Related: "Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Area" (BLM California Web site)
Most visitors ride motorcycles or ATVs, sand rails, or tour the area in vehicles with four-wheel-drive. The area off Dumont Road is used extensively for OHV and sand rail staging and play. There are many opportunities for hiking, rock scrambling, rockhounding, and bird-, and wildlife-watching in the hills away from the dunes. The Kingston Range Wilderness borders the riding area to the north and is closed to motor vehicles.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/barstow/dumont.html

PUBLIC LAND PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, RECREATION

"American River Trail just 440 acres away" (Placerville Mountain Democrat, 04/09/2004)
"[A] belief that a corridor along the South Fork of the American River could extend from Folsom Lake to Coloma is just 440 acres away from becoming a reality....the American River Conservancy is still two parcels away from finishing the corridor, which will be turned over to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management."
http://www.mtdemocrat.com/articles/2004/04/09/news_stories/s0904_n2.txt

Related: "Long-planned trail by river winds closer" (Sacramento Bee, 04/13/2004)
"The American River Conservancy in Coloma has launched a campaign to raise $2.5 million by June 30 to purchase two key parcels for the American River Trail, which would run from the Folsom Lake Recreation Area to Highway 49 near Pilot Hill. The acquisition would be an important link in a long-range plan for a trail extending from Sutter's Fort in Sacramento to Sutter's Mill in Coloma."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/environment/story/8877497p-9804126c.html

"Crystal Clear: Restoration effort turns once-dismal creek into a top spawning area" (Stockton Record, 04/07/2004)
"A unique coalition of local, state and federal agencies has quietly forged an effective team to restore a little-known Northern California watershed that scientists believe is critical to spawning Chinook salmon and steelhead....'This little-known stream [Clear Creek] that flows through the outskirts of Redding had more Chinook salmon return in fall 2002 than returned to the Irongate Hatchery on the Klamath River,' [said representative from BLM's Redding Field Office]. 'Imagine, more than 16,700 salmon spawned in this small creek'...."
http://www.recordnet.com/daily/sports/articles2/3sports.php

"3,339 acres of history, wildlife join desert park" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 04/09/2004)
Nonprofit buys Vallecito Ranch to add to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. "It's an important linkage between the (Bureau of Land Management) to the south and other park property," says spokesperson.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20040409-9999-1mc9anza.html

"Union of parks, artists could benefit both" (Hi-Desert Star, 04/14/2004)
A program "brings artists 'of the best possible caliber' together with scenic lands administered by the National Park Service [and Bureau of Land Management] to reveal the beauty and inspiration of natural landscapes in artistic interpretation....Over the period of his or her involvement, the artist might return several times to Joshua Tree National Park, or visit Death Valley National Park, or go to any one of many Bureau of Land Management preserves which are also participating in the program." Currently, two artists are working in the Death Valley area, one on national park land and the other on BLM land.
http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/2004/04/13/news/news3.txt

WILD HORSES AND BURROS

"Bill seeks to return wild horses to park" (Los Angeles Times, 04/12/2004)
Concerned about the health and impact of wild horses in Anza Borrego State Park, officials rounded them up a year ago. Some were placed for adoption of remain at the BLM wild horse adoption facility in Ridgecrest. A bill would return them to the park.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-horses12apr12,1,5455605.story

"Free Horse Gentling/Training Sessions Offered in Chowchilla" (BLM California news release, 04/14/2004)
Get free tips and advice about horse gentling and training, during BLM's wild horse and burro adoption event, Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/NCnews54-free-horse-gentling-training.html

"Nominations open for Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board" (BLM news release, 04/14/2004)
Public nominations have been extended to May 15, to fill three vacancies on the national Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. The categories to be filled represent Wild Horse and Burro Advocacy, Veterinarian Medicine and Public-at-Large.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/SOnews03-nominations-for-whb-board.html

SANTA ROSA AND SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT

"U.S. Forest Service to drop fee in some areas" (San Bernardino County Sun, 04/14/2004)
"The controversial Adventure Pass will no longer be required in some areas of the San Bernardino National Forest which fall in the Riverside County desert. The daily $5 fee, or $30 for a year, will still be required for anyone who is on most of the forest for recreational purposes. The fee will be dropped in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument....The BLM does not charge for use of the land, so the Forest Service dropped the fee to be consistent across the monument...."
http://www.sbsun.com/Stories/0,1413,208%257E12588%257E2082640,00.html

