BLM California News.bytes 
News.bytes Extra, issue 542

BLM Northwestern California RAC tours, makes recommendations

Members of the BLM’s Northwest California Resource Advisory Council developed recommendations on a variety of topics when they met for a field tour and business session Thursday and Friday, July 26 and 27, in Geyserville.

A highlight of the meeting was a tour of a recently acquired public land parcel within the Cedars of Sonoma, a geologically unique area home to eight plant species found nowhere else in the world.  The BLM Ukiah Field Office manages public lands at the core of the Cedars with the focus on species protection and scientific research.

people gather on a dirt trail through a rocky canyon
Roger Raiche, a landowner in the Cedars, explains features to members of the RAC.  Raiche has extensively studied the botany and geology of the area for the past 30 years.

hikers pause atop a rocky waterfall area
RAC members join Raiche to explore geologic features in the Cedars.people hike a rocky hillside

During their meeting, the council provided comments on a draft BLM plan addressing socioeconomic analysis, recommended items to be considered in BLM-California’s strategy for managing units of the National Landscape Conservation System, and advised BLM Redding Field Manager Jennifer Mata about issues to consider when the process begins to update the office’s resource management plan.

The 12-member RAC is one of 24 such councils in the United States.  It works closely with the BLM Northern California District manager and the Arcata, Redding and Ukiah field managers to advise on all aspects of the BLM’s multiple use mission.

Information on the council, including summary meeting minutes, can be found at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/rac/nwrac.html.  Seats open on BLM advisory council’s every year, providing ample opportunity for citizen involvement in management of public lands and natural resources.

- Jeff Fontana, Public Affairs Officer, BLM Northern California District (August 1, 2012)-

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 542 -- To subscribe to News.bytes, send an e-mail to: mailto:Join-Newsbytes@List.ca.blm.gov OR visit our News.bytes subscription page.