News.bytes
A publication of
Bureau of Land Management in California
Issue date: 6/6/02
This week in News.bytes:
- LAND MANAGEMENT DRAFT PLANS:
--- Headwaters
--- Coachella Valley Amendment
- DESERT: WILDLIFE
--- Drought shrivels food supply
--- Hearings for horned lizard
- DESERT: OFF-ROADING and LAW ENFORCEMENT
- DESERT: VOLUNTEERS
- VISIT US: RIDGECREST
- WILD HORSES AND BURROS
--- Training demonstration
--- Two upcoming California adoptions
--- BLM computer system saves bucks, burros and horses
- FIRE SEASON IS HERE
- MINING ISSUES
--- Mining protest
--- Mine fight leader leaves city
- WEED OF THE WEEK - Mountain tarweed
- HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS
--- Bureaucratic mixup
--- Fort Ord issues
--- Sen. Boxer's wilderness bill: Shasta
- SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
DRAFT LAND
MANAGEMENT PLANS UNVEILED
"DRAFT
HEADWATERS PLAN RELEASED; PUBLIC MEETINGS SET" (BLM California news
release, 05/31/2002)
An interagency draft plan to guide the future management of the Headwaters Forest
Reserve near Fortuna, has been released and is available for public comment.
A series of public meetings is also scheduled.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/NCnews59_headwaters_plan.html
"DRAFT COACHELLA VALLEY CALIFORNIA
DESERT CONSERVATION AREA PLAN, DRAFT TRAILS MANAGEMENT PLAN AND DRAFT EIS AVAILABLE
FOR PUBLIC REVIEW" (BLM California news release, 05/31/2002)
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Draft Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains Trails Management Plan, and Draft California Desert Conservation Plan
Amendment has been released for public review and comment.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/CDDnews57_Coachella_draft_plan.html
Related:
"Draft California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment for the
Coachella Valley, Draft Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains Trails Management
Plan, and Draft Environmental Impact Statement" (BLM California Web
site)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings/draft_eis.html
DESERT: WILDLIFE
"DROUGHT SHRIVELS SUPPLY
OF FOOD FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 06/01/2002)
A
potentially record-breaking drought threatens wildlife in the Palm Springs area
-- including a 50 percent reduction in fringe-toed lizards at the Coachella
Valley Preserve, co-managed by BLM California. Related:
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/1022892324.shtml
"HEARINGS SLATED FOR HORNED
LIZARD" (Imperial Valley Press, 06/04/2002)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers listing flat-tailed horned lizard as
a threatened species, which could close or limit access to its habitat - much
of it in Imperial County and Coachella Valley. Public meetings coming later
this month in El Centro.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/June/04-1491-news04.txt
Related:
"COACHELLA VALLEY PRESERVE" (BLM California Web site)
Home to both fringe-toed lizards and flat-tailed horned lizards mentioned in
the two stories above.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/caso/wf-coachella.html
DESERT: OFF-ROADING and LAW ENFORCEMENT
"$775,000 SOUGHT FOR DESERT
PATROLS" (Imperial Valley Press, 06/06/2002)
UPDATE THIS URL WHEN THEY MOVE STORY TO ARCHIVES. Imperial County Sheriff's
Office requests grant from the state to expand off-road law enforcement -- including
more enforcement in places besides the BLM-managed Imperial Sand Dunes.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/June/05-2110-news04.txt
"HUNTER SAYS HE'LL CONTINUE
FIGHTING FOR IMPERIAL VALLEY AFTER REDISTRICTING IN EFFECT" (Imperial
Valley Press, 06/02/2002)
U.S. Congressman, Duncan Hunter, says he will still work to make sure Algodones
Dunes are fully open for recreation by August, and has requested $14 million
for additional BLM law enforcement -- even though the Imperial Valley is no
longer in the area he will represent, after redistricting.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/June/02-494-news03.txt
DESERT: VOLUNTEERS
"LESICKA RECEIVES AWARD IN
D.C." (Imperial Valley Press, 05/30/2002)
During expense-paid trip to nation's capitol to receive award for his volunteer
service, Leon Lesicka "was itching to get his blazer off and get back to
the Imperial Valley and his work ... protect[ing] desert wildlife." .
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/May/31-1682-news06.txt
"LOCAL BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
VOLUNTEERS AMONG NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS" (BLM California news release,
05/17/2002)
Leon Lesicka, of the El Centro, California BLM Field Office and Pete Fish of
the Ridgecrest, California Field Office are among nine national volunteer award
winners. Rose Foster, Volunteer Coordinator for the BLM Barstow, California
Field Office, was one of three BLM employees selected for recognition.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/CDDnews53_volunteer_awards_localized.html
VISIT US: RIDGECREST
Visiting the Ridgecrest area this summer? Take a look at the Top 10 Points of
Interest managed by our Ridgecrest Field Office.
