United States Department of Interior Mandamus Issue 608

A publication of Bureau of Land Management in California

Issue 608-01/24/14- Visit us on Facebook -- Follow us on Twitter -- Share us with friends and colleagues!
THIS WEEK IN NEWS.BYTES:
- Headlines and Highlights: Assorted topics from your public lands in California
- America's Great Outdoors
- Wild Horse and Burro
- Wildlife Trivia Question of the Week
- Upcoming Events and Announcements
- National and Department of the Interior items

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www.blm.gov/ca/news/newsbytes/2014/608.html

HEADLINES and HIGHLIGHTS

Oil and Gas Leasing Program Helps Meet California's Energy Needs (BLM Website) BLM is helping to meet California's growing energy needs from traditional energy (oil and gas) and renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass) resources on public lands. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en.html RELATED:Jan. 29 and Feb 4, 11, 12: BLM Solicits Public Comment to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement on Oil and Gas Leasing and Development (BLM News Release) BLM is conducting scoping meetings to solicit public comments on how oil and gas resources on federal mineral estate should be managed in the BLM's Hollister Field Office. http://www.ca.blm.gov/ypld BLM Announces Open Application Period for Dunes Subgroup (BLM News Release) The BLM's California Desert District Desert Advisory Council announces an open application period for membership on its Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area subgroup. http://www.ca.blm.gov/hpld An Inspirational Speaker Comes to the BLM California State Office for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration (BLM Facebook Post) David Johnson would grip his grandmother's skirt and tug in closely as they listened to the great speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the old 78 records she loved to play. He was afraid of the powerful voice and the emotions he saw in his grandmother's eyes. She told him this was important... http://www.ca.blm.gov/fqld RELATED: Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes by David Anthony Johnson (BLM Youtube Video) A short video clip of David Anthony Johnson's recitation of a Martin Luther King, Jr. speech during the BLM California State Office Celebration of Martin Luther King Day. http://youtu.be/X5H5f1yO4zQ Another Cemex Stall? Request for Cost Estimate Pending 2 Months After Hearing on Latest Mine-Halting Bill (Santa Clarita Valley Signal,01/19/14) The Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining heard testimony on the bill, S. 771, that would swap federal land near Victorville in exchange for mining contracts in Soledad Canyon issued by the BLM. http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/112730/

AMERICA'S GREAT OUTDOORS

The 17th Annual Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Cleanup (BLM Facebook Photo Album). The BLM Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area teamed up with the United Desert Gateway and other sponsors to hold the 17th annual ISDRA dunes clean up. People from all over came to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area to help clean up their public lands. Thank you again to all that participated this year! http://www.ca.blm.gov/6pld Community Corner: For Upper Ridge Wilderness Areas, Inc., Education is Key in Protecting Wild Land (Chico Enterprise Record, 01/23/14) Fifth graders in Magalia don't have to go much farther than their own back yard for outdoor education thanks to a partnership between the BLM and Upper Ridge Wilderness Areas, Inc. http://www.ca.blm.gov/2pld Mono Indian Basket Weaving Class at the BLM San Joaquin River Gorge Management Area (BLM Facebook Photo Album) Students learn traditional basket weaving techniques, tools, and materials in a class held by the California Indian Basketweavers Association and Sierra Mono Museum. http://www.ca.blm.gov/7pld Happy Anniversary to the BLM Carrizo Plain National Monument! (BLM Facebook Photo Album) The Monument was established by the President of the United States on January 17, 2001. Enjoy this photo album with stunning images of the scenery and wildlife of the Carrizo Plain. http://www.ca.blm.gov/bqld A spectacular meeting of land and sea is certainly the dominant feature of King Range National Conservation Area. (BLM Tumblr Post) Mountains seem to thrust straight out of the surf; a precipitous rise rarely surpassed on the continental U.S. coastline. King Peak, the highest point at 4,088 feet, is only three miles from the ocean. http://www.ca.blm.gov/cqld The City of Fortuna Explore the Headwaters Forest Reserve (BLM Facebook Post) BLM staff met with City of Fortuna employees last Friday to explore new ways of connecting and engaging the local community and people who visit Fortuna. Chris Heppe took these photos of their 3-mile hike through old growth redwoods on the Salmon Pass Trail. http://www.ca.blm.gov/8pld Feb. 15: Piedras Blancas Birthday Celebration Living History Tour (BLM Website) The Piedras Blancas Light Station was first illuminated on February 14, 1875. In celebration of the 139th birthday of the lighthouse there will be a living history tour on Saturday, February 15, 2014. Guides and assistants will be dressed in period attire. Enactors will bring light station history to life. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/Programs/pbls/tours.html

