HEADWATERS DECISION

"Headwaters Forest Reserve decision issued" (BLM California news release, 06/29/2004)
The BLM, in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Game, has issued a final record of decision regarding future management of the Headwaters Forest Reserve in Humboldt County. The decision, available online at www.ca.blm.gov/arcata, is the result of four years of planning, preparation of a joint environmental impact statement/environmental impact report (EIS/EIR), and intensive public involvement. More than 6,400 public comments were utilized in development of the final decision.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/06/nr/NCnews73.html

"Headwaters plan complete" (Eureka Times-Standard, 06/30/2004)
"The vast majority of the restoration- and preservation-focused plan the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued last year remains in place, though small concessions to bikers and wild river advocates were made."
http://www.times-standard.com/Stories/0,1413,127%257E2896%257E2244075,00.html

"Headwaters Forest Reserve" (BLM California Web site)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/arcata/headwaters.html

RECREATION ON PUBLIC LANDS

"Tourism as nature intended" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 06/28/2004)
"Supporters of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument hope to debut a high-quality video this fall that details the abundant natural resources contained in the mysterious canyons and soaring heights of the mountains. They’re counting on the film to educate local residents about this towering resource right in their own back yard and also to lure new tourists to the Coachella Valley."
http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2004/features/20040628014717.shtml

Related: "Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument" (BLM California Web site)
The National Monument encompasses more than 272,000 acres in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, cooperatively managed by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings/santarosa/santa_rosa_national_monument.html

"Bridge to the future" (Grass Valley Union, 06/25/2004)
"It's a sweltering summer afternoon, the air is stagnant, and the kids are antsy. What to do? One option in western Nevada County is to pack up the kids and the cooler, don the swimsuit, and drive down the twisty Pleasant Valley Road to the Bridgeport crossing on the South Yuba River....[M]ore than 73,300 people are visiting the Bridgeport beaches each year and more are coming every year....About 25 volunteers are working with state park, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management officials to plan for the future of the Bridgeport crossing as part of the massive South Yuba River Comprehensive Management Plan project."
http://www.theunion.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040625/NEWS/106250087

Related: "South Yuba Trail and campground"
(BLM California Web site) The South Yuba River Recreation Area is administered by BLM, the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. BLM's Folsom Field Office Web page includes links to more information in PDF format.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/folsom/yubacampground.html

"BLM proposes shooting restrictions near Quail Ridge" (BLM California news release, 06/26/2004)
Proposed regulations would prohibit use of firearms and paintball markers on four isolated parcels of public land in the Quail Ridge area of northern Napa County. The rules would apply to four land parcels that are surrounded by private land and have no legal public access, about 10 miles west of Winters near the south end of Lake Berryessa.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/06/nr/CANnews72.html

MEET YOUR ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS: Leigh Marymor
Mr. Marymor is in his first year as a council appointee representing the public-at-large on BLM's Central California Resource Advisory Council. His primary area of interest is American rock art, but has extensive knowledge and credentials to fulfill the public-at-large category. Learn more in this weekly News.bytes feature:
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/rac/cencal_rac/member_profiles/marymor.html

PROFILE: Debbie Jeffers
Debbie originally hales from Battle Mountain, Nevada and is now the contact representative for the Alturas Field Office. "My job here consists of Webmaster, timekeeper, records manager, mail clerk, public contact, and a little of everything," she says. "I really love this job as I enjoy working with the public and trying new challenges." Read more in our weekly News.bytes profile:
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/newsbytes/profiles/jeffers-alturas.html

WILDFIRE: DANGER, PREVENTION

"Unnatural disasters" (San Bernardino County Sun, 06/29/2004)
A series of stories and analysis on last year's raging wildfires that involved BLM firefighters among many others: "In the struggle between man and nature, nature will win....A love of trees has allowed them to proliferate to unsafe numbers, endangering mountain dwellers and those who live in the foothills below." Includes links to video of last year's fires, and many stories on the fires and the floods that resulted from burned-out hillsides.
http://lang.sbsun.com/projects/fireflood/

"Summer burn ban starts this week" (Ukiah Daily Journal, 06/28/2004)
"A potentially hot, dry summer and dangerous fire conditions means no more out door burning in Mendocino County." Burning ban on State of California-managed lands, also a ban on BLM-managed lands.
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/Stories/0,1413,91%257E3089%257E2240409,00.html

"BLM Fire Prevention Closure on July 4th at Crowley Lake North Landing" (BLM California news release, 06/25/2004)
The BLM Bishop Field Office will temporarily close approximately 2,500 acres of public lands near the Crowley Lake North Shore/North Landing for the entire day of July 4, 2004. "This closure is a preventative measure to minimize the risk of fire, enhance public safety and protect sensitive habitat on July 4th when many people go to Crowley for the fireworks display." Fireworks are not allowed anytime on BLM and National Forest lands, as well as many other areas of Inyo and Mono counties.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/06/nr/CCNews36_closure.html

