News.bytes
A publication of
Bureau of Land Management in California
Issue date: 9/5/2002
This week in News.bytes:
- LEGISLATION AIMS AT NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED SITES
- NOT FOR EDUCATORS ONLY:
- WILDLIFE TRIVIA: How many animals occur on BLM California
lands?
- CLARIFICATION OF LAST WEEK'S WILDLIFE TRIVIA
- FIGHTING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA JUNIPER THREAT
- PLANT OF THE WEEK - BODIE HILLS ROCK CRESS
- CADIZ PROJECT STILL FACES OPPOSITION
- WILDLAND FIRE DANGER REMAINS HIGH
- ALONG THE COAST
- HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS, including:
- New Field Office manager coming to Bishop
- Christian Science Monitor Breakfast with Secretary Norton
- Assaults increase on public lands workers
- Horse training next week
- Conservation, wilderness
- Ward Valley
-... and more
- SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
LEGISLATION AIMS AT NATIVE AMERICAN SACRED
SITES
"NATIVE TRIBES SEEK CLOUT ON NONTRIBAL LANDS" (Christian Science
Monitor, 09/04/2002)
"Specifically, native Americans are pushing for new laws that would give
them what could amount to veto power over certain development projects (mining,
housing, shopping malls, etc.) impacting what are considered historically sacred
sites. A bill is close to passage in California, and support is growing for
a similar law in Congress."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0904/p03s01-usgn.html
"IS NOTHING SACRED? ASKS TRIBE" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 08/31/2002)
Quechan Indian tribe opposes gold mine planned by Glamis Gold, Ltd.
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/1030764029.shtml
"COOPERATION COULD DIM EFFECT OF BILL DEFENDING INDIAN SITES (Palm
Springs Desert Sun, 08/31/2002)
Some worry that state bill aimed at protecting sites sacred to Indian tribes,
could stifle growth of wind energy and other projects.
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories/local/1030763825.shtml
"BILL HELPS INDIANS PROTECT SACRED SITES" (Imperial Valley
Press, 08/30/2002)
Local impacts of Senate Bill 1828, which would require additional conditions
and approvals of a proposed mining site if it is a Native American sacred site.
Quechan Tribe opposing Glamis company plan for cyanide heap-leach gold mine
near one of their sacred sites.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/August/30-1466-news09.txt
"EASY OK FOR SACRED LAND
BILL; INDIANS GIVEN POWER OVER DEVELOPMENTS" (San Francisco Chronicle,
8/29/02)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/08/29/BA12510.DTL
NOT FOR EDUCATORS ONLY:
PLANT OF THE WEEK - BODIE HILLS ROCK CRESS
Found in Mono County, California, and West Nevada, the Bodie Hills rock cress
is found on rolling to steep topography in andesitic soils at elevations of
7,500 to 9,500 feet. (Special status plants are those plants found on public
lands administered by the BLM whose survival is of concern.)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/bishop/bodiehillsrockcress.html
WILDLIFE
TRIVIA: How many animals occur on BLM California lands?
a) 359
b) 563
c) 824
(Answer near end of this newsletter)
See the BLM California Wildlife Database online at:
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmcawildlife.nsf
(Note: Following the above link will may cause your browser
to display a message, "You are about to view pages over a secure connection."
and ask you to accept a certificate from the Department of Interior. You must
say "Yes" to both items to view these pages on the secure Web Server
that hosts the wildlife database.)
CLARIFICATION OF LAST WEEK'S WILDLIFE TRIVIA
ANSWER:
Several
people e-mailed the News.bytes Team to ask if the California state fish was
in fact the Garibaldi, rather than the golden trout. Well, yes and no: the Garibaldi
is the "State Marine Fish." (This was not intended as a trick
question.)
