 Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke visits with BLM California firefighters  |
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- Wildland Fire |
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| WILDLAND FIRE | ||||||
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BLM Assessing Recreational Trail Damage from Carr FireWith the bulk of firefighting efforts now focused on the northeast portion of the Carr Fire, officials at the Bureau of Land Management are now assessing damages and hazards within the public lands recreational trail network and working on plans to reopen trails to the public. (BLM news release) |
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Burned Area Emergency Response Team Begins Assessing Impacts of Carr FireNow that most of the danger from the flames has passed, officials are turning their attention to the next threat from the Carr Fire, the potential for floods and mudslides this winter. A Burned Area Emergency Response Team, or BAER Team, has moved in to start assessing what the fire left behind. This includes burned trees, bare land, and the potential for massive erosion this winter. (KRCR News Channel 7) |
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Secretary Zinke Sees First-Hand the Devastation and Aftermath of Carr FireThe U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke of the Trump administration arrived in Redding on Sunday to see first-hand the devastation and destruction of what the Carr Fire has done to the communities in the Northstate. Zinke toured around Whiskeytown before traveling to the Keswick area in Redding to see the damages up close. Along the way, they drove through neighborhoods in the Keswick and Lake Keswick Estates and made unplanned stops at homes to speak with fire victims. (KRCR News Channel 7) |
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Top Trump Officials Survey Carr Fire DamageWith more than a dozen wildfires burning across California, two top officials from the Trump administration visited Redding to see the damage from the deadly Carr Fire firsthand. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke also said they’re looking for ways to thin California’s overgrowth of trees. (KCRA 3) Related: Secretary Zinke spends Sunday assessing damage from Carr Fire (DOI readout) |
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BLM Recreation Sites Reopen Along the Merced River After Ferguson FireThe Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office is reopening recreation sites along the Merced River, including McCabe Flat, Willow Placer and Railroad Flat campgrounds, since there is no longer a public safety risk in this area from the Ferguson Fire. The Briceburg Visitor Center will reopen on Friday, Aug. 17 through Labor Day weekend. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Reopening Cache Creek, Indian Valley and Walker Ridge After Mendocino Complex FireThe Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is reopening the Cache Creek Management Area, which includes Cowboy Camp, Indian Valley Management Area and Walker Ridge since there is no longer a public safety risk in these areas from the Mendocino Complex Fire. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Reopening Recreation Areas Along Clear Creek and in Cloverdale AreaRecreation sites along Clear Creek and in the Cloverdale area south of Redding have been re-opened to the public, as dangers from the Carr Fire have passed. The open areas are south of Placer Road and include the Clear Creek Gorge overlook and trails throughout the area. Recreation areas north of Placer Road, including the Swasey Recreation Area, remain closed to protect public health and safety. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Temporarily Closing Pit River Campground Due to Hat FireThe Bureau of Land Management is temporarily closing the Pit River Campground near Fall River Mills in eastern Shasta County due to dangers posed by the Hat Fire. The closure is in place until further notice. (BLM news release) |
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Campgrounds Reopen, Closures Lifted and Modified in Whaleback Fire AreaThe Lassen National Forest and Bureau of Land Management have reopened campgrounds and recreation sites at Eagle Lake, as fire crews have completely contained the Whaleback Fire within fire lines. The agencies have also rescinded or reduced area closures. (BLM news release) |
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Fire Season ReminderRemember campfire permits are available free at any BLM, Forest Service or CAL FIRE office or by visiting preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit. Please stay up-to-date with fire restrictions on your public lands in California: blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions
Follow fire information via: |
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| HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||
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BLM, Susanville Indian Rancheria Will Start Video Monitoring at Vandalized Cave SiteIn the wake of continuing vandalism, the Bureau of Land Management and Susanville Indian Rancheria have begun video monitoring at Tommy Tucker Cave, an important eastern Lassen County archaeological site. The cameras can transmit real-time video to federal law enforcement officers. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Initiates Nuisance Burro Gather Along Colorado RiverThe Bureau of Land Management is initiating an emergency bait trapping for the removal of 100 to 140 burros within the Chemehuevi Herd Management Area located within the Lake Havasu Field Office Resource area on Wednesday, Aug. 15. Burros are concentrating along the Parker Dam Road, the Metropolitan Water District roadways and at public access areas for the Colorado River—creating public safety concerns and vehicle hazards. (BLM news release) |
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Desert Quartzite Solar Project Draft Environmental Analysis Available for Public CommentThe Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on actions that would allow the proposed development of the Desert Quartzite Solar Project, a 450-megawatt solar development in eastern Riverside County. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Concludes Emergency Burro Gather in Piute Mountain Herd AreaThe Bureau of Land Management has concluded a wild burro gather in the Piute Mountain Herd Area, San Bernardino County, caused by extreme temperatures and insufficient water availability at Fenner Spring. (BLM news release) |
