WILD HORSES AND BURROS

"Free Horse Gentling/Training Sessions Offered in Chowchilla" (BLM California news release, 04/14/2004)
This weekend: 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

"BLM will offer wild horses and burros for adoption in Grass Valley" (BLM California news release, 04/16/2004)
BLM will offer 80 horses and 20 burros for adoption on Saturday and Sunday, May 15 and 16. Animals will arrive at the fairgrounds at about 2 p.m. on Friday, May 14, and potential adopters can get a preview look.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/NCNews56_grassvalley_adoption_may-04.html

"Mustangs, burros seeking new homes" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4/17/2004)
"I have a blind filly that needs a companion. I want a little gelding for her. It's going to be a seeing-eye burro...." - from last weekend's adoption event at Lake Perris Fairgrounds.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_burro17.e956.html

"Wild mustangs, burros find new homes" (North County Times, 04/17/2004)
"Katrina, 13, brought four of her mustangs from her Riverside ranch to show folks how easily the mustangs adjusted to their adoption. 'I think it's important for people to know what the horse could become,' she said, tethering a horse to her trailer and lifting a young boy on to the mustang's bare back. 'Sometimes it takes a week, or a month ---- but ultimately the horse will come around'."
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/04/18/news/californian/21_26_574_17_04.txt

"Klamath Falls, Oregon Wild horse and burro adoption and horse gentling" (BLM Oregon Web site)
May 4-6 Klamath Falls, Oregon. Also includes "hands-on" wild horse and burro gentling and training activities with the Pacific Wild Horse Club. For more information, call (541) 573-4439/4456 weekdays between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
http://www.or.blm.gov/Burns/Horseburro/adopsche.htm#Adoption%20Event%20Pasco,%20Washington

MINERALS ON PUBLIC LANDS

"McKeon hopes to persuade Cemex" (Santa Clarita Signal, 04/16/2004)
"A negotiated deal between the Bureau of Land Management, Cemex Inc., the city of Santa Clarita and Rep. Howard 'Buck' McKeon's office would be the best hope of heading off a gigantic open-pit mine in Soledad Canyon, McKeon said...during a swing through Santa Clarita." BLM issued gravel mining permits for the site in 1990.
http://www.the-signal.com/News/ViewStory.asp?storyID=4488

Related: "McKeon pushes gravel-mine compromise" (Los Angeles Daily News, 04/15/2004)
"Santa Clarita's congressman said he is arranging a meeting between Cemex and federal officials in hope of reducing the size and scope of the company's proposed Canyon Country quarry."
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20949%257E2086667,00.html

"Turning gravel into cash" (Imperial Valley Press, 04/19/2004)
"The small pieces of aggregate, rock and sand that give this 40-acre plot at the foot of the Coyote Mountains the look of a windblown wasteland, is valuable ground that costs the county of Imperial money by the foot. In March, Imperial County signed off on a deal with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management, granting them the permission to expand their surface gravel-mining operations."
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2004/04/19/front/news01.txt

"Miners suffer under BLM rules" (Palo Verde Valley Online, 04/17/2004)
"Since this is a new plan being put into operation, miners must immediately become aware of the new laws."

WILDFIRE PREVENTION

"Grant will extend Paradise fire break" (Chico Enterprise-Record, 04/17/2004)
"A six-mile stretch of western Paradise will get a fire break thanks to a $97,000 grant awarded by the Bureau of Land Management."
http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,1413,135%257E25088%257E2090211,00.html

"BLM proposes fuels reduction work near Mono City and Conway Ranch" (BLM California news release, 04/19/2004)
The BLM Bishop Field Office is proposing to reduce hazardous fuels on BLM-managed land adjacent to the north side of Mono City and the east side of the of Conway Ranch. The project will help protect residents and their homes from a wildland fire, and increase safety for firefighters working to suppress a fire near the community.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/CCnews21_monocity_fireproject.html

"BLM proposes fuels reduction work near Forty Acres" (BLM California news release, 04/19/2004)
The BLM Bishop Field Office is proposing to reduce hazardous fuels on BLM land adjacent to the west side of Forty Acres in Round Valley.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/CCnews22_fortyacres_fireproject.html

"Clear brush to reduce fire danger, panel urges" (Sacramento Bee, 04/15/2004)
"The Governor's Blue Ribbon Fire Commission...publicized 48 recommendations Wednesday from six hearings conducted in areas affected by the fires last fall." Blazes attacked state- and federally-managed and private lands.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/environment/story/8902229p-9828663c.html

