Related: "COUNTY, BLM COULD CLASH OVER PROPOSED CHANGES TO 1,900 MILES OF OFF-ROAD TRAILS" (Imperial Valley Press, 05/01/2002)
Speakers at a BLM public meeting disagreed on proposed changes to off-road trails on 475,00 acres in the Western Colorado Desert Planning Area of western Imperial County.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/May/01-1811-news10.txt

"QUECHANS COME OUT AGAINST REOPENING OF DUNES AREAS (News Briefs)" (Yuma Sun, 04/28/2002)
Quechan Tribe leaders say they oppose reopening of 49,000 acres in the nearby Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area to off-roaders. They say they are not opposed to off-roading, but closure helps law enforcement control problem drivers and helps protect the environment and their cultural history.
http://www.yumasun.com/artman/publish/story_1269.shtml

"BLM MAY BAN SHOOTERS, OFF-ROADERS" (Stockton Record, 04/26/2002)
A majority of about 50 people at a public meeting -- including nearby residents -- said they want shooting and off-roading banned on 173-acre parcel in Campo Seco, because of "safety, trespassing and noise concerns." Others said the areas should not be closed to these uses because of the actions of a few, and suggested increased law-enforcement patrols could solve the problems.
http://www.recordnet.com/daily/news/lodilode/lodilodearticles/8news042602.html

"GROUP FINDS HUNTER LETTER OFFENSIVE" (Imperial Valley Press, 04/26/2002)
Last of six public meetings on BLM's Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area draft management plan, started with an attendee reading a letter signed by Congressman Duncan Hunter, that attacked environmentalists.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/April/26-1796-news02.txt

FROM THE SURPRISE FIELD OFFICE:

"BILLINGSLEY SWORN-IN AS NEW MANAGER FOR BLM SURPRISE FIELD OFFICE" (BLM California news release, 05/01/2002)
Owen Billingsley was sworn in as new field manager for the BLM California's Surprise Field Office, based in Cedarville. BLM State Director Mike Pool administered the oath of office.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/NCnews52_billingsley_sworn-in.html

Related:

VISIT US: California/Nevada Great Basin
From prehistoric stories to revisiting the Old West, this area reveals some of the secrets of the Great Basin Desert. The California National Historic Trail was heavily used during the Gold Rush of 1849. What is now High Rock Canyon National Historic Site was one of the most famous locations in the journals of Emigrant Trail pioneers. The striking view from Fandango Pass is both a National Scenic Byway and California Trail attraction.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/surprise/recreation.html


DESERT TOPICS AND TRAVEL

"FEE PROGRAM CONSIDERED FOR DUMONT DUNES RECREATION AREA" (BLM California news release, 5/1/02)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/CDDnews50_dumont_dunes_rec_fee.html

Related: "DUMONT DUNES OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE AREA" (BLM California Web site)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/barstow/dumont.html

"RAINBOW BASIN: PHOTOGRAPHER'S HEAVEN" (DesertUSA.com, May 2002)
"Northwest of Barstow, California, lies one of the most beautiful and mysterious locations in the Mojave Desert...Rainbow Basin is surrealistic, other-worldly, seemingly a land that couldn't possibly exist on the same planet that holds forests and lakes and lush meadows.
http://www.desertusa.com/mag02/may/rainbow.html

Related: "RAINBOW BASIN NATURAL AREA" (BLM California Web page)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/barstow/basin.html

"EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY" (BLM California news release, 04/25/2002)
BLM's Barstow Field Office joined the city of Barstow, Caltrans, and Mojave Desert and Mountain Waste Management for annual Earth Day and Garden Party celebration at the BLM Desert Discovery Center in Barstow. The theme "Together for the Earth" provided information and activities to participants about environmental issues, composting and better ways to manage wastewater. Also, more than 65 volunteers picked up 12 tons of trash during Jack Waldron Memorial Cleanup at the Stoddard Valley off-highway vehicle area.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/CDDnews48_barstow_earthday_042502.html

"POWER FIGHT MAKES MESS OF CLEANUP" (Victorville Daily Press, 04/29/2002)
"One year ago, it was a strategic move in a power struggle. But now, some say, a battle between the county and [BLM] has made a mess of efforts to cleanup desert public lands."
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1020096468,51787,

NORTH BAJA PIPELINE:

"BUREAU AUTHORIZES CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE" (Yuma Sun, 04/29/2002)
North Baja pipeline.
http://www.yumasun.com/artman/publish/story_1285.shtml

"BLM CLEARS GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION" (Imperial Valley Press, 04/25/2002)
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/April/25-1728-news02.txt

