WILD HORSES AND BURROS - COMING SOON TO A
LOCATION NEAR YOU!
April
20-21 at Lake Perris Fairgrounds
April 27-28 in Yuba City
May 18-19 in Stockton
"WILD HORSES AND BURROS SEEK NEW HOME - LAKE PERRIS FAIRGROUNDS"
(BLM California news release)http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/nr/CDDnews30_lake_perris_whb_adoption.html
"WILD HORSES AND BURROS HEADED FOR YUBA CITY" (BLM California
news release, 04/02/2002)
Wild horses and burros from the public rangelands of California and Nevada
are headed for the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City, where they will
be available for public adoption.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/NCnews44_yuba_city_whb_adoption.html
"AMERICA'S LIVING LEGEND - Photo/Interview Opportunity"
(BLM California news release, 03/22/2002)
America's wild horse and burros need your help! Besides routine gathers
to control overpopulation, BLM conducted many emergency gathers to save
as many animals as possible as severe drought and wildfires destroyed
thousands of acres of their habitat. The adoption program is BLM's only
means to find these animals a good home in the private sector. There are
many people with the skills and compassion that will give one of these
animals a good home, if they learn of this opportunity.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/nr/CDDnews29_lake_perris_whb_advisory.html
FREE!
BROCHURE: "Tips for Working with your Wild Horse or Burro"
Receive a free four-page brochure containing tips from famous
horse trainer Monty Roberts, for working with your wild horse or burro.
http://www6.ca.blm.gov/newsbytes/issue53/index.php
OHV ISSUES:
PART
OF IMPERIAL SAND DUNES MAY BE REOPENED TO OHVs
IMPERIAL SAND DUNES RECREATION AREA
"IMPERIAL DUNES DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT"
(BLM California news release, 3/29/02)
Six public meetings scheduled to gather public comment.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/nr/CDDnews33_Imperial_dunes_draft_management_plan.html
"CALIFORNIA OFF-ROAD DUNE PROPOSAL REVIVES BITTER FEUD"
(Associated Press, in The Arizona Republic, 03/29/2002)
The
Bureau of Land Management released a series of recommendations Friday
that include a "preferred alternative" to allow off-road vehicles
to use 49,000 acres of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, about
150 miles east of San Diego.
http://www.azcentral.com:80/news/articles/0329dunebuggies-ON.html
"NO ONE PLEASED WITH NEW DUNES PLAN" (The Yuma Sun, 03/30/2002)
The Bureau of Land Management's new plan for the Imperial Sand Dunes will
likely create more tension between the two groups battling over public
uses of the area.
http://www.yumasun.com/artman/publish/story_758.shtml
"SIMPLE PLANT AT CENTER OF SAND DUNES BATTLE" (Imperial
Valley Press, 03/31/2002)
Endangered plant at issue in off-road recreation at Imperial Sand Dunes
Recreation Area.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/March/31-501-news02.txt
"OUR OPINION: TO A BETTER DUNES EXPERIENCE" (Imperial
Valley Press, 04/02/2002)
Newspaper Editorial: Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/April/02-1429-ed02.txt
"SANDY MIDDLE GROUND" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 04/02/2002)
Editorial: call for "functional compromise" between environmentalists
and off-roaders in the Imperial Sand Dunes.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/opinion/editorials/PE.OP.ED.2002.0402.a.492c2.html
"DUNES: WEEKEND WARRIORS VS. WILDLIFE" (News Talk Radio
810 WGY, 04/01/2002)
Opposing views on proposed reopening of 50,000 acres of the Imperial Sand
Dunes Recreation Area to off-roaders: "We drove three hours to get
here to do this [ride dune buggies] and to take it away because of some
silly weeds or a turtle is wrong." vs. "We are perfectly willing
to go back to court to protect this land. We will win."