"Greedy shrub is gulping up water" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 04/02/2004)
"Tamarisk is rampant along the Colorado River, a main source of drinking water for the Inland area, and throughout the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument [managed by BLM and the U.S. Forest Service] above the Coachella Valley where it is threatening to dry up a main water source for endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep."
http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_invaders03.e314.html

"Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument"
(BLM California Web site)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings/santarosa/santa_rosa_national_monument.html

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"Dunes closures could cost millions" (Imperial Valley Press, 04/13/2004)
"The public land wars that have dogged the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area have broken down along familiar lines again, prompted by a new federal study citing the economic impact of closing areas of the popular Valley recreation site. Both off-highway vehicle enthusiasts and environmentalists say the study...is inadequate and skewed and maintains no hard numbers are being presented."
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2004/04/13/news/news02.txt

Related: "Peirson's milk-vetch - Documents April 6, 2004 Draft Economic Analysis Information" (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site)
Includes links to "Draft Economic Analysis for Peirson's milk-vetch" - a PDF file, 1.2 megabytes and 112 pages.
http://carlsbad.fws.gov/PMVPCH_Docs.htm

"Environmental impact report out" (Victorville Daily Press, 04/10/2004)
"An environmental document needed for the expansion of Fort Irwin is finally available to the public...." BLM manages some of the land involved in the study.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1081603959,33990,

"Girl lost overnight in desert found by searchers" (Barstow Desert Dispatch, 04/12/2004)
Search and rescue teams including volunteers, sheriff's department and BLM rangers locate 14-year-old lost overnight from family off-roading trip. "The desert is a great place to visit, but you have to be careful...." sheriff's department sergeant says.
http://www.desertdispatch.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1081775596,18962,

Current job openings - BLM California
BLM California job listings on USAJOBS Web site.
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9blm-ca.asp

"Federal Register Notices" (Federal Register Notices, posted on BLM California Web site)
Recent Federal Register Notices affecting BLM California.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/fedregister.html

"BLM Resource Advisory Councils (Northeast California and Northwest Nevada) meet April 29-30" (BLM California news release, 04/12/2004)
The councils will meet individually and jointly to discuss a wide range of natural resource topics.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/NCNews53_jointracmtng_apr4.html

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND/OR NATIONAL ITEMS

"U.S. Court of Appeals issues permanent stay against Lower Court ruling on Interior's Internet access" (Department of Interior news release, 04/13/2004)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a permanent stay pending appeal, which will allow the Department of Interior to keep its internet access until the court finishes its deliberations on the merits of the case.
http://www.doi.gov/news/040409a.htm

"The world's most controversial grass" (Associated Press at CBS News, 04/12/2004)
Bioengineered grass resistant to weed-killing chemicals could help create smoother putting greens on golf courses - it would survive while weeds died. But BLM and U.S. Forest Service voice worries. "Our concern is that if it was to escape onto public land, we wouldn't know how to control it." says a BLM invasive weed specialist.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/12/tech/main611471.shtml

ANSWER to WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK
(d) 24 to 36 - Females lay two to three "clutches" per year, with an average of 12 eggs in each clutch. (Photo credit: BLM Oregon, Medford Field Office)
Learn more about the southern alligator lizard in our BLM California online wildlife database (Note: the Wildlife Database is hosted on the Department of Interior's secure Web server - see note under "Selected Upcoming Events" below):
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmcawildlife.nsf/siteurl/69065233?OpenDocument

Related: "Alligator lizard has painful bite" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 04/11/2004)
TO WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION Related: "Alligator lizards have both the disposition and powerful jaws to match their namesake," says curator of natural science at the Palm Springs Desert Museum. Another tidbit: "Unlike all other lizards that occur in the Southwest, the alligator lizard has a prehensile tail, meaning that it can be used to grasp objects by wrapping around them. This is particularly useful when climbing through shrubs and trees."
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2004/features/20040411020404.shtml