CONTROVERSIES ON MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS

"BLM DOZERS MAKE PATH TO OFF-ROAD AREA" (Redding Record-Searchlight, 08/07/2002)
Post-Sept. 11 security meant a harder time for off-roaders to reach100 miles of trails on BLM's Gene Chappie-Shasta Off Highway Vehicle Area. Permit to cross Shasta Dam had to be obtained in advance. BLM has been working two weeks on road expected to open in September or October. Critics say trail now limited to hikers, bikers and equestrians should be re-opened to OHVs.
http://www.redding.com/news/stories/20020807lo024.shtml

"ISSA, FOREST OFFICIALS DIFFER ON POWER LINE ROUTE" (North Country Times, 08/04/2002)
U.S. Forest Service officials propose power line route to San Diego through a designated wilderness area in the Cleveland National Forest, east of the Pechanga Indian Reservation. Congressman proposes avoiding wilderness and tribe's ancestral lands. BLM was selected as federal lead on environmental review, with a few miles of one proposed route crossing BLM-managed lands.
http://www.nctimes.net:80/news/2002/20020804/72728.html

"PLAN CALLS FOR HAVEN FOR TORTOISES" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 08/03/2002)
BLM California's Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Proposed Plan Amendment: off-roaders say it would close too much land; environmentalists say not enough. Protest period ends Sept. 3, 2002.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_NEWS_ndesert03.a17f0.html



NOT FOR EDUCATORS ONLY:


WILDLIFE TRIVIA: "What is the State bird of California?"
(See answer near the end of this newsletter)

PLANT OF THE WEEK - Ornate dalea
Perennial herb 12 - 24 inches high with dried stems present from previous year. Leaves and stems dotted with tiny glands. Leaves 1-3/16 - 2 inches long with 5-7 ovate leaflets 3/8 - 3/4 inches long. Inflorescence a wooly looking spike 3/4 - 2-3/8 inches long with many rose-purple flowers that don't appear pea-like. http://www.ca.blm.gov/eaglelake/eldaor.html

FIGHTING -- and PREVENTING WILDFIRES

"RIDGE FUEL BREAK COMPLETION ON HOLD WHILE EFFORTS FOCUS ON POA" (Chico Enterprise-Record, 08/06/2002)
Homeowners association will put $100,000 BLM "fuel reduction" grant to work, creating fire break around their homes.
http://www.chicoer.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/August/06-483-news2.txt

"PINES FIRE 60% CONTAINED - BUT A CDF COMMANDER WARNS, 'THIS IS NOT OVER'" (San Diego Union Tribune, 8/8/02)
One of the largest wildfires in California this year has destroyed more than 30 homes and 100 vehicles. Also spreads into uninhabited land managed by BLM California.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20020808-9999_1mi8blaze.html

"CURRENT WILDLAND FIRE INFORMATION" (National Interagency Fire Site Web pages)
Information on wildland fires updated at least daily, including current fires listed by state.
http://www.nifc.gov/information.html

"BLM IMPOSES STRICTER FIRE RULES IN KERN AND TULARE COUNTIES" (BLM California news release, 08/06/2002)
Facing the worst fire danger in years with thousands of acres already burned, the BLM has followed the Forest Service in imposing even tougher fire restrictions.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/08/nr/CCnews60_morebakofireregs.html

"FIREFIGHTING HAS ANOTHER TOOL: THE METEOROLOGIST" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 08/07/2002)
"You're responsible for predicting the weather as accurately as possible, and lives depend on it." Forecasting for firefighters puts BLM meteorologist "on the hot seat."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/science/20020807-9999_1c7weather.html

BOOKSTORE FEATURE - Elephant in a can!
Soft stuffed Elephant contained in a can. Just open and see. http://store.ca.blm.gov/webc/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=325

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"RIDE FORT ORD" (Coast Weekly, 8/8/02)
"There are many good reasons not to mountain bike alone....That said, the loneliness of Fort Ord is the very thing that makes it so good for mountain biking." Feature story on land managed by BLM California's Hollister Field Office.
http://www.coastweekly.com/article.asp?section=1009&view=&ref=8018

Related: "TRAIL MAP - FORT ORD PUBLIC LANDS" (BLM California Web pages)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/hollister/trail_map_fo.html

"BLM OFFERING REWARD FOR KAWEAH VANDALS" (BLM California news release, 08/06/2002)
A serious vandalism problem is marring the natural beauty of the BLM recreation sites along the south fork of the Kaweah River near the community of Three Rivers.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/08/nr/CCnews61_kaweahvandalism.html