http://www.wgy.com:80/script/headline_newsmanager.php?id=14952&pagecontent=national1
"BLM PROPOSES REOPENING CALIFORNIA DUNES TO OFF-ROADERS"
(Outside Magazine, 04/02/2002)
Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
http://www.outsidemag.com/news/headlines/20020402_1.html
"NATURE OVERRUN" (New York Times, 04/04/2002)
EDITORIAL: OHVs on public lands, including reopening of 50,000 acres in
the Imperial Sand Dunes. (Note: The New York Times requires free registration
to view recent articles.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/04/opinion/_04THU1.html
LAW ENFORCEMENT AT CROWDED IMPERIAL DUNES
"DUNES HOLIDAY WEEKEND SEES CONTINUED DECREASE IN LAWLESSNESS"
(BLM California news release, 04/01/2002)
A continuing decrease in overall lawlessness was observed at the Imperial
Sand Dunes Recreation Area this past Easter holiday weekend as the "Zero
Tolerance" and "Break The Law—Go To Jail" policies
continue in effect.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/CDDnews36_post_holiday_dunes.html
"EASTER BRINGS QUIET CLOSE TO OFF-ROADING SEASON" (Imperial
Valley Press, 04/01/2002)
Easter holiday weekend brought to a quiet end the major holiday season
for crowds in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/April/01-1167-news03.txt
"ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DESCEND ON DUNES" (Imperial Valley
Press, 03/31/2002)
Law enforcement officers patrol Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, over
the busy Easter Holiday weekend.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/March/31-499-news01.txt
RAND MOUNTAIN INTERIM ROUTE CLOSURES
"BLM IMPLEMENTS EMERGENCY INTERIM VEHICLE CLOSURE IN PORTION OF
RAND MOUNTAINS" (BLM California news release, 3/29/02)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/nr/CDDnews34_Rand_ACEC_emergency_closure.html
"U.S CLOSES 18,000
ACRES IN DESERT TO OFF-ROADERS"
(Los Angeles Times, 4/3/02)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000023845apr03.story
"BLM BANS OFF-ROADERS
FROM 17,000 ACRES IN KERN DESERT" (Bakersfield Californian, 04/02/2002)
http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/872846p-958687c.html
"BLM ANNOUNCES ROAD CLOSURES IN RAND AREA" (Ridgecrest
Daily Independent, 04/01/2002)
http://www.ridgecrestca.com/beta_2/index.php3?id=777
More information on Rand (repeated from last
week's News.bytes):
"WESTERN RAND ACEC CLOSURE"
Briefing document summarizing issues related to Western Rand Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC). This ACEC is one the subjects of the lawsuit
filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), the Sierra Club, and
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The BLM has entered
into negotiations to amend the Lawsuit Settlement.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/newsbytes/temp_issues/briefing_westrandacecrouteclosure_03-02.pdf
"WEST RAND MOUNTAIN ROUTE PHOTOS" (BLM California Web page)
Photos of areas damaged by travel off designated route, and of areas rehabilitated
by off-road groups, in the Rand Mountains
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/reports_docs/2002/randphotos.html
OHV EVENTS ON BLM-MANAGED LANDS
"FORT SAGE OHV AREA WILL BE CLOSED DURING MOTORCYCLE RACE"
(BLM California news release, 04/01/2002)
The Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area near Doyle will be closed to public
use Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7, during the "Diamond Back
Hare Scrambles" motorcycle race.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/NCnews43_fort_sage_OHV_temp_closure.html
"SOUTH COW MOUNTAIN OHV AREA TO BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY" (BLM California news release, 04/01/2002)
BLM to close South Cow Mountain Off-HighwayVehicle Area to general recreation
use and through traffic Friday, April 26, through Sunday, April 28, for
public safety during the Sonoma County Sport Cycle Association's"Outlaw
Hare Scrambles" motorcycle race.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/NCnews42_cow_mountain_OOHV_temp_closure.html
MORE ON OHVs
"ENVIRONMENTALISTS, OFF-ROADERS FINALLY WORKING TOGETHER"
(Ventura County Star, 03/17/2002)
Stakeholders Roundtable works toward a truce in battle over OHVs. Mediated
by official from California OHV agency, 50 members try to "hash out
its differences in a civil, organized fashion." Jump in number of
off-roaders, combined with decreases in space for OHVs, has created problem
they hope to help solve.
http://www.msnbc.com/local/vcs/m160395.asp
Heavy
rooted perennial with several stems, leaflets are silvery-silky, with
lavender to violet flowers blooming May - June. This special status plant
grows in moist alkaline meadows or seeps in sagebrush scrub at 4,500 to
7,650 feet in elevation.
Seventy-five
of the state's best rockhounding sites -- covers the popular and commercial
sites as well as numerous little-known areas. This handy guide describes
how to collect specimens, includes maps and directions to each site, and
lists rockhound clubs around the state. "Rockhounding California"
offers a complete introduction to this many-faceted hobby and is an outstanding
guide and source book. 
A
species account has been prepared for each reptile, amphibian, and fish
being considered by the West Mojave Plan, a 9.4 million-acre planning
area encompasses most of California's western Mojave Desert. About one
third of the planning area is private land, another third is within military
bases, and the final third consists of public lands managed by the Bureau
of Land Management.