United States Department of Interior BLM Mandamus Issue 605

A publication of Bureau of Land Management in California

Issue 605- 12/19/13   -   Visit us on Facebook -- follow us on Twitter - Share us with friends and colleagues!

THIS WEEK IN NEWS.BYTES:
- Free Offer- Extended!
- Stories On and Off Road
- It's About the Weather
- On BLM California Facebook
- Wildlife Trivia Question of the Week
- Upcoming Events
- Headlines and Highlights: Assorted topics from your public lands in California
- 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/2013/605.html

News.bytes will be on vacation for the next two weeks. 
Have a happy holiday season, and see you in 2014!

FREE OFFER- EXTENDED!  BLM California 2014 Monthly Planner Celebrating America's 50th Anniversary of the National Wilderness Preservation System, this monthly planner features stunning photographs of BLM California Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas. Giveaway Rules: Limit one per person. This giveaway is open to members of the public. BLM employees are ineligible to participate. http://www.blm.gov/ca/forms/offers/index.php?issueReq=604

STORIES ON and OFF ROAD Ol' Saint Nick on Route 66- BLM in the Christmas Lights Parade (News.bytes Extra) The BLM Needles Field Office participated in the Ol' Saint Nick on Route 66 Christmas Lights Parade. The BLM parade entry consisted of three decorated and lighted vehicles... http://www.ca.blm.gov/qmld Ol' St. Nick Celebrates on Route 66  (Needles Desert Star, 12/09/13) Cloudy skies, wind and chilly temperatures didn't appear to dampen the Christmas spirit as residents and visitors came to Santa Fe Park to join in the Ol' St. Nick on Route 66 Christmas Party. http://www.ca.blm.gov/wlld RELATED: Historic Route 66 Action Plan for America's Main Street (BLM Website) Since towns were situated on an existing railroad line or trail, the primary trading businesses were located on that route. That led to the term 'Main Street' for a town's business. As traffic increased between towns, these became connected into a continuous road. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/needles/route_66.html Lawyer: $5.8M settlement in off-road race crash (The Washington Post, 12/18/13) Under the deal, the BLM would pay $4.825 million and race organizers and promoters Mojave Desert Racing Inc., and... http://www.ca.blm.gov/zmld Fatal Vision, Fossils, and One Bumpy Ride! (News.bytes Extra) At Oldsmobile Hill in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, OHV enthusiasts joined park rangers and law enforcement officers in an exercise that demonstrated the dangers of drinking and riding. http://www.ca.blm.gov/pmld Old Plank Road is Nearly 100 Years Old  (Imperial Valley Press, 12/16/13) In anticipation of the 100-year anniversary in 2015, tourists from all over the world travel to see the stretch of wooden planks that is part of the nation's automotive history. http://www.ca.blm.gov/vlld RELATED: Plank Road  (BLM Imperial Sand Dunes Facebook Page) Plank Road: how the dunes were won...learn about the history of this unique wooden road! http://www.ca.blm.gov/dmld Johnson Valley: Deal Will Have Marines, Public Sharing Access  (MyDesert, 12/16/13) A nudge from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., may have helped seal a compromise between off-roaders and the U.S. Marine Corps, ensuring that more than half of Johnson Valley's 188,000 acres of prime off-roading trails and desert vistas will remain open to the public most of the year. http://www.ca.blm.gov/gmld JOHNSON VALLEY: Marines, Off-Roaders Compromise on Base Expansion  (The Press Enterprise, 12/12/13) Off-road enthusiasts are celebrating a compromise that drastically scales back an expansion of the Twentynine Palms Marine base and retains most of the Johnson Valley for recreational use. Under the law passed by Congress late Tuesday, 99,870 acres will remain part of the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area and be overseen by the BLM. http://www.ca.blm.gov/2lld RELATED: Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area (BLM Website) Johnson Valley is a varied landscape for the off-highway vehicle driver. It is punctuated by steep red rocky mountains, rolling hills, open valleys, dry lake beds and sandy washes. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/johnson.html Cook Welcomes Plan to Save Off-Highway Area (High Desert Star, 12/1/13) Rep. Paul Cook, who represents the Morongo Basin in the nation's capital, welcomed the announcement this week of a deal on the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Area as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013. http://www.ca.blm.gov/6lld

IT'S ABOUT THE WEATHER Decline of Desert Tortoise in Joshua Tree Linked to Long Droughts(LA Times, 12/13/13) Dwindling populations of the reptiles with scruffy carapaces and skin as tough as rhino hide are facing an even greater threat: longer droughts spurred by climate change in their Sonoran Desert kingdom of arroyos and burrows, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey study. http://www.ca.blm.gov/slld RELATED: Desert Tortoise Natural Area (BLM Website) The BLM, with assistance from the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, established the Desert Tortoise Natural Area. This unique habitat is managed in its natural state, free from conflict with other land uses. http://www.ca.blm.gov/tlld Liberte Chan - KTLA 5 Daily Weather and Fire Conditions (Facebook Page, 12/14/13) Extreme fire concerns with Santa Ana winds, with warm, windy and dry conditions. A Red Flag Warning... http://www.ca.blm.gov/rlld RELATED: CWCG Fire Prevention Committee (CWCG Fire Prevention Facebook Page) The California Wildland Fire Coordinating Group-Fire Prevention Committee is established to provide an interagency approach to wildland fire management and all-risk support on all land ownerships within the State of California. https://m.facebook.com/CWCGFirePrevention 'Above Average' Fire Season: Six Rivers National Forest to Discuss 2013 Blazes  (The Times Standard, 12/11/13) Firefighters fought 68 fires -including the Corral and Butler wildfires, which burned a total of 13,000 and 38,000 acres respectively. Presenters will offer statistics on the number of acres burned, those protected and what the total number of incidents were for the season to fire, weather and tribe officials, environmental groups, BLM... http://www.ca.blm.gov/qlld