"BOXER'S BILL STILL SITTING" (Inyo Register, 8/5/02)
Sen. Barbara Boxer's wilderness bill sits in committee after two months. Two companion bills in the House seem to be progressing farther. The bills would affect some BLM-California lands.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=2270&dept_id=498515&newsid=4960506&PAG=461&rfi=9

" DISTRICT WINNING WAR AGAINST 'WICKED WEED' " (Bakersfield Californian, 08/04/2002)
"Yellow starthistle is toxic to horses, destroying a part of their brain that allows them to chew and swallow, and they slowly starve to death." Rancher notices a 10-foot-square patch yellow starthistle. "In three years, it took over every pasture in my place," she says. Tehachapi Resource Conservation District fights this noxious weed that also threatens much BLM-managed land.
http://www.bakersfield.com/local/story/1541123p-1658160c.html#

Related: "YELLOW STARTHISTLE" (BLM California Web pages)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/eaglelake/starthis.html

"MINE SITE FOES FACE NEW FIGHT" (Santa Clarita Daily News , 08/04/2002)
Describes City of Santa Clarita's fight against planned sand and gravel operation in Soledad Canyon, and their recent legal setbacks.
http://www.santaclarita.dailynews.com:80/news/articles/0802/04/sac05.asp

"BLM WILL INCREASE VISITOR CONTACTS AT KNOXVILLE RECREATION AREA" (BLM California news release, 08/02/2002)
Visitors to the Knoxville Recreation Area along the Lake-Napa county line can expect to see more staff from the Bureau of Land Management during the weekend of August 10 and 11 and the Labor Day weekend.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/08/nr/NCnews78_knoxville_rangers.html

"PUBLIC MEETINGS SET FOR NORTHERN COASTAL COMMUNITIES TO DISCUSS CALIFORNIA COASTAL NATIONAL MONUMENT" (BLM California news release, 08/02/2002)
Residents of northern California coastal communities can get involved in management of offshore rocks, islands and pinnacles, in a series of public meetings later this month. In the sessions, participants will suggest issues that should be addressed in a management plan for the California Coastal National Monument.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/08/nr/NCnews76_coastalmeetings_north.html

"PUBLIC MEETINGS SET FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES TO DISCUSS CALIFORNIA COASTAL NATIONAL MONUMENT" (BLM California news release, 08/02/2002)
Residents of central and southern California coastal communities can get involved in management of offshore rocks, islands and pinnacles, in a series of public meetings in late August and early September. In the sessions, participants will suggest issues that should be addressed in a management plan for the California Coastal National Monument.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/08/nr/NCnews77_coastalmeetings_south.html

"COUNTY COULD RECOUP LOST TAXES" (Victorville Daily Press, 08/07/2002)
Bill introduced in Congress would require lump-sum payments to counties if federal government annexes land in a county already receiving its maximum "Payment in Lieu of Taxes" (PILT).
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1028707412,12769,

Related: "BLM DISTRIBUTES PILT PAYMENTS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS" (BLM California news release, 6/26/02)
Amounts of Payments in Lieu of Taxes that BLM has paid to California counties this year.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/06/nr/SOnews04_PILT_payments_2002.html

"CONSERVANCY LEGISLATION SPARKS FEUD" (Oroville Mercury Register, 08/06/2002)
"A political dogfight erupted last week between area lawmakers over legislation aimed at protecting what preservationists say is one of California's most vulnerable ecological treasures." Departing lawmaker's bill would create an open-space conservancy to protect the Sierra Nevada, governed by a 15-member board and three ex-officio, non-voting representatives from BLM, National Park Service and the Forest Service.

"BILL HAVERT: ENVIROMENTALIST KEEPS WILDLIFE, GROWTH IN SYNC" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 08/05/2002)
Profile of a member of BLM California's Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Advisory Committee.
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/1028513346.shtml

Related: "SANTA ROSA AND SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE"
http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings/advisory_committee.html#Members

"SHEEP RELEASED INTO MOUNTAINS" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 08/04/2002)
Five bighorn sheep released onto BLM-managed land in San Jacinto Mountains - meant to give "a struggling herd of sheep that lives in the mountain range a better chance at long-term survival."
http://www.thedesertsun.com:80/news/stories/local/1028422237.shtml



ANSWER TO THIS WEEK'S WILDLIFE TRIVIA: "What is the State bird of California?"
{:8-) The California quail is the State bird of California. They are found in all of BLM California's Field Office areas except Alturas, El Centro, and Needles.