According to the California State Library Web site, "The golden trout (Salmo
agua-bonita) is native only to California and was named the official state fish
by act of the State Legislature in 1947. Originally the species was found only
in a few streams in the icy headwaters of the Kern River, south of Mount Whitney,
the highest peak in the United States outside of Alaska. Stocking of wild and
hatchery-reared fish has extended its range to many waters at high elevation
in the Sierra Nevada from El Dorado and Alpine Counties southward. It has also
been planted in other states."
http://www.library.ca.gov/history/cahinsig.html#Heading6
FIGHTING JUNIPER THREAT ON NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
RANGELAND
"NATURAL
RESOURCE LEADERS LEARN MORE ABOUT MANAGING JUNIPERS"
The California Biodiversity Council learned more about the issue of juniper
management, during a recent Modoc County tour led by members of BLM's Northeast
California Resource Advisory Council.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/newsbytes/temp_issues/75_junipermanage.html
"BIODIVERSITY COUNCIL GETS
LOCAL VIEW" (Modoc Record, 9/5/02)
http://www.modocrecord.com/NEWS.html#Biodiversity
Related:
"MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S BIODIVERSITY COUNCIL (PHOTO)" (Modoc
Record, 9/5/02)
Please note: this link does not appear to work with Netscape
browsers. You may also see the photo by following the link to the story above,
and scrolling up the page.
http://www.modocrecord.com/NEWS.html#MEMBERS
"JUNIPER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY"
(BLM California Web site)
More information on this issue from our Alturas Field Office: "Western
juniper covers about 2.5 million acres of rangeland in northeastern California
-- a ten-fold increase in the past 130 years. "Rangeland health, productivity
and diversity are now at serious risk due to juniper encroachment."
http://www.ca.blm.gov/alturas/juniper_concept_paper1.htm
WILDLAND FIRE DANGER REMAINS HIGH
"USDA AND DOI DELIVER LEGISLATION
TO IMPLEMENT PRESIDENT'S HEALTHY FORESTS INITIATIVE" (Department of
the Interior news release, 9/5/02)
http://www.doi.gov/news/020905.htm
Related:
"SENATORS TACKLE DROUGHT, WILDFIRES" (Associated Press in Sacramento
Bee, 9/4/02)
Budget calls for more money to fight wildfires; $636 million would go to the
Forest Service and $189 million to the Bureau of Land Management.
http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/politics/story/523358p-4150623c.html
Related:
"SECRETARY NORTON STRONGLY ENDORSES PRESIDENT BUSH'S CALL FOR ADDITIONAL
FUNDS TO FIGHT WILDFIRES" (Department of Interior news release, 8/29/02)
http://www.doi.gov/news/020829b.htm
"HUNTERS REMINDED OF FIRE
RESTRICTIONS IN BACK COUNTRY" (Red Bluff Daily News, 09/03/2002)
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/September/03-3075-news51.txt
"RESIDENTS GET TIPS ON FIRE PREVENTION" (San Diego Union-Tribune,
08/29/2002)
BLM and other agencies help homeowners and county government prepare against
wildfire danger. Meeting arranged by couple whose home survived a major fire
this summer -- then was badly burned by an arson fire.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20020829-9999_1mi29julian.html
"WILDLAND FIRE UPDATE"
(National Interagency Fire Center)
News on wildland fires nationally, including California. From the National Interagency
Fire Center.
http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
CADIZ UNDERGROUND WATER STORAGE PROGRAM
Cadiz, Inc. receives BLM/Department of Interior right-of-way approval, with
conditions, for its plan to pump stored Colorado River Water and groundwater
from under the Mojave Desert -- still faces local opposition. News stories and
editorial offer various perspectives on the plan.