"DECISION ISSUED AUTHORIZING NORTH BAJA PIPELINE" (BLM California news release, 04/23/2002)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/CDDnews46_northbajarod.html

BOOKSTORE FEATURE: Wildflower Walk & Roads of the Sierra Gold Country
This beautifully illustrated guide shows and tells you what you need to know to locate and identify the hundreds of native plants that grow and thrive in California's historic Gold Country. http://store.ca.blm.gov/webc/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1324

NOT FOR EDUCATORS ONLY: Geology and Mining History Field Trips
The Geology Field Trip Program explores the changes that have occurred throughout California's complex and fascinating geologic history and focuses on the human interaction with this geology over the past
150 years. Since the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, the landscape of California has never been the same. We live in an environment today with a range of social issues that are directly linked to our geologic past. http://www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield/geologytrips.html

PLANT OF THE WEEK - BEACH LAYIA
Beach layia is an understated and pioneering annual that is less than 6 inches tall. It can be unbranched to highly branched, spreading to more than 16 inches across. Ray flowers white and anthers purple. Fruit white to brownish, especially at base. This Federally endangered plant has been found in seven dune systems from Santa Barbara north to Clam Beach, Humboldt County -- and is one of the "Special Status Plants" found on lands managed by BLM California.
http://www.blm.gov/ca/pa/ssp/plants/layia_carnosa.html

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"INTERIOR AGENCY GETS SMART" (Federal Computer Week, 04/29/2002)
By cutting costs and improving information sharing, BLM prompts other Department of Interior agencies to consider "business intelligence software."
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/0429/mgt-smart-04-29-02.asp

"BLM SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR CARRIZO PLAIN ADVISORY COMMITTEE" (BLM California news release, 04/26/2002)
Nominations are being sought for a local advisory committee on the Carrizo Plain National Monument. The committee will advise the Secretary of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management on resource management issues at the Monument which sits on the border between San Luis Obispo and Kern counties.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/CCnews40_carrizo_nominations_annoucement.html

"TAKING NEW FRIENDS HOME: Wild horses and burros adopted at Y-S Fairgrounds" (Appeal-Democrat, 04/28/2002)
BLM event at Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/archive/2002/042802/42802kt28burros.shtml

"COASTAL CONSERVANCY MONEY WILL REOPEN DUNE AREA TO THE PUBLIC" (Eureka Times-Standard, 04/27/2002)
Coastal land purchase by California Coastal Conservancy will create unbroken stretch of dunes from Manila to Mad River beach. Plan is to transfer the property to BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127%257E2896%257E575224,00.html#

"DOUG WHITE NAMED CHAIR OF BLM RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL" (BLM California news release, 04/26/2002)
Colusa resident Doug White was named chairman of the BLM's Northwest California Resource Advisory Council, during April 25 meeting in Arcata.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/NCnews51_nwrac_summary.html

"A QUIET BROKER OF THE WILD" (Los Angeles Times, 04/24/2002)
The Wildlands Conservancy quietly protects large areas of the California Desert, mostly through its success in fund-raising to buy land. That includes land now managed by BLM California. Board members include Ed Hastey, retired director of BLM California.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-042402wild.story

UPDATES ON MARINES' DESERT SCIMITAR TRAINING EXERCISE
Marines' Desert Scimitar 2002 training exercise crosses BLM-managed lands inhabited by the endangered desert tortoise.

"NO SHELL GAME - Order to Marines in desert exercise: Don't disturb endangered tortoise" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 04/30/2002)
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_NEWS_nascim30.ec8b.html

"MARINES BRIDGE GAP BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA" (North County Times, 04/29/2002)
http://www.nctimes.net/news/2002/20020430/54050.html

"MARINES STAGE TRAINING EXERCISE" (North County Times, 4/29/02)
http://www.nctimes.net/news/2002/20020429/52306.html

"PENDLETON MARINES IN MOCK DESERT WAR" (San Diego Union Tribune, 04/29/2002)
http://www.uniontrib.com/news/uniontrib/mon/metro/news_1m29desert.html

"MARINES BRIDGE RIVER IN RECORD TIME" (San Diego Union Tribune, 04/30/2002)
http://www.uniontrib.com/news/uniontrib/tue/metro/news_7m30river.html

"ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT- DESERT SCIMITAR 02 EXERCISE" (BLM California Web pages, March 2002)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings/desertscimitar02_ea.html


SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS

05/02/2002 - Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountain National Monument scoping meetings
Indio Senior Center
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/04/nr/SRSJNMnews03_scoping_meetings_040802.html

May 8 - Oil and gas lease sale
Bakersfield
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/03/nr/CCnews34_May_OilGas_sale.html

05/23/2002 - Ridgecrest Steering Committee
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office