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BLM Bakersfield Seeks Input for Potential Hydraulic Fracturing Impacts AnalysisThe Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office is seeking public input on the potential environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing during oil and gas production on new leases on public lands and Federal mineral estate. The 30-day scoping period started Wednesday, Aug. 8. (BLM news release) |
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| BLM AND DOI HIGHLIGHTS | ||||||
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Interior Announces Results of Gulf of Mexico Region-Wide Oil and Gas LeaseIn support of President Donald J. Trump's America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced that region-wide Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 251 generated $178,069,406 in high bids for 144 tracts covering 801,288 acres in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A total of 29 companies participated in the lease sale, submitting $202,667,923 in bids. (DOI news release) |
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Secretary Zinke Announces First Ever Joint Federal Record of DecisionThe Bureau of Land Management offered a Right-of-Way grant for the construction of a natural gas pipeline and associated fiber optic cable following the signing of the first ever Joint Federal Record of Decision prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Joe Balash approving the Donlin Gold, LLC mine site in the Kuskokwim River Valley. (DOI news release) |
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Secretary Zinke Invites Public Comment on Two Possible National Monument Designations in KentuckyU.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that the National Park Service will receive public input on two possible national monument designations in Kentucky, Camp Nelson Civil War Heritage Park in Jessamine County and Mill Springs Battlefield in Pulaski County. (DOI news release) |
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National Navajo Code Talkers DayIn 1942 the Marine Corps recruited young Navajos to serve in the Pacific during World War II. They would learn how to use their native language as a code during combat operations. Neither the Japanese Army nor Navy were ever able to crack the code, which remained classified until 1968. in 1982 President Reagan declared August 14 "National Navajo Code Talker Day," to honor their service to the nation. (DOI video) |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK | ||||||
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Name that animal!They always land on their feet. They were worshipped by the Egyptians. They rule the internet with their memes. And they may or may not have nine lives. Keep reading for answer below. |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | ||||||
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Now - October: Bus Shuttles Offered for Bizz Johnson National Recreational TrailWeekend bus shuttle services for the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail will begin Saturday, June 2, and continue through October. The service, a partnership of the Bureau of Land Management and Lassen Rural Bus, is available to bicyclists, hikers and runners, and eliminates the need for trail users to arrange their own vehicle shuttles. On Saturdays, the bus picks up passengers at 8:15 a.m. in front of the Historic Susanville Railroad Depot, 601 Richmond Road. The bus makes stops at Devil’s Corral, Fredonyer Summit and at the Westwood Y. From these stops trail users can use the Bizz Johnson Trail for trips of 7, 18 or 30-miles back to Susanville. (BLM news release) |
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Now - 2019: Bring Home a Wild Horse or BurroThe BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program is excited to announce nearly 70 events this year as part of BLM's efforts to find good homes for our nation's wild horses and burros. Known for their intelligence, endurance and loyalty, wild horses and burros, with the right training, are outstanding for trail riding, packing, working and have successfully competed for awards in numerous fields from endurance riding to dressage. With more than 81,000 wild horses and burros on BLM-managed public lands, these wild icons of our American history need your help more than ever. Without any natural predators that can control population growth, wild horse and burro herds grow rapidly on the range and can quickly overcome the land's ability to support them. The BLM works to maintain healthy wild herds by gathering excess animals and placing them into good homes. (BLM website) |
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August 29: Hike In Open House at Piedras BlancasDon't miss Piedras Blancas FREE "hike in open house" on the last Wednesdays of July and August from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Park at the elephant seal viewing area, 1 1/2 miles south of the light station. Hike at your own pace to the light station and learn about lighthouse history and local ecology. The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip. For more information visit piedrasblancas.org, email piedrasblancastours@xxxxxxxxx or call (805) 927-7361. |
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September 1: Veterans Fishing DayRedding Field Office is sponsoring a Veterans Fishing Day on Saturday, September 1 to show our support of those who serve. This event will take place at the Sacramento River Bend Outstanding Natural Area just outside of Red Bluff. This is a California free fishing day (fishing license NOT required). Contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at wildlife.ca.gov for information regarding free or reduced fishing licenses. There will be limited loaner fishing rods, tackle and bait available. For more information contact Eric Coulter at the Redding Field Office at (530) 224-2100. |
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| WILDLIFE QUESTION OF THE WEEK ANSWER | ||||||
| August 8 was International Cat Day, making it the purrfect time to spotlight a few members of the feline family found in the U.S. and where you can see them on America’s public lands. Not to mention, the photos are pawsome! (11 Photos To Have You Feline Fine on International Cat Day via DOI blog) | ||||||
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