News.bytes Extra, issue 457

ARRA funds help preserve Congressionally-designated Wilderness

A project funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help preserve a Congressionally-designated wilderness area in Kern County.

Fencing and signage were installed to secure and restore the northern and western boundaries of the Kiavah Wilderness along Kelso Valley Road and off

Hundreds of acres of sensitive habitat in San Luis Obispo County for threatened and endangered species have been restored or protected by the Bureau of Land Management’s Bakersfield Field Office in projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The Carrizo Plain National Monument provides refuge to numerous threatened and endangered plants and animals that survive in one of the last remaining ecosystems of its type in California. This project contributes to the conservation of those species by restoring over 500 acres of native grassland and shrubland, and by protecting nearly 20 acres of unique oak woodland,” said Johna Hurl, monument manager. Over two miles of fence were constructed to help protect rare and unique Alvord oak habitat at the south end of the monument.

The project received $204,000 in Recovery Act funding.

During the summer of 2009 and spring of 2010, bunch grass seed and seed from native annuals and shrubs were collected from the monument. Grass seed was cleaned and grown out at a commercial native plant facility, producing 5,000 grass seedlings. Over 1,480 pounds of native annual and shrub seeds were collected by second contractor during a spectacular wildflower season. With assistance from two local youth, a third contractor planted native seed with a rangeland drill while 41 local youth and a few volunteers planted the thousands of grass seedlings, contributing over 340 hours of work to the project. A fourth contractor completed the fencing to protect oak habitat.

- David Christy, BLM Central California District, 11/10

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 457