PHOTO ALBUM: Cosumnes River Preserve
The mission of the Cosumnes River Preserve is:
- Safeguarding and restoring the finest remaining example of California Valley oak riparian (stream side) ecosystem and its surrounding habitats.
- Restoring and creating freshwater wetlands to increase the Pacific Flyway´s populations of migratory waterfowl.
- Demonstrating the compatibility of human uses-- particularly agriculture, recreation, and education -- with the natural environment.

OFF-ROADING DISPUTES ON THE INCREASE?

"Making tracks, making enemies" (New York Times, 01/02/2004)
(Note: New York Times requires registration to view recent news articles - for free.) Dispute over off-roading on public lands: "On one side are self-styled responsible off-roaders, usually members of local clubs that promote following existing land-use rules and minimizing environmental impact. On the other are the renegades, who see such an approach as environmental appeasement."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/02/automobiles/02ROAD.html?8hpib

"Environmental battle blowing up on sand dunes" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 01/02/2004)
"A small, broom-like plant found in the dunes of California's Imperial Valley has turned this vast, desolate landscape into one of the nation's unlikeliest environmental battlegrounds. The fight pits those trying to protect the fragile habitat of the Pierson's milk-vetch against crowds of off-roaders who head to the Algodones Dunes for a weekend of partying in the desert." (Note: a subsequent AP correction to this story states "The plant also grows in dunes within the Gran Desierto, in the northwest portion of the Mexican state of Sonora....")
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2003/state/20040102022730.shtml

"Environmentalists: Limit needed on sand dune crowds" (Yuma Sun, 1/6/2004)
"Although fewer problems were reported during this year's long New Year's weekend at the Imperial Sand Dunes than in 2003, environmentalists say there were some inexcusable violations of closed habitat areas. They say a limit needs to be placed on the number of off-road enthusiasts that gather at the dunes at any given time."
http://yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_9005.shtml

"New year's weekend at dunes quiet, say officials" (Yuma Sun, 01/03/2004)
"Only a few problems were reported with the 125,000 off-roaders who flocked to the Imperial Sand Dunes west of Yuma during the long New Year's weekend."
http://yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_8980.shtml

"THE PRICE OF PRESERVATION"? AND OUTDOOR RECREATION

"The price of preservation" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 12/29/2003)
"Does environmental value of land trusts justify big tax breaks?" Private land trusts often buy privately-owned open space or farmland, and turn it over to government agencies such as the BLM.
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2003/local/20031228235224.shtml

"Ag group will manage part of Coast Dairies land" (Santa Cruz Sentinel, 12/29/2003)
"A Watsonville-based agricultural education group has agreed to take over a portion of the former Coast Dairies property on the county's North Coast." A conservation group plans to turn part of the land over to the state, and part to BLM, but BLM cannot manage "farm land and housing on the property."
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2003/December/29/local/stories/02local.htm

"County develops its recreation trails" (Lake County Record-Bee, 1/6/2004)
Lots of trails in Lake County - but how many, where exactly are they, and can you get from one to the other? County is working with its two cities and agencies including the BLM, to map out all trails in the county into GIS (Geographic Information System). "Once that is done...we will see how we can link these paths up and work on the missing pieces."
http://www.record-bee.com/Stories/0,1413,255%257E26904%257E1873223,00.html

"South Yuba roils supervisors again" (The Union, 1/7/2004)
"The Nevada County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday reluctantly agreed to move forward with its involvement in the South Yuba River management plan." (Plan is spearheaded by BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and the State of California.)
http://www.theunion.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040107/NEWS/101070060

"Group defends mountain, lake area's treasures" (Davis Enterprise, 12/28/2003)
Group meets to learn the latest about "the Blue Ridge-Berryessa Natural area [that] covers about 900 square miles, from Mount Vaca in northern Solano County to the Mendocino National Forest." The group includes people interested in preserving the area's "hiking, hunting, rafting, boating and other recreational opportunities," plus ranching and wild areas. Representatives from BLM and other agencies regularly attend meetings to share information such as land use plans and weed eradication.
http://www.davisenterprise.com/articles/2003/12/28/news/006new4a.txt

"Visitors center taking shape" (Inyo Register, 1/6/2004)
"...200,000 people a year stop at the Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center in Lone Pine. Unfortunately, [it] was built in the late 1970s to accommodate just 80,000 visitors a year, so it's been getting a bit cramped of late." BLM is one of eight agencies cooperating to expand and update it.
http://www.inyoregister.com/articles/2004/01/06/news/news04.txt

GRAZING RULES

"Short-term harm, long-term benefits seen in grazing rules" (Associated Press in San Diego Union-Tribune, 01/04/2004)
"The Interior Department's new plan for managing livestock grazing on 160 million acres of public lands could have "some short-term adverse effects" in Western states, according to a draft study of the plan's impacts released Friday....In the long-term, the BLM said, "better and more sustainable grazing decisions would be the outcome . . . and result in long-term positive effects on rangeland."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/uniontrib/sun/news/news_1n4graze.html

"BLM announces availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement on proposed grazing rule; sets public meetings on impact statement" (BLM National Office news release, 01/02/2004)
The BLM announced availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared in connection with a proposed grazing rule published last month. The Bureau also announced a series of public meetings that it will hold in the West and in Washington, D.C., on the impact statement. The Western meetings are scheduled for late January and early February in Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Boise, and Cheyenne.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/01/nr/WO_grazing_deis.html

