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- May the 4th Be With You |
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| MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU | ||||||
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Star Wars DayOnce again, we celebrate May 4th or Star Wars Day with photos from Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. For years, Star Wars enthusiasts have ventured to the BLM’s Imperial Sand Dunes to visit the filming location of the opening scenes of Return of the Jedi. The Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest dune mass in California. Formed by windblown sands of ancient Lake Cahuilla, the dunes create an out-of-this-world landscape ideal for Hollywood film backdrops and are known as an off-roading mecca. (BLM California Facebook) |
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May the Fourth Be With YouSecretary Zinke salutes Interior's role in providing the backdrop for some of the movie series' most iconic scenes. See what other roles America's public lands have played on the big screen, check out our blog at doi.gov/blog/hollywoods-hidden-star-americas-public-lands. |
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| HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||
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Briceburg Visitor Center Reopens for the SeasonThe Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office is reopening the Briceburg Visitor Center located 12 miles northeast of Mariposa along State Route 140 at the entrance of the Merced River Recreation Management Area. The visitor center is open Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Listens to Nevada and California State PartnersThe Bureau of Land Management marked a milestone today in the Administration’s effort to better align plans for managing Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on federal lands by publishing a draft environmental impact analysis of proposed changes to resource management plans in Nevada and part of California. (BLM news release) |
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BLM to Implement Fire Restrictions in the California Desert DistrictThe Bureau of Land Management has initiated Stage II and Stage III Fire Restrictions as of April 30 for BLM-managed public lands within Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Mono and San Diego counties. These restrictions will remain in effect until further notice. (BLM news release) Related: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, May 5 (National Fire Protection Association website) |
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Arbor Day: 13 Remarkable Trees to See on Public LandsThe tradition of Arbor Day began in Nebraska in 1872. Raising awareness of the importance of trees, people continue to use the day to plant saplings and improve the health of forests. Trees help clean the air, provide habitat for wildlife, help conserve soil and water, and are the source of an entire industry that support jobs and the economy. (BLM California Facebook) |
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The Quiet Love Affair Between Fish and TreesWe all know fish live in water, but many of us don’t realize that their world stretches up onto the banks and beyond. Sure, fish don’t occupy that space. But what happens out of the water can affect them profoundly. This story is about the quiet love affair between fish and trees. (FWS blog) |
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How Park Ranger Sarah Spragg Leveraged 3 SCA Internships Into Her Dream JobSarah Spragg, park ranger for the Bureau of Land Management in Marina, California, sums up her job in five words: “Being available for the public.” In addition to her outreach duties, she also helps maintain the bureau’s facilities and provides special recreation permits for use on public lands. She is also the veteran of not one, not two, but three internships with the Student Conservation Association! We caught up with Sarah to get her insights into SCA internships and how they helped her land a coveted federal park ranger position. (SCA blog) |
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| BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||
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National Park Week: On The Way ToMany of your BLM-managed public lands offer wonderful opportunities to explore the great outdoors on the way to some of the country's most popular destinations, including National Parks. (BLM California Facebook) Related: 10 Alternatives to Popular National Parks (DOI blog) |
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What Causes Wildfires In The West?Western wildfires are started by either human or natural ignition sources. Lightning is the most common cause of naturally ignited fires. For a quick comparison, in 2017 the Great Basin Coordination Center recorded 1,988 human-caused fires that burned 788,769 acres, and 1,139 lightning-caused fires that consumed 1,315,019 acres. Though it’s hard to predict where lightening will start wildfires, we know that human-ignited fires occur most often along highways and interstates—especially in Central Nevada where I work. This knowledge helps us strategically plan projects that reduce wildfire susceptibility along transportation corridors, and target fire prevention and mitigation measures. (Sage Grouse Initiative) |
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Secretary Zinke Proposes 20 Year Mineral Withdrawal Renewal for Wyoming Bighorn Sheep Winter RangeU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke proposed to renew a mineral withdrawal in the Whiskey Mountain Bighorn Sheep Winter Range, southeast of Dubois, Wyoming, for an additional 20 years. The proposal follows Zinke's secretarial order to protect big game migration corridors and winter range and as many states, like Wyoming, are prioritizing migration initiatives to better help and understand the habits of animals like sheep, mule deer, elk, and antelope. This measure will ensure that these robust big game populations continue to thrive and exist for hunters and wildlife watchers. (DOI news release) Related: Bighorn Sheep Migration (DOI video) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK | ||||||
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True or False
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | ||||||
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Now - June 1: Mayor's Mountain Bike ChallengeThe Mayor's Mountain Bike Challenge is officially underway in the City of Redding! Shout out to partners from Healthy Shasta, Redding Trail Alliance, Redding Recreation and The McConnell Foundation. (Mayor's MTB Challenge website) |
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May 5, 20 and June 3: BLM, Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve Offer Spring OutingsThe Bureau of Land Management and Horsetown-Clear Creek Preserve will offer free public outings ranging from bird watching to traditional uses of native plants, on weekends from late March until June. The events are free. (BLM news release) |
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May 6: BLM and California Native Plant Society Hosting Fort Ord Wildflower TourThe Bureau of Land Management and the California Native Plant Society will be co-hosting a free wildflower tour on Sunday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Fort Ord National Monument. Participants will carpool from the parking lot on Lightfighter Drive, near the intersection of California State Route 1, in Seaside. Space is limited to 30 participants for the popular hike and reservations are required by contacting Bruce Delgado at bdelgado@xxxxxxx or 831-277-7690. (BLM news release) |
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May 6-12: Wildfire Awareness WeekDevastating wildfires threaten California every year, and to ensure Californians are ready, California’s Governor proclaims the first full week of May as “Wildfire Awareness Week”. During Wildfire Awareness Week, BLM, U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE and other partners are reminding Californians that when it comes to wildfires, remember “Ready, Set, Go!”. Be Ready for a wildfire by maintaining 100 feet of defensible space and hardening your home with fire resistant building materials. Be Set for a wildfire by having a wildfire action plan in place so you know what to take and where to go if you are evacuated. Lastly, Go early when a wildfire approaches or you are asked to evacuate.Homeowners looking for additional information on how to prepare themselves, their families and their homes for wildfire can visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. The site offers tips for residents to make their homes more resistant to wildfires and to ensure that their families are ready to evacuate early and safely when a wildfire strikes. |
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May 11-14: South Cow Mountain OHV Recreation Area Temporarily Closed During Endurance EventThe Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is temporarily closing the South Cow Mountain Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area on Friday, May 11 beginning at 8 a.m. until Monday, May 14 at 8 a.m. for the 2018 Sawmill Enduro event. (BLM news release) |
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May 12 and 18: Public Invited to Berryessa Snow Mountain Recreation, Volunteerism and Stewardship WorkshopsThe Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office and the Mendocino National Forest invite the public to two Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument Recreation, Volunteerism and Stewardship Workshops on May 12 and 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (BLM news release) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER | ||||||
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True! The trees in a forest can provide us with an art exhibit all too easy to overlook. The scars and marks left by wild animals as they are feeding, climbing, marking and establishing territory, or just going about their day can tell an elaborate story. The following are pieces by familiar wildlife artists. Look for their work on a tree near you. (Wild Bark Artists via FWS) |
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