On BLM California Facebook.... Special Cold Weather and Holiday Posts: Shop with a Cop Event https://www.facebook.com/blmcalifornia Christmas tree hunting in the BLM Bishop Field Office Area http://www.ca.blm.gov/rmld Cold Snaps on the Biz Johnson Trail  http://www.ca.blm.gov/0lld Snow in Lacks Creek Management Area http://www.ca.blm.gov/zlld Wooly Winter Coatshttp://www.ca.blm.gov/ylld

WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION of the WEEK

Which of the statements about coyotes are true?  a) are considered clever and adaptable animals b) can run up to 40-miles an hour c) found only in remote and wild areas d) good swimmers e) all of the above f) a, b, and d See answer - and more wildlife stories - near the end of this News.bytes.

SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS NOW: Applications Being Accepted for Seasonal Firefighters  (USA Jobs Website) The BLM California is currently hiring seasonal firefighters. Applications on USAJOBS. https://blm.usajobs.gov/JobSearch/Search/GetResults?location=California RELATED: Firefighter Recruitment Video (BLM NIFC YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y350ANP86A Jan. 8, 9, 11, 2014: Public Meetings Scheduled for Soda Mountain Solar Project in San Bernardino County  (BLM News Release) BLM has scheduled an additional public meeting for public comment on the Soda Mountain Solar Project's draft environmental document. http://www.ca.blm.gov/xmld Jan. 11, 18, 25 and Feb. 1, 8, 15: BLM Offering Guided Bald Eagle Hikes at Cache Creek Natural Area  (BLM News Release) In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Bureau of Land Management will host free guided hikes to look for wintering bald eagles in the Cache Creek Natural Area in Lake County. http://www.ca.blm.gov/4lld Jan. 25, 2014: Dog-Hike to Wind Caves in the Coyote Mountain Wilderness (BLM CA Facebook) Bring your well-behaved canine friend for a guided hike to Wind Caves in the Coyote Mountain Wilderness. This moderate to strenuous hike... http://www.ca.blm.gov/fmld

HEADLINES and HIGHLIGHTS Tribal Participant Workshop (News.bytes Extra) The BLM Barstow Field Office co-hosted a two-day workshop with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Southern California Edison, and Pacific Legacy regarding participation of tribal representatives on the Coolwater-Lugo Transmission Project. http://www.ca.blm.gov/nmld Water tower at Piedras Blancas Light Station Carries a Secret  (San Luis Obispo Tribune, 12/15/13) There's a new "old" tower at the Piedras Blancas Light Station north of Cambria. The BLM runs the light station. The CHP contributed to help improve emergency communications along a corridor where cell towers are few and far between. http://www.ca.blm.gov/kmld Commission to Prepare to Give Sage Grouse Comment (Elko Daily Press, 12/16/13) The multi-agency document outlines regulatory options for sage-grouse habitat on public land in Nevada and northern California. Gerber said he believed the BLM had already decided on a strategy and comments weren't likely to help shape the record of decision, which the agencies hope to finalize by September. http://www.ca.blm.gov/hmld RELATED: Sage Grouse Conservation (BLM Website)  http://www.ca.blm.gov/tmld Monument Status Eyed for Former Santa Cruz Dairy  (San Jose Mercury News, 12/15/13) California land preservationists are hoping to have a former dairy farm north of Santa Cruz crowned as a national monument, a move that backers say would bring greater protections and more federal dollars to the property. The land has remained closed to the public in the 15 years since the Trust for Public Lands acquired it to prevent development, but parts are expected to be opened for recreation after the BLM takes control of it. http://www.ca.blm.gov/8lld  Major Solar Energy Project in Riverside County Could Be Doomed  (KCET, 12/13/13) Commissioner Karen Douglas proposed that the CEC refuse to amend a permit that Palen Solar Holdings... http://www.ca.blm.gov/vmld RELATED: Palen Solar Electric Generating System (BLM Website) Information about the BLM Palen Solar Electric Generating System and Federal coordination process. http://www.ca.blm.gov/xlld First Annual College of the Desert Volunteer Fair - How Can We Help? (News.bytes Extra) The first annual College of the Desert Volunteer Fair was the perfect opportunity for the Friends of the Desert Mountains, University of California Riverside, and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument to partner together and show students what they can do. http://www.ca.blm.gov/jmld

NATIONAL, OTHER STATE AND DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR ITEMS Happy Holidays from the Department of the Interior (DOI YouTube) http://youtu.be/nfdC-B4N5LM VIDEO: This Week at Interior December 13, 2013  (DOI YouTube) Here's what happened this week at Interior: an historic agreement between the Department of the Interior and the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the land buyback program mandated under the Cobell Settlement... http://youtu.be/gMBQ9Lk0SuU

WILDLIFE TRIVIA answer and related websitesWhich of the statements about coyotes are true?  f) a, b, and d REFERENCES and RESOURCES: BLM Wildlife Database: Search for information about wildlife species found on BLM California lands. http://www.blm.gov/ca/forms/wildlife/ BLM News.bytes: Wildlife Trivia...what coyotes eat. http://www.blm.gov/ca/news/newsbytes/2008/361.html  Coyotes (National Geographic Website) Did you know? Coyotes are very good swimmers. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/coyote/