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT 30 YEARS OLD

"Endangered Species Act hits 30" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 12/28/2003)
"Coachella Valley Preserve system strengthened environmental law signed in '73." One who helped craft a local agreement under the law refers to the Preserve as "the Central Park of the Coachella Valley'....In addition to fringe-toed lizards, more than 180 species of birds have been recorded at the preserve and animals like black-tailed jackrabbits, bobcats and sidewinders have been spotted, according to the [BLM]." (The BLM co-manages the Preserve with partners.)
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2003/local/20031228022026.shtml

"Species safeguards part of oil business" (Bakersfield Californian, 12/31/2003)
"Oil companies have taken many steps -- some of them voluntary, some of them not -- to protect the environment since the U.S. Endangered Species Act was enacted three decades ago. These steps range from conducting environmental studies to setting aside habitat to building landing pads for birds. The Endangered Species Act hit its 30th anniversary in 2003, and oil industry executives and government regulators are reflecting on what the law has meant for operations in the oil patch, and the many fragile critters and plants that live in the patch."
http://www.bakersfield.com/business/story/4443756p-4472252c.html

"Open Forum: The Endangered Species Act at 30 - Why we need the ESA" (San Francisco Chronicle, 12/23/2003)
Author is chief operating officer of the National Audubon Society.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/12/23/EDGJ33S6TO1.DTL

Related: "Open Forum: The Endangered Species Act at 30 - Why we need to change it" (San Francisco Chronicle, 12/23/2003)
Author is chairman of the House Committee on Resources, which will consider changes to the ESA.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/12/23/EDGJ33S6TQ1.DTL

"The Endangered Species Act" (The Washington Times, 12/25/2003)
Guest editorial: "...before celebrating the grand anniversary of this landmark federal legislation, we should ask ourselves a sobering question. What has the ESA really accomplished in the past three decades? The answer gives little cause for celebration."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20031225-122339-8160r.htm

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"BLM's Schultz retiring after 30-year career" (BLM California news release, 1/2/2004)
After 30 years in natural resource management and a career that saw service in four states, Bureau of Land Management Redding Field Manager Chuck Schultz has announced his retirement. He has led the BLM staff in Redding since 1995.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/01/nr/NCnews23_schultz_retirement.html

"BLM staffers retire after long Northeast California careers" (BLM California news release, 01/07/2004)
Dan Marlatt and Pete Humm, Bureau of Land Management staffers with long careers in Northeast California, are retiring from federal service.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/01/nr/NCnews24_marlatt_humm_retire.html

"Public meeting scheduled to discuss proposed naval withdrawal of public lands" (BLM California news release, 1/6/2007)
Meeting is to gather public scoping comments regarding an application submitted by the Navy to withdraw approximately 3,000 acres of public lands near Campo in southeast San Diego County for use as a mountain warfare training facility.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/01/nr/CDDnews17-naval-withdrawal-proposal.html

"Boxer gives a boost to fight against mine" (Santa Clarita Signal, 12/19/2003)
Cemex/Soledad gravel operation, for which BLM issued permit: "[U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer's] bill, like [Rep. Howard "Buck"] McKeon's, would require the U.S. Secretary of Interior to consult with the city of Santa Clarita and consider the environmental and traffic impacts of any mining proposal before granting a lease to mine federally owned minerals."
http://www.the-signal.com/News/ViewStory.asp?storyID=3761

"Modoc-Washoe Stewardship Committee Meets Feb. 5-6 in Cedarville" (BLM California news release, 1/6/2004)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/01/nr/NCNews25_espmtgn_feb04.html

"Other views: Lift the ban" (The Victorville Daily Press, 12/26/2003)
Editorial reprinted from Orange County Register: "Americans shouldn't have to surrender their Second Amendment rights or an effective means of self-defense, we've pointed out, when visiting their own 'public' lands." Argues that growing menace of drug cartels growing pot on public lands, is another reason to allow visitors to carry firearms for self-defense, even in national parks where they are not allowed now.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1072451454,94940,

"Mudslides less likely in Barstow area" (Barstow Desert Dispatch, 12/31/2003)
"Mudslides like those in the San Bernardino mountains are unlikely in the Barstow area, but not impossible, [BLM] officials said. Although the Barstow area has had flooding before, local mountains generally have enough plants to hold the soil in place..."
http://www.desertdispatch.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1072885652,22942,

"Fort Irwin expansion delayed again" (Victorville Daily Press, 12/21/2003)
An environmental impact statement is scheduled to be released in January. If that date is met, public meetings will follow in February. Conservationists say they will challenge the expansion. The BLM manages public lands in the area, and is one of several agencies that reviewed the draft of the document several months ago -- and identified some areas of the document that needed revisions.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1072022814,25818,

"Report stresses animal safety" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 12/17/2003)
"The U.S. Defense Department will have to take steps to prevent robotic vehicles from running over desert tortoises and other imperiled species when it hosts a race from Barstow to Las Vegas, a report issued Wednesday said." The BLM is responsible for permits and environmental assessments of potential routes across public lands. Winners of the robotic race receive $1 million.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/desertpass/stories/PE_News_Local_race18.a1171.html