Related: "Fire Review Panel Faults Bureaucracy" (Los Angeles Times, 04/15/2004)
"Governor's commission says rival groups fail to put people's lives ahead of their own agendas. Firefighting funds were also found inadequate."
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire15apr15,1,2866253.story

OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

"Group keeps watch on OHVers" (Desert Trail, 04/15/2004)
"A group of residents in Wonder Valley has formed in order to bring into control what they see as out of control and illegal use of off-highway vehicles in the area." The group plans to obtain petition signatures from Morongo Basin residents, and forward it to the BLM and elected officials.
http://www.deserttrail.com/articles/2004/04/14/news/news1.txt

"How do you spell OHV relief? Who knows?" (Hi-Desert Star, 04/17/2004)
"The good news for residents throughout the Hi-Desert is they may see some relief for the chronic torment they say they've suffered for years at the hands of 'off-highway vehicle outlaws.' The Barstow office of the Bureau of Land Management and the local sheriff's station will be more effectively coordinating their enforcement efforts in the future."
http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/2004/04/17/news/news2.txt

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"Geothermal plan has activists boiling" (Redding Record-Searchlight, 04/20/2004)
"A plan to stimulate geothermal power by injecting acid deep into the Earth may get a closer look from the government, a small victory for those opposed to the idea. Conservationists say the plan could degrade the purity of Medicine Lake..." BLM will conduct environmental analysis of the plan.
http://www.redding.com/top_stories/local/20040420toplo052.shtml

"BLM Resource Advisory Council will meet in Redding" (BLM California news release, 04/15/2004)
BLM's Northwest California Resource Advisory Council will discuss public land recreation in the northern Sacramento Valley, when they convene for a field tour and business meeting Thursday and Friday, May 6 and 7, in Redding.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/NCNews55_nwrac_april-2004mtng.html

"Desert reseeding poses challenges" (Victorville Daily Press, 04/18/2004)
"Revegetating disturbed areas - from road construction, laying utility lines or from natural causes like fires - is tricky in the harsh desert climate, experts say....a resources branch chief for the Barstow office of the Bureau of Land Management, said the BLM rarely attempts reseeding because of difficulties posed by the desert climate conditions." But there are some alternatives.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1082295863,10316,

"Army eyes smaller controlled burns" (Monterey County Herald, 04/16/2004)
"To avoid a repeat of last year's out-of-control controlled burn at Fort Ord, which blackened an extra 1,000 acres and much of the air over the Monterey Peninsula, Army officials now believe it may be best to limit future burns to 100 acres." Fires are being used to uncover munitions left behind after decades of the Army's target practice. "Seven thousand of the acres are never to be developed and are to be used as a nature preserve by the Bureau of Land Management."
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/8446527.htm

"BLM seeks input on resource plan" (Hollister Free Lance, 04/16/2004)
"The Hollister office of the federal Bureau of Land Management - which oversees nearly 100,000 acres in San Benito County - is revising its resource management plan and wants local residents to get involved. The plan would cover the entire Central Coast region, including nearly 300,000 acres in 11 counties."
http://www.freelancenews.com/news/newsview.asp?c=104371

"Take Pride in America celebrates one-year anniversary" (Department of Interior news release, 04/16/2004)
Take Pride in America is a partnership program devoted to volunteerism on public lands.
http://www.doi.gov/news/040416a

"County's 'bad lands' may have to reduce law enforcement" (Napa News, 04/16/2004)
"In an area known for its wine, superb dining and upscale tourism, the 15,000 acres in the northeast tip of Napa County is the closest thing to 'bad lands' around here....home to off-highway vehicles and target shooting, and it is also being used illegally as a garbage dump." Sheriff's Department says county patrols of Knoxville public land depends largely on approval of state off-highway grant.

WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK - ANSWER
Answer: (d) The Amargosa pupfish is the most vegetarian of pupfish found in California - eating mostly blue-green algae for much of the year. In fact, their mouths are typically upturned and allow them to easily eat off the water's surface.
Learn more about the Amargosa pupfish 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/44253605?OpenDocument

Related: "California's plants and animals: Amargosa pupfish" (California Department of Fish and Game Web site)
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hcpb/cgi-bin/read_one.asp?specy=fish&idNum=42