduled public meetings to provide input in the development of off-highway vehicle grant proposals for submission to the California State Parks, Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. Proposed grant applications are currently being prepared by the BLM for the FY 2017-18 grant cycle. (BLM news release)
- Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in Barstow, CA |
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February 10, 11, 19, 24 and 25: Alabama Hills Film, Geology and Natural History Hikes OfferedThe Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office, Alabama Hills Stewardship Group and Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association will be hosting two-hour, guided hikes about the film, geology and natural history of Alabama Hills. Hikes will begin at 10 a.m., leaving from the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center, at the intersection of U.S. Route 395 and State Route 136, Lone Pine. (BLM news release) |
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February 21: BLM Arcata Field Office Public Meeting Set to Seek Comments on OHV Grant NeedsThe Bureau of Land Management’s Arcata Field Office is holding a public meeting and accepting public comments regarding management needs and projects that would benefit off-highway vehicle recreation on public lands. The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the BLM Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Rd., Arcata. (BLM news release) |
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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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2018: Wild Horse and Burro Adoption EventsHave you checked our schedule of wild horse and burro events taking place across the country this year? In addition to 17 permanent adoption and sale centers that are available year round, BLM is hosting nearly 50 special events aimed at finding new homes for wild horses and burros. Learn more about adoption and sale programs and find an event or facility near you. 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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March 3: Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival Returns In MarchEvery Spring the wildflowers bloom in the Coachella Valley and the 11th Annual Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival is the best place to enjoy all that Spring has to offer. The Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival is a City of Palm Desert First Weekend Featured Event and is hosted by Friends of the Desert Mountains. The event will be held on Saturday, March 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center in Palm Desert. The day of the event, shuttles will run from St. Margaret's Church on Highway 74, as there is no onsite parking for the Wildflower Festival. (Patch.com) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER | |||||
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d) Milkweed The deserts of southern and eastern California are home to a special kind of milkweed known as desert or rush milkweed (Asclepias subulata). Where there is milkweed, you will find monarchs! (Monarchs of the West via USFWS) |
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