News.bytes Extra, issue 401

Lighthouse tour highlights issues for advisory council

Bureau of Land Management Central California Resource Advisory Council saw the importance of volunteers and partnerships during their Sept. 11-12 meeting at Piedras Blancas Light Station. (text continues below)

Volunteer guides Toni and Abel Martinez show replicas of skulls for a sea lion and a seal

Jim Boucher, light station manager, said volunteers contributed 10,000 hours last year and that number will be higher this year. Work done by volunteers includes guiding tours, carpentry and removing non-native vegetation. Ice plant that covered large areas of the light station has been removed to allow the return of native species.

Volunteers gave RAC members guided tours covering the light station history and ecology.

During their business meeting, RAC members discussed selection criteria to use in considering potential off-highway vehicle areas. The RAC Off-Highway Vehicle Subcommittee voted to present the criteria to the full RAC. RAC members asked some minor modifications be made to the document and circulated to the RAC by e-mail.

RAC members also discussed the use of volunteers and renewable energy issues and asked that BLM make presentations on those topics at the next meeting. The next meeting is being planned for next spring, with the exact date and location to be determined.

Volunteer Carol Adams leads a tour past the lighthouse.

Carole Adams takes RAC members on a tour of the grounds.

Volunteer Lee McFarland discusses a project to build replicas of historic water tanks.

Volunteer guide Abel Martinez goes over the history of the light station in the fog signal building.

 Volunteer Lee McFarland discusses a project to build replicas of historic water tanks.

- Dave Christy, BLM-California Central California District, 9/09

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 401