"PLAN TO STORE WATER BENEATH DESERT GAINS" (Los Angeles Times,
08/29/2002)
Note: the Los Angeles Times requires registration to view stories -- but offers
free access to this story for a limited time.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cadiz30aug30.story
"MOJAVE WATER PIPELINE GETS FEDERAL APPROVAL" (Sacramento Bee,
08/30/2002)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/environment/story/4192373p-5214695c.html
"WATER PUMPING PLAN OK'd" (San Bernardino County Sun, 08/30/2002)
http://www.sbsun.com/news/articles/0802/30/new14.asp
"WATER PROJECT PASSES REVIEW" (Riverside Press-Enterprise,
08/30/2002)
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sanbernardino/stories/PE_NEWS_nbcadiz30.a1a27.html
"U.S APPROVES WATER PLAN IN CALIFORNIA, BUT ENVIRONMENTAL OPPOSITION
REMAINS" (New York Times, 08/31/2002)
Note: the New York Times requires registration to view stories -- but offers
free access to this story for a limited time.
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/31/politics/31WATE.html?tntemail0
"MOJAVE WATER PIPELINE GETS FEDERAL APPROVAL" (Sacramento Bee,
08/30/2002)
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/4192375p-5214695c.html
"FEDS GIVE OK TO PLAN TO PULL WATER FROM MOJAVE DESERT" (San
Diego Union-Tribune, 08/29/2002)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20020829-1752-wst-desertwaterdeal.html
"STORAGE PLAN: MWD-Cadiz project has too many holes" (San Bernardino
County Sun, 09/03/2002)
EDITORIAL: "Despite the conditional nod given to a plan that would pump
groundwater from the desert, Cadiz and MWD should leave the water where it is."
http://www.sbsun.com/opinions/articles/0902/03/edit.asp
"OPPONENTS CLAIM WATER PLAN ALL WET" (Barstow Desert Dispatch,
08/30/2002)
http://www.desertdispatch.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1030726028,73699,
"LEWIS URGES BOARD" (Victorville Daily Press, 09/04/2002)
Regarding Cadiz plan: "I am convinced that this plan endangers the water
supply for Mojave Desert residents and the Mojave National Preserve - and I
believe it may not be in the best interest for MWD's customers to be dependent
on desert ground water," says Congressman, who says he would consider plan
if it were merely to store excess Colorado River water during wet years.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1031153922,61254,
"INTERIOR APPROVES CADIZ PROJECT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA" (BLM
California news release, 08/29/2002)
Links to information on approval of the Cadiz, Inc. right-of-way permit across
public lands.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/08/nr/SOnews07_Cadiz_ROD.html
ALONG THE COAST
"AGENCY STUDIES HOW TO PROTECT SMALL ISLANDS AND OUTCROPPINGS"
(San Diego Union-Tribune, 08/29/2002)
One of several public meetings on California Coastal National Monument - managed
by BLM California -- draws "about a dozen people." Suggestions included
not increasing bureaucratic burdens on people, and involving the military.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20020829-9999_1m29coastal.html
Related: "CALIFORNIA COASTAL
NATIONAL MONUMENT" (BLM California Web site)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/hollister/coastal_monument.html
"CELEBRATION AND DEBATE: Controversy marks marine refuge's anniversary"
(San Luis Obispo Tribune, 09/04/2002)
BLM California one of 20 groups celebrating 10th anniversary of Monterey Bay
National Marine Sanctuary -- the largest marine sanctuary in the country. Controversy
centers on efforts to extend it further south....
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/3999434.htm
HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS
"DUNKELBERGER SELECTED AS
NEW BLM BISHOP FIELD OFFICE MANAGER" (BLM California news release,
9/5/02)
Bill Dunkelberger, currently the assistant district ranger for the Arapaho-Roosevelt
National Forest in Colorado, is the new field office manager for BLM California's
Bishop Field Office.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/SOnews08_dunkelberger_selected/Conv.htm
"MONITOR
BREAKFAST: Selected quotations from a Monitor breakfast with Interior Secretary
Gale Norton" (Christian Science Monitor, 9/5/02)
"For more than 30 years, the Monitor has been hosting weekly breakfasts
in Washington where newsmakers dine and discuss issues, politics, and policy
with reporters."
