OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO FREE POSTCARD OFFER
We have received more than 1,000 requests for the free postcards offered in last week's News.bytes. The set of postcards, "The BLM in Pictures: Images from the Public Lands" were offered free to the first 200 people who requested them. Because of the overwhelming demand, we are planning to honor all requests that we have received so far. Please be patient as we work with the printer to obtain them for you.


CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: ADVISORY COUNCILS
"We need council members who will provide the BLM with insight and sound advice on the management of BLM-administered public lands and natural resources," says BLM California State Director Mike Pool:

"BLM CALLS FOR NOMINATIONS TO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ADVISORY COUNCIL" (BLM California news release, 03/13/2002)
Five positions need to be filled on the Central California Council. Nominations may be submitted for yourself or on behalf of another person. Each position represents a specific constituency, and nominations must be accompanied by at least two letters of support from the group which is to be represented.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/nr/cenracmembers.html

"BLM SEEKING MEMBERS FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ADVISORY COUNCILS" (BLM California news release, 03/11/2002)
There are four vacancies on the Northwest California RAC, and five vacancies on the Northeast California council. Nominations for the three-year terms on the citizen advisory boards must be received by April 22.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/NR/northracnoms.html

"ADVISORY COUNCILS" (BLM California Web pages)
More information on BLM California's citizen advisory councils, including meeting notes, upcoming meetings, information on current council members, and information and materials to nominate new members.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/rac.html


THE "GROWING" MENACE OF NOXIOUS WEEDS:
What began with a handful of non-native plants in the 19th century now number in the hundreds of millions. These noxious weeds are destroying wildlife habitat and forage, threatening endangered species and native plants, increasing soil erosion and groundwater loss, and blocking recreational opportunities:

"FREE NOXIOUS WEEDS BROCHURES"
Receive four Noxious Weed brochures free! Just send your name and mailing address to CA_News.bytes@ca.blm.gov AND WE WILL SEND YOU YOUR FREE SET OF BROCHURES TODAY! When noxious weeds spread, they reduce native plant communities, and displace other plants that provide habitat for wildlife and food for people.
(mailto:CA_News.bytes@ca.blm.gov)

"WEED OF THE WEEK: Canada Thistle"
With stems 1 to 4 feet high, this perennial form deep creeping underground root systems can penetrate the soil as deep as 10 feet and grow laterally 12 to 15 feet a year. Randomly spaced root buds can develop new shoots under the right environmental conditions. Canada Thistle invades cropland, meadows, pastures, roadsides, clearcuts, and waste areas, and flowers from July to August.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/alturas/canthis.html

"THE WAY OF THE WEED WARRIOR" (Coast Weekly, 03/07/2002)
"Weed Warriors from one of many organizations that work with BLM California and volunteers to attack noxious weeds -- in this case, ice plant that chokes out native plants and prevents diverse ecosystems on the Central Coast.
http://www.coastweekly.com/article.asp?section=1001&view=&ref=7582


CADIZ GROUNDWATER STORAGE PROPOSAL

"BABBIT WILL JOIN WATER-USE DEVELOPER" (Sacramento Bee, 03/12/2002)
Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt will join Cadiz, Inc. Cadiz plans to store Colorado River water under the Mojave Desert in dry years, and pump it and groundwater to sell to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California during dry years. The project would include a 34.6-mile pipeline across BLM public lands from MWD's aqueduct to the Cadiz, Inc. private lands.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/environment/story/1835851p-1913823c.html

"Cadiz Groundwater Storage and Dry-Year Supply Program" (BLM California issue update)
The Cadiz Groundwater Storage and Dry-Year Supply Program involves a cooperative effort between Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Cadiz Inc. to use the groundwater basin underlying part of the Cadiz and Fenner Valleys in San Bernardino County for storage of water from the Colorado River to help supply southern California water needs.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/newsbytes/temp_issues/cadiz_031402.html