Home area for BLM Ridgecrest volunteer featured in story above.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/ridgecrest/topten.html
WILD HORSES AND BURROS
"HORSE
FANCIERS CAN GET FREE TRAINING TIPS
AT RED BLUFF WILD HORSE ADOPTION" (BLM California news release, 5/22/02)
June 8-9, preview as they arrive Friday, June 7. Tehama County Fairgrounds.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/NCnews57_redbluff_adoption_training.html
"ADOPT-A-HORSE PROGRAM TO
VISIT WOODLAND HILLS" (BLM California news release, 5/28/02)
June 22-23, preview Friday, June 21. Woodland Hills - Pierce College.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/05/nr/CDDnews55_woodlandhills_adoption1.html
"BLM's DATA WAREHOUSING STRATEGY
USES BYTES TO SAVE BUCKS, BURROS AND HORSES" (Government Computer News,
06/03/2002)
The BLM "measures its data warehousing success not just in dollars saved
but also in wild animals rescued." Computer software and systems help save
money and time, and get important information to managers more quickly.
http://www.gcn.com/21_13/tech-report/18814-1.html
FIRE SEASON
IS HERE
"INTO THE FIRE"
(Bakersfield Californian, 06/02/2002)
Kern County firefighters -- including BLM's -- gearing up for what could be
exceptionally bad wildfire season, fueled by one of the driest years on record.
http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/1197897p-1314399c.html
Related:
"ROCKY FIRE CHARS 500 ACRES" (Kern Valley Sun, 06/04/2002)
About 150 firefighters including BLM contain fire in Kern County.
http://www.kvsun.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/June/04-1738-rocky1.txt
MINERALS ISSUES
"MINING QUEST DRAWS PROTEST"
(San Bernardino County Sun, 06/03/2002)
Groups file protest against new mining claims and mill sites in Mojave National
Preserve and nearby public lands. Current operations in the area include Castle
Mountains Venture, owned by Viceroy Gold and MK Gold companies.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/articles/0602/02/new06.asp
"MINE FIGHT LEADER LEAVING
THE CITY" (Los Angeles Daily News, Santa Clarita edition, 06/06/2002)
" Stacy Miller, who helped lead the city of Santa Clarita's fight against
the planned Transit Mixed Concrete mine in Soledad Canyon, has resigned to accept
a position with a children's advocacy organization."
http://www.santaclarita.dailynews.com/news/articles/0602/06/sac06.asp
WEED OF THE WEEK - MOUNTAIN TARWEED
Native to western North America, this species has been spreading and has become
naturalized in many areas. It occurs in forest openings, as well as in the margins
between forest and grassland. It has a tendency to grow aggressively and out-competes
grasses. Although this plant is a native, and not on many noxious weed lists,
many local landowners regard it as a noxious weed.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/arcata/mountar.html
HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS
"BUREAUCRATIC MIXUP LEAVES
WALTER'S CAMP IN A PINCH" (Imperial Valley Press, 06/02/2002)
UPDATE URL WHEN IN ARCHIVES. Small campground in eastern Imperial County accidentally
included in borders of national wildlife refuge founded in 1964. Since mistake
discovered, BLM can not issue it permit to operate. Land is not desirable to
the refuge managers, but it may take bill by Rep. Duncan Hunter to correct mistake
and allow BLM to legally issue operating permit.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/June/03-1534-news06.txt
"HOUSING DEBATES HOLD UP
THE FORT" (USA Today, 06/03/2002)
BLM California will manage about one-quarter of form Fort Ord Army base, and
part of the rest is home to California's newest state university. But transfer
of other parts of the base are stalled: area has some of the least affordable
housing in U.S. Mayors whose cities would get the land want affluent nearby
cities to share the amount of low-cost housing congressman wants on the former
base.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/06/03/housing-debates-usat.htm
"BOXER'S WILDERNESS BILL
WOULD BAN LOGGING AND DEVELOPMENT ON ANOTHER 77,000 ACRES" (Lassen
County News, 05/31/2002)
Local analysis of Sen. Boxer's California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002
-- including potential 6,600-acre Pit River wilderness area.
http://www.lassennews.com/News_Story.edi?sid=1121&mode=thread&order=0
"STATEMENT OF CHRIS KEARNEY
... BEFORE THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATIONAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE ... PILT AND REFUGE
REVENUE SHARING PERMANENT FUNDING ACT" (BLM California news release,
05/09/2002)
Congressional testimony of Department of Interior's Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Policy and International Affairs on S. 454, a bill to make the BLM Payments-in-Lieu
of Taxes (PILT) Program and the Fish and Wildlife Service's Refuge Revenue Sharing
(RRS) Program mandatory.
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/legislative/pages/2002/te020509b.htm
"UTILITY TO LOOK EAST FOR
LINE" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 06/02/2002)
State Public Utilities Commission tells San Diego Gas and Electric to consider
a different route for power line it wants to connect to Southern California
Edison grid. SDG&E's favored route would cross BLM rights-of-way, but is
blocked by recently-designated Pechanga Indian reservation land.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/southwest/stories/PE_NEWS_nlines02.a0a3d.html
SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
06/27/2002 - Ridgecrest Steering
Committee
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/45503319?OpenDocument
06/08/2002 - Red Bluff Wild Horse
and Burro Adoption
Tehama County Fairgrounds
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/67300527?OpenDocument
06/22/2002 - Woodland Hills Wild
Horse and Burro Adoption
Pierce College - Woodland Hills
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/40209202?OpenDocument
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News.bytes published by
Bureau of Land Management
California State Office
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834
Sacramento, Ca 95825
(916) 978-4600
http://www.ca.blm.gov
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