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A publication of Bureau of Land Management in California

Issue 594- 9/11/13   -   Visit us on Facebook -- follow us on Twitter - Share us with friends and colleagues!

THIS WEEK IN NEWS.BYTES:
- Wildfires
- Marijuana News
- America's Great Outdoors
- Wild Horse and Burro
- On BLM and DOI Social Media Pages
- Wildlife Trivia Question of the Week
- Upcoming Events
- National and Department of the Interior items

If this message does not show up properly in your email, you can see it online at:
www.blm.gov/ca/news/newsbytes/2013/594.html

WILDFIRES War Veterans Form Bond Fighting Wildfires (KRCA, 08/26/13) A group of war veterans have again formed a band of brothers with each other while fighting wildfires on the Bureau of Land Management's Folsom Lake Fire Crew. http://www.ca.blm.gov/6bld The Clover Fire Update: 80 Structures Destroyed, 300 Threatened (Redding Record-Searchlight, 09/10/13) Shasta County Sheriff's Lt. Janet Breshears said all evacuations remain in place... http://www.ca.blm.gov/kcld RELATED: BLM Redding Field Office Fire Program  (BLM Webisite) The BLM works with other agencies and local communities in California to protect people, property and resources from wildfires. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/fire.html A Fire Sparked at the BLM Keswick Shooting Range(Redding Record-Searchlight, 09/06/13) A wildfire burned up to 12 acres at the BLM Keswick shooting range. Firefighters are still working on a cause, though shooting is the likely culprit, said Tim Bradley, fire management officer with the Bureau.  http://www.ca.blm.gov/5bld RELATED: Redding Field Office- Target Shooting (BLM Website) Target shooting is generally allowed on public lands, however some areas are restricted because of safety concerns. You must provide your own paper targets and remove your debris when you leave. It is illegal to shoot at trees, signs, outbuildings, or other objects on public lands. Target shooting is available near Redding, 3 miles North of Keswick along Iron Mountain Road, and along Spring Branch Road off of Jellys Ferry Road in Tehama County. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/redding/recreationmain/reddingrecreationhunting.print.html

MARIJUANA NEWS Three Days Needed for High Desert Marijuana Garden Cleanup (BLM Website) Staff from the Bureau of Land Management's Eagle Lake Field Office in Susanville needed about three days in early September to clean up the site of an illegal marijuana cultivation operation on high desert public lands near Pete's Creek, northeast of Susanville. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/september/marijuanagardencleanup.html 3 Marijuana Busts Span Humboldt County: Officials Say 2 Grows Damaged Environment (Eureka Times Standard, 09/07/13) The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, assisted by the Cannabis Eradication and Reclamation Team, conducted an open field marijuana cultivation investigation in the Lacks Creek area on Wednesday morning, finding a grow on timber land adjacent to U.S. Bureau of Land Management property. http://www.ca.blm.gov/dcld Nearly 5,000 Pot Plants, Poisons Found in Lacks Creek Area (Eureka Times-Standard, 09/06/13) The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office assisted by the Cannabis Eradication and Reclamation Team (C.E.R.T) conducted an open field marijuana cultivation investigation in the Lacks Creek area. The marijuana grow was being grown adjacent to U.S. Bureau of Land Management property, however the grow was located on timber company property. http://www.ca.blm.gov/4bld CDFW Team Investigates Major Trinity County Marijuana Cultivation Sites (YubaNet, 09/07/13) The California Department of Fish and Wildlife participated in a multiagency narcotics task force that executed 23 search warrants in Trinity County on Aug. 29. The parcels were part of a long investigation conducted by the State Marijuana Investigation Team, Bureau of Land Management and Trinity County Narcotics Task Force, relating to illegal cultivation of marijuana for sale. http://www.ca.blm.gov/7bld

AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS Designation of the Nadeau National Recreation Trail (BLM Website) The Bureau of Land Management recently held an induction ceremony designating the historic 28 mile Nadeau Trail as a National Recreation Trail in the Panamint Valley near Death Valley National Park, California. http://www.blm.gov/publish/content/ca/en/info/newsbytes/2013/594_extra_-nadeau.html

WILD HORSE AND BURRO Horses, Burros Available for Adoption in Placerville (BLM Website) Residents of the Sierra foothills and surrounding areas will have the opportunity to add a horse or burro to their families, when the Bureau of Land Management brings its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program to the El Dorado County Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2013/september/whbplacerville.html RELATED: Wild Horses Coming Your Way  (BLM CA Facebook) You have a chance to adopt a wild horse or burro in the coming weeks! Come out to Placerville to meet these living legends! http://www.ca.blm.gov/fcld Donkeys, Mustangs and Goat Seized After Neglect Complaint on Auburn Road (Grass Valley Union, 09/06/13) A complaint about a goat carcass prompted an investigation that ended with eight animals being seized from an Auburn Road property. While the investigation is ongoing, animal neglect charges are expected to be filed in the case. http://www.theunion.com/news/8025764-113/brown-property-animal-dead Horse Advocate Fights Against Roundups (Santa Barabara Independent, 09/04/13) Wild horse advocate Neda DeMayo -- the founder of Return to Freedom, a horse sanctuary in Lompoc -- joined forces with actress Wendie Malick and Arizona Congressmember Raul Grijalva in Reno on 9/4 to call attention to what they say are problems with the Bureau of Land Management's wild horse roundup program. http://www.independent.com/news/2013/sep/04/horse-advocate-fights-against-roundups/ RELATED: BLM California Wild Horses & Burros  (BLM Website)  California's free roaming wild horses and burros roam over 7.1 million acres of public land and an additional 2.3 million acres of non-BLM land. California's appropriate management level is currently 1,746 horses and 453 burros. California contains 33 herd areas with 22 herd management areas. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html

WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION of the WEEK

What is a Yuma clapper rail?  (a) An endangered, nonvenomous snake (b) An endangered mammal in the rodent family (c) An endangered bird (d) An endangered amphibian that lives in Central Valley wetlands of California (e) A noisy, steel-wheeled train that you can ride from El Centro to Yuma, Arizona See answer - and more wildlife stories - near the end of this News.bytes.

SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS September 16 - 20: NEVADA COUNTY TIRE AMNESTY EVENT (BLM Website) In an effort to reduce illegal dumping, Waste Management, Nevada County and the Bureau of Land Management are hosting a tire amnesty event. Residents of Nevada County can dispose of up to nine tires at no charge during the event. September 16 - 20, 2013 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom.html - Listen to the audio announcement at: http://www.ca.blm.gov/ncld - To get a pdf file of the event flyer use this link: http://www.ca.blm.gov/pcldf Oct. 18: The Cahuilla and Buttercup Ranger Stations will be Open (BLM Website) Station Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 9:00am - 5:30pm http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra.html Oct. 19: Piedras Blancas Light Station Twilight Tour (BLM Website) The Piedras Blancas Light Station is pleased to announce a Twilight Tour, Saturday, October 19th. The tour features historical enactments, guides will be in period attire, and you can view the sunset. The fee is $15 for adults, and $5 for children ages 6 -17. Tour times are 5:15, 5:30, 5:45, and 6:00. Details about where and when to meet will be given at the time reservations are made. Reservations are required. 805-924-1807 http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/Programs/pbls/tours.html Oct. 5 and 19: A program to Train Volunteer Naturalists at Cosumnes River Preserve  (Sacramento Bee, 09/07/13) Training sessions will be held on Saturdays, Oct. 5 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at the preserve visitor center, 13501 Franklin Blvd., in Galt.  http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/07/5714719/cosumnes-river-preserve-will-train.html RELATED: Cosumnes River Preserve (BLM Website) The Cosumnes River Preserve is home to California's largest remaining valley oak riparian forest, and is one of the few protected wetland habitat areas in the state. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/folsom/cosumpres.html

On BLM and DOI Social Media Pages.... BLM California Facebook Post: We're celebrating the 10th season of success for Nick's Interns, a youth group that works on natural resource improvement projects in the King Range National Conservation Area. http://www.ca.blm.gov/9bld My Public Lands Tumblr Post: THE DAY A WEDDING RING WAS LOST: When I saw Kanarraville Falls on the Summer Bucket List, I immediately added it to my personal one. Photos of the ember-like slot canyons made my heart tug in envy, and I assure you that they did not disappoint. http://www.ca.blm.gov/jcld - For more photos and stories follow us on tumblr http://mypubliclands.tumblr.com/

HEADLINES and HIGHLIGHTS DRECP Solar Plan Gets Cool Reception (Desert Sun, 08/09/13) When Peggy Lee Kennedy left Los Angeles and moved to the high desert, she and her husband purposely chose a house near a wildlife corridor and with a view free of power lines. Solar panels belong on rooftops or previously disturbed land, not in the open desert and especially not near residential areas or wildlife corridors, they told state Energy Commissioner Karen Douglas and Jim Kenna, California director of the Bureau of Land Management. The coming draft may not incorporate some of the comments from the high desert meetings, she said, but "it will no doubt spur a lot of discussion. It will no doubt need to evolve between draft and final. The meeting today was a really nice beginning of a new level of dialog on these issues." http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130907/BUSINESS0302/309070031/?nclick_check=1 RELATED: BLM California- Planning for a Clean Energy Future  (BLM Website) The BLM is partnering to develop a Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) for California. The plan will identify low conflict areas for renewable energy that will benefit from an easier permitting process. The plan will also set aside important conservation and recreation areas. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/energy.html

NATIONAL, OTHER STATE AND DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR ITEMS Video: This Week at Interior September 6, 2013 (DOI Website) This week: the Rim Fire burning in Yosemite is now the largest in that park's history; BOEM completes its second competitive lease sale for renewable energy in federal waters; Secretary Jewell wraps up her tour of Alaska, and spots two polar bears on a stroll in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; the Secretary travels to Honolulu for the 12th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention, then it's on to the Marshall Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum; and a U.S. Navy veteran becomes the first completely blind kayaker to travel the length of the Grand Canyon. http://youtu.be/Z4E7eqdrj2g

WILDLIFE TRIVIA: Answer and Related Websites What is a Yuma clapper rail? (c) An endangered bird. It is sometimes seen at BLM-managed Dos Palmas Preserve RELATED: Dos Palmas Preserve (BLM Website) This oasis with its hundreds of swaying fan palms offers sanctuary in the midst of the dry Colorado Desert. Pools fed by artesian springs and seepage from the nearby Coachella Canal form a lush wetland area. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wildlife/watchable/areas/dospalmas.html RELATED: California Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) (FWS Webpage) The California clapper rail is one of the largest rails, measuring 13-19 inches from bill to tail. It is characterized by its hen-like appearance, a long, slightly downward-curving bill, olive-brown upper parts, a cinnamon-buff colored breast, dark flanks crossed by white bars and white undertail coverts which are often exposed when the bird is agitated. http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=B04A