http://www.csmonitor.com/search_content/0905/p25s01-usmb.html
"CALIFORNIA BILL WOULD PROHIBIT
WARD VALLEY NUKE DUMP" (Needles Desert Star, 09/04/2002)
"Supporters and critics agree that two bills on their way to the governor's
desk could profoundly impact a seemingly-forgotten proposal to bury radioactive
waste near Needles" -- on land managed by BLM California.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=localnews&pnpID=638&NewsID=354891&CategoryID=4635&on=0
"FREE HORSE TRAINING DEMONSTRATIONS
COMING TO ROSEVILLE" (BLM California news release, 9/4/02)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2002/09/nr/NCnews83_rosevilleadoption_training.html
"CONSERVATION AREA IN THE
WORKS NEAR RED BLUFF" (Chico Enterprise-Record, 09/03/2002)
http://www.chicoer.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/September/03-489-news5.txt
"MIXED REACTIONS ON WILDERNESS
PLAN" (David Enterprise, 09/01/2002)
Local reaction to proposed "California Wild Heritage Act of 2002"
and its potential impact on sections of the Cache Creek watershed, including
lands now managed by BLM California. Some areas would be studied for possible
wild and scenic river status and protections as wilderness....
http://www.davisenterprise.com/display/inn_news/122NEW0.TXT
"ASSAULTS INCREASE ON PARKS
WORKERS" (Washington Post, 08/30/2002)
Group reports that assaults on federal employees working on public lands increased
last year. Attacks against BLM employees increased 4 percent, said Public Employees
for Environmental Responsibility.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13637-2002Aug29.html
"MERCHANTS ANTICIPATE DOVE
SEASON" (Imperial Valley Press, 08/30/2002)
Area near Brawley and El Centro has become a prime spot for dove hunters. One
reason is work of volunteer group Desert Wildlife Unlimited in planting fields
of dove feed, says BLM's El Centro Field Office recreation chief.
http://ivpressonline.com/archives/index.inn?loc=detail&doc=/2002/August/30-1460-news03.txt
"NEW DESERT TOWN NO HOME
TO THE FRINGE-TOED LIZARD" (High Country News, 08/19/2002)
Some say development -- with 7,000 homes, 12 golf courses, three hotels, a World
Trade Center University, grade schools, shopping centers and 3 million square
feet of office and industrial space" -- would destroy Coachella Valley
Preserve. But developer now plans a "self-contained green community"
with "a network of paths and trails to discourage short automobile trips,
lighting designed to preserve night skies, a fleet of electric cars for use
by residents, and a system of shuttles linking neighboring communities."
http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=11347
Related: "COACHELLA VALLEY PRESERVE
- Watchable Wildlife Site"
(BLM California Web pages) BLM California is one of several partners in managing
the Preserve. The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard depends on this unusual
blowsand desert for survival, and "swims" through the sand to escape
predators or summer heat of the desert surface.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/caso/wf-coachella.html
ANSWER TO WILDLIFE TRIVIA:
How many animals occur on BLM California lands?
Answer: c) 824
There are 824 different animals that occur on BLM California lands: 174 mammals,
91 reptiles, 36 amphibians, 87 fishes, and 436 birds. (Naturally, this is an
approximate and dynamic number -- as news species are confirmed, or determined
to be outside of land managed by BLM.)
See our BLM California wildlife database online at: https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmcawildlife.nsf
SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS
09/12/2002 - Oil and Gas Lease Sale
Bakersfield
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/58967270?OpenDocument
09/05/2002 - California Coastal National Monument public scoping meeting
San Francisco
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/70682994?OpenDocument
09/13/2002 - Central California Advisory Council meeting
Bishop
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/70303960?OpenDocument
09/14/2002 - Desert District Advisory Council meeting
Baker
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmEvents.nsf/siteurl/47165027?OpenDocument
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News.bytes published by
Bureau of Land Management
California State Office
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