For Release: December 21, 2004 CCal-05-27
Contact: Diana Pietrasanta (760) 872-5028

BLM Rescinds Voluntary Seasonal Closure for Chalk Bluff

The voluntary seasonal closure of public lands in the western part of Chalk Bluff north of Bishop will be lifted on January 1, 2005, according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Bishop Field Office.

The voluntary closure was originally instituted in January 2002 as a response to the increased climbing activity in area and study results showing declines in raptor (bird of prey) activity in the southern Volcanic Tableland. The public was asked to voluntarily confine activities to the east half of the Chalk Bluff (Happy and Sad Boulders areas) to minimize disturbance during the raptors' breeding season.

BLM Bishop Field Manager Bill Dunkelberger said the BLM is currently developing a habitat study prototype in cooperation with the PRBO Conservation Science, partially funded by the American Alpine Club. The goal is to identify critical raptor habitat and determine which areas are most important for raptor mating, nesting, hunting and survival. The intent is to obtain baseline raptor information to help BLM make informed decisions for any management proposals in the future, not just recreation, he said.

"BLM appreciates the cooperation of the public who have voluntarily supported the closure over the past three years while the link between recreational use and possible impact to birds was being evaluated," Dunkelberger said. "We will continue working with all those interested in the ongoing conservation of the Volcanic Tableland while maintaining recreational opportunities in the area. However, we ask that the public still be cognizant of the possibility of disturbing wildlife, especially birds." He said climbers still should avoid boulders that have raptor "whitewash" which indicates of a favorite perch and to be cautious during nesting season, from February through July.

For more information call the Bishop Field Office at (760) 872-5000.

-BLM-

Bishop Field Office - 351 Pacu Lane Suite 100, - Bishop, CA 93514