"Some large air tankers could be flying by July 4, officials say" (San Diego Union-Tribune, 06/25/2004)
"The first group of old, heavy air tankers grounded last month might be flying again for the U.S. Forest Service by July 4 if inspections begun Friday prove the planes are safe, federal officials said" after a meeting with representatives of the Forest Service, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board and the Bureau of Land Management.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20040625-1555-wst-airtankers.html

"Blaze starts near inn" (Victorville Daily Press, 06/28/2004)
Small preview of the coming fire season? BLM firefighters among those battling blaze.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1088428627,14566,

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

Current job openings - BLM California
Listings this week on the USAJOBS Web site include "Park Ranger (Visitor Services)" in BLM-managed King Range National Recreation Area of Humboldt County, Wildlife Biologist in BLM's Folsom Field Office, and Natural Resource Specialist in Bishop.
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9blm-ca.asp

"California's perilous mining legacy" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 06/28/2004)
A father "confronted the dangers of abandoned mines when his 11-year-old son...rode his motorcycle over the crest of a dirt mound - and disappeared. Rushing after his son, [the father] found the mouth of a mineshaft. 'There was just a hole,"' [he] said. 'No boy. No bike. No noise. He was just gone'." The boy "was bruised and shaken but not seriously injured. Such accidents underscore the hazardous legacy of some 47,000 abandoned mines throughout California, some dating to the Gold Rush of 1849, state and federal authorities say. Riverside and San Bernardino counties have an estimated 15,000 abandoned mines."
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_mines28.ea63.html

Related: "Abandoned mine lands"
Over 12,000 mine properties in California and northwest Nevada are listed in the Bureau of Mines Mineral Industries Location System (MILS) database as on BLM land. An estimated additional 5000 sites not recorded in the database are likely on BLM land. Of these 17,000, an estimated 3000 significant properties contain hazardous substances or physical features and/or have environmental problems.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/pa/aml/

"Individual pleads guilty to illegal possession of artifacts" (BLM California news release, 06/30/2004)
An Imperial County resident has pleaded guilty to collecting archaeological artifacts from public lands managed by the BLM. The guilty plea was entered in a San Diego U.S. Magistrates Court on June 10, 2004.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/06/nr/CDDnews56_artifacts.html

Volunteer opportunity - Pine Hill Preserve Volunteer Naturalists
As the primary contact for visitors to the Preserve, the naturalists’ purpose will be to increase public awareness of the Preserve’s unique ecological significance, conservation goals, accomplishments and recreational and volunteer opportunities. They will lead guided walks, and do community and school outreach. Apply on-line!
http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/uidetail.cfm?ID=1576

"Hazardous waste leads to big fines" (Sonora Union Democrat, 06/28/2004)
"Two Chinese Camp businesses paid over $170,000 in fines and penalties last week for disposing hazardous wastes into a water drainage that eventually leads to Don Pedro Reservoir." The drainage leads through the Red Hills, managed by BLM as an "Area of Critical Environmental Concern" because of its rare plant and animal species.
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=14542

Related: "Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern" (BLM California Web site)
A region of 7,100 acres of public land located just south of the historic town of Chinese Camp in Tuolumne County, the Red Hills are noticeably different from the surrounding countryside.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/folsom/redhills.html

"Tortoise trek: How man gets in the way" (Arizona Daily Star, 6/20/2004)
Four years ago, a researcher attached a tracking radio transmitter to a desert tortoise in Arizona "because she was wheezing, had a runny nose and was discharging fluids from weepy eyes - symptoms of upper-respiratory tract disease. In the Mojave Desert of Southern California and Nevada, that disease is suspected of causing mass tortoise deaths." But "Thelma" as researchers named her, "started on a stroll that turned into a trek that was to make desert tortoise history."
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/26817.php

NATIONAL AND/OR DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ITEMS

"Statement of [officials from] U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of the Interior before...Senate Subcommittee...concerning the Administration’s Implementation of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act - June 24, 2004" (BLM national office news release, 06/25/2004)
"Mr. Chairman, with the new authorities that we have been given and the dedication and talent of our combined BLM and Forest Service workforce, we are confident that we will make significant improvements to the health of this country’s forests and rangelands." Efforts include fire fuel reduction on public lands, and early warning plan for threats to health of forests and rangelands.
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/legislative/pages/2004/te040624.htm

"Testimony of Jim Hughes, Deputy Director Bureau of Land Management before Senate subcommittee: Oversight of grazing on public lands - June 23, 2004" (BLM national office news release, 06/25/2004)
"The Administration recognizes that ranching is an important component of the economies of many Western rural communities, and it is the core of their history, social fabric, and cultural identity. Ranching can also play an important role in preserving open space in the fast-growing West. The BLM is committed to collaborating with those who work on the public lands as we strive for economically-productive and environmentally-healthy rangelands." Testimony includes: grazing permit renewals, pending grazing rulemaking, wild horse and burro issues as they affect the rangelands, and efforts to conserve and enhance sage-grouse habitat while allowing productive uses of the public lands.
http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/legislative/pages/2004/te040623.htm