WILD HORSE and BURRO

Young Halter-Trained Wild Horses and Burros Are Looking For New Homes. (BLM Facebook) You can adopt one these beautiful animals at the the annual Back Country Horsemen's Association pack clinic. More burros and horses are available for adoption throughout the year, at the Litchfield and Ridgecrest corrals. http://www.ca.blm.gov/5pld RELATED: Feb. 8 and 9: BLM Offering Halter-Trained Wild Horses for Adoption in Ferndale (BLM News Release) http://www.ca.blm.gov/3pld Nevada Farm Bureau, Counties Sue Over Wild Horses (Eureka Times Standard, 01/12/14) Two Nevada organizations have sued the federal government, alleging mismanagement of wild horses led to excessive damage to rangelands and the animals themselves. http://www.ca.blm.gov/4pld RELATED: BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program (BLM Website) BLM California manages wild horses and burros in accordance with the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. This Act gave the BLM the responsibility to protect wild horses and burros, while ensuring their populations are managed to maintain or restore a thriving ecological balance. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html

WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION of the WEEK

When are sagebrush lizards inactive?(a) During the day (b) During the summer (c) During the winter (d) After a large Thanksgiving meal See answer - and more information near the end of this News.bytes.

SELECTED UPCOMING EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jan. 21: Fire Restrictions Have Gone Into Effect For the BLM California Desert District (BLM News Release) Fire Restrictions on BLM lands in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties. These restrictions do not apply to the ISDRA, Dumont Dunes, Johnson Valley, El Mirage, Jawbone Canyon, and Spangler Hills OHV open areas. http://www.ca.blm.gov/1pld Jan. 24: Fire Restrictions Go Into Effect for the BLM Ukiah Field Office (BLM News Release) Restrictions on campfires and off-road driving go into effect Friday, Jan. 24, for public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Yolo, Colusa, Glenn and Solano counties. http://www.ca.blm.gov/0pld Jan 29 and Feb. 10: Upcoming Deadlines for Greater Sage-Grouse and Bi-State Sage-Grouse Project (BLM NV Facebook) http://www.ca.blm.gov/8nld Jan. 29: Guided Dog-Friendly Hike to Wind Caves in the Coyote Mountain Wilderness BLM CA Facebook) http://www.ca.blm.gov/bpld Feb. 1: The 7th Annual Winter Bird Festival (City of Galt Webpage) The city of Galt in collaboration with BLM Cosumnes River Preserve and the Galt Joint Union Elementary and High School Districts are hosting a birding festival, including paddling and photography tours. http://www.ci.galt.ca.us/index.aspx?page=495 Feb. 8: Photo Hike! Indian Pass Arches (BLM News Release) Want to learn how to use that DSLR you got over the holidays? Or finally figure out how to use the one you already have? Photographers from the Imperial Valley Friends of Photography Club will join us on the hike to give you pointers on composition, exposure, techniques, etc. http://www.ca.blm.gov/2nld Feb. 15: Striking It Rich- Fan Hill Hike (BLM CA Facebook) The Fan Hill hike is near Sky Valley and the Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness. This is the first of seve hikes that are planned for 2014 in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act. https://www.facebook.com/events/1453743764848712/ Feb. 18: Next in the King Range Winter Lecture Series- Catching Fire: A Move and Discussion. (BLM News Release) The lectures feature subject matter experts. They are offered each year by the BLM King Range National Conservation Area and the Lost Coast Interpretive Association. http://www.ca.blm.gov/wpld

NATIONAL, OTHER STATE AND DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR ITEMS DOI Video: This Week at Interior January 17, 2014 (DOI YouTube Post) Here's what happened this week at Interior Secretary Jewell helps honor groups and individuals at the 2013 Partners in Conservation Awards, including a delegation from Mexico working with the U.S on preserving and renewing the Colorado River Basin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7376SYY4F14

WILDLIFE TRIVIA answer and related websites When are sagebrush lizards inactive? (c) During the winter RELATED: "Sagebrush lizard" (BLM Wildlife Database) http://www.ca.blm.gov/dqld