BLM Tells the Story Behind the Mendocino Complex Burned Area Emergency Response Team

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is providing a story map explaining how the Department of the Interior’s Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team works to assess the damage on BLM and trust lands from the Ranch and River fires that formed the Mendocino Complex. (BLM news release)

BLM Contract with California Conservation Corps 

The Bureau of Land Management California Desert District contracted the State of California’s California Conservation Corps  to assemble a crew of diverse young adults to assist with the BLM's fire management mission. The crew, which currently consists of eight female and five male members, will be trained as firefighters to form a type 2 hand crew. When not performing fire suppression, the crew will implement fuels (vegetation) management projects throughout the CDD. (BLM California Facebook)

BLM Lifts Emergency Closure at Knoxville Recreation Area  

The Bureau of Land Management has lifted an emergency closure order at the Knoxville Management Area in Napa County.  The access restrictions were in place because of dangers posed by the Snell Fire.(BLM news release)

BLM Reopening Recreation Areas Along Clear Creek and in Cloverdale Area

Recreation sites along Clear Creek and in the Cloverdale area south of Redding have been re-opened to the public, as dangers from the Carr Fire have passed. The open areas are south of Placer Road and include the Clear Creek Gorge overlook and trails throughout the area.  Recreation areas north of Placer Road, including the Swasey Recreation Area, remain closed to protect public health and safety. (BLM news release)

BLM Reminds Hunters About Safety, Fire Restrictions During Hunting Seasons

Hunting seasons are getting underway on public lands, and the Bureau of Land Management is reminding hunters in California to use caution and observe seasonal fire restrictions. (BLM news release)

Fire Season Reminder 

Remember campfire permits are available free at any BLM, Forest Service or CAL FIRE office or by visiting preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit. Please stay up-to-date with fire restrictions on your public lands in California:blm.gov/programs/public-safety-and-fire/fire-and-aviation/regional-info/california/fire-restrictions

Follow fire information via:

InciWeb → goo.gl/HQ5NCr

CAL FIRE → goo.gl/M5H4ex

Twitter @BLMca → twitter.com/BLMca

BLM Seeks Public Input on Proposed Route Designation Project in San Bernardino County

The Bureau of Land Management’s Barstow Field Office has made available for 30-day public comment an Environmental Assessment on a route designation proposal affecting 130 miles of routes located on BLM public lands currently maintained by the county of San Bernardino’s Public Works Department. Segments of these routes that are under county management are limited to street legal vehicles, as defined by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. (BLM news release)

BLM Authorizes Southern California Edison Utility Transmission Extension Project

The Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office, has released a decision today, authorizing Southern California Edison to move forward with its Calico Peak 33 kV extension project, which includes a new four-and-a-half-mile distribution line that will transverse Department of Defense and BLM-managed lands, terminating at and providing power to the BLM Calico Peak communication site. (BLM news release)

BLM Improving Headwaters Parking Area; Access Could be Temporarily Restricted

A public access improvement project that will add parking spaces and improve traffic flow gets underway Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Elk River Trailhead in the Headwaters Forest Reserve.  There may be access limitations or short-term closures as the project progresses through mid-October. (BLM news release)

Related: (Redwood news)

BLM Seeks Public Input on Proposed Keystone Exploratory Project

 The Bureau of Land Management Ridgecrest Field Office has made available for 30-day public comment an Environmental Assessment for the Keystone Exploratory Drilling Project located on existing unpatented lode mining claims on public lands. The public comment period for the EA will end on Oct. 9. (BLM news release)

The BLM Approves Next Steps for Castle Mine Drilling Program

The Bureau of Land Management Needles Field Office released an Environmental Assessment for the Castle Mountain Venture (CMV) Mine Phase III exploration drilling program, authorizing CMV legal access to commence its drilling program on BLM-managed public lands located 18 miles northeast of Nipton, San Bernardino County. (BLM news release)

A Million-Acre Legacy: Successfully Managing Public and Private Sagebrush Country. 

After watching his father, James Rogers Sr. sour on public lands ranching in Wyoming back in the 1990s, sell off his property to a billionaire buyer and walk away disenfranchised from a hard-fought lifetime of raising cattle, James Rogers, Jr., vowed to keep his dad’s stewardship legacy alive. (USFWS news release)

Interior Releases Finding of No Significant Impact for Central North Dakota Water Supply Project

The Bureau of Reclamation has completed the environmental assessment and released the Finding of No Significant Impact for the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project. (DOI news release)

Secretary Zinke Expands Hunting and Fishing Opportunities at 30 of America’s National Wildlife Refuges

These changes will open more than 251,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities at 30 national wildlife refuges across the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System. This will now bring the number of units where the public may hunt to 377, and the number where fishing is permitted to 312. (DOI news release)

They Said It Couldn’t Be Done: Trump Admin Dominates with Billion-dollar Oil and Gas Sale

The two-day sale in New Mexico brought in more revenue than all Bureau of Land Management oil and gas sales in 2017 combined, and surpassed BLM’s previous best sales year. (DOI news release)

Interior Announces More Than $36 Million to Boost to Wetland, Waterfowl Conservation, Access to Public Lands

The grants, made through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), will be matched by over $60 million in partner funds. NAWCA grants ensure waterfowl and other birds are protected throughout their lifecycles. (BLM news release)

Accessibility Across America's Public Lands

Public lands are for everyone, regardless of ability. For decades, Interior and its bureaus have worked to improve access to public lands, as well as create new and innovative ways for participation and inclusion. Today, many of the epicenters of the disability rights movement are protected by the National Park Service and serve as inspiration for other public lands to improve the options available to disabled people. Thanks to extensive road projects and scenic parkways, anyone with mobility issues can enjoy some of the best drives in America.Whether it’s hearing the powerful story of the fight for disability rights or visiting a natural area that is now more accessible to everyone, public lands are ready and welcoming. Check out some of these areas and experiences that are accessible to visitors with varying abilities. (DOI news release)

Bumblebees vs. Honeybees: What’s the Difference, and Why Does it Matter?

Keep reading for answer below.

September 15: Trained Wild Horses Available in Placement Event at Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center

 Wild horses trained by inmates will be available for public adoption from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, 12500 Bruceville Road, Elk Grove. The Bureau of Land Management will offer 10 to 12 horses. All have initial saddle training by inmates participating in the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department horse training program. The starting bid will be $300. (BLM News Release)

September 20: BLM Ukiah to Host Public Meeting to Share Mendocino Complex BAER Team Assessment

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office will host a meeting seeking public input on the Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team assessment of damage to Federal lands from the Mendocino Complex fires on Thursday, Sept. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center in the Cabernet Room #2, 200 S. School St., Ukiah. (BLM news release)

September 26 & 27: BLM Will Host Two Public Meetings for Desert Quartzite Solar Project

The Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, will host two public meetings on Sept. 26 and 27, for the proposed Desert Quartzite Solar Photovoltaic Project, in eastern Riverside County. (BLM news release)

September 22: National Public Lands Day Event in Trinidad

Join us Saturday, Sept. 22, at the historic lighthouse in Trinidad. Volunteers will plant native plants on the light station grounds. Anyone interested should meet at 10 a.m. in the parking area at the base of Trinidad Head and hike a half-mile uphill to the lighthouse. The workday ends at 1 p.m. (BLM news release)

September 29: Volunteers Welcome for National Public Lands Day Event Near Redding

Volunteers are welcome to help clean up public lands along the Clear Creek Greenway south of Redding, when the BLM and its partners celebrate National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 29. (BLM news release)

September 22: Volunteers Welcome for National Public Lands Day Cleanup in Susanville

Volunteers are welcome to help spruce up the Susanville Trailhead at the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail, in an event to observe National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 22. (BLM news release)

August 31 - September 23: LA County Fair

Discover Los Angeles and America’s Great Outdoors at the LA County Fair in Pomona, California from August 31 to September 23. For over 20 years, a half a million people have visited the two acre outdoor site, co-managed by the BLM California Desert District, Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department – Forestry Division and National Park Service. Visitors are able to view animals in the BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program corral, visit an exact replica of a pre-BLM General Land Office, observe native American lifeways, watch an environmental magic show, participate in log cutting and branding, take a walk along a nature discovery trail and much, much more. We hope to see you there! (LA County Fair website)

October 13: Participants Will Learn about the past in Archaeology Day event

The Bureau of Land Management will offer a hands-on look into the lives of northeast California’s early inhabitants during Archaeology Day, a free, family-friendly event, Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Hobo Camp Day Use Area along the Susan River just west of Susanville.  Events run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (BLM news release)

Now - 2019: Bring Home a Wild Horse or Burro

The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program is excited to announce nearly 70 events this year as part of BLM's efforts to find good homes for our nation's wild horses and burros. Known for their intelligence, endurance and loyalty, wild horses and burros, with the right training, are outstanding for trail riding, packing, working and have successfully competed for awards in numerous fields from endurance riding to dressage. With more than 81,000 wild horses and burros on BLM-managed public lands, these wild icons of our American history need your help