NOT FOR EDUCATORS ONLY: The San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas fault, with a length of more than 800 miles (1,200 kilometers), is the longest fault in California, and one of the longest in North America. For photos and additional information on this geologic resource, see http://www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield/geology.html


VISIT US: in Central California
Visiting Central California this spring? Take a look at our Top 10 Points of Interest managed by our Bakersfield Field Office.
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/Programs/Recreation_opportunities/top_ten.html

MORE PHOTOS FROM CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
See more photos from BLM California's Bakersfield Field Office, from our photo database:
http://www6.ca.blm.gov/picportal/index.jsp?folderOpen=Public%20Folders%2FNewsbytes%2Fmar15%2FBakersfield


BOOKSTORE FEATURE: Scenic Backcountry Roads Traveled by a Vehicle
Your complete guide to the West's most scenic backroads. BLM has designated thirty-eight Back Country Byways which traverse 1,900 miles through eleven western states. This book gives a wealth of information about each of the routes. Each description includes natural history, geology, history, location, travel season, and outdoor recreation, plus detailed maps and scenic photos. http://store.ca.blm.gov/webc/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=2


SELECTED BLM NATIONAL NEWS

"NEW BLM DIRECTOR VISITS ELY" (Ely Daily News, 03/13/2002)
BLM Director Kathleen Clarke speaks of her vision for BLM and the public lands it manages, in a visit to a conservation project near Ely, Nevada. Clarke says she would like to see BLM adopt as a model, the "citizen-based stewardship" of the Great Basin Restoration Initiative.
http://www.elynews.com/display/inn_news/news02.txt

"PROPOSAL WOULD EASE WAY FOR ROADS IN WILDS" (USA Today, 03/05/2002)
Proposal would make it easier for Western states and local governments to claim rights-of-way across federal lands. BLM official says that would just offer another way to settle rights-of-way claims. Environmentalists say it could open millions of pristine acres to development.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/03/06/usat-roads.htm

"BLM HOSTS ENERGY OUTREACH MEETING" (BLM California news release, 03/13/2002)
Meeting in Denver will update the BLM's role in the implementation of the President's National Energy Policy and discuss the specific tasks the BLM has developed in relationship to Coal, Oil, and Gas issues.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/NR/energymeet_0302.html


HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"SURVEYS GETTING UNDERWAY ON SOME BLM LANDS" (Ridgecrest Daily Independent, 03/01/2002)
Survey teams from BLM and other agencies will be active in the Jawbone Canyon area, monitoring rare and endangered plants, wildlife, and visitor use.
http://www.ridgecrestca.com/beta_2/index.php3?id=706

"EL CENTRO, COUNTY SUING COMMISSION OVER PIPELINE EIR" (Imperial Valley Press, 03/07/2002)
Local governments sue California State Lands Commission over its approval of the North Baja natural gas pipeline that will run through part of Imperial County. Plaintiffs say the line will fuel two Mexicali power plants that will endanger the health of their residents. BLM California is involved because the pipeline would cross public lands managed by three BLM field offices.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/March/07-1484-news09.txt

"BLM HAS COPCO MEETING TO DISCUSS KLAMATH RIVER" (Siskiyou Daily News, 03/11/2002)
Public meeting tonight at Copco Lake Community Center, to discuss draft plan for 19 miles of the Klamath River, including areas in Siskiyou County.
http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/March/10-806-news3.txt


SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS

March 19 and 20 -- Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting
Reno, NV
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/NR/WOnews_WHB_board_meeting_update.html

March 28 -- Ridgecrest Steering Committee Meeting
Ridgecrest
Monthly meeting of the citizen committee to share information on issues pertaining to federal public lands managed by the Ridgecrest Field Office.

April 15 and 16 - Public meetings on wild horse gather plans
4/15 - Susanville
4/16 - Cedarville
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/NR/NCnews28_whb_helicopter_meetings.html

April (various dates) -- Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Management Plan Public Hearings
Various locations in and near southern California
http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro/isdradates.html

April (various dates and locations)
Advisory Council meetings
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/rac.html

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http://www.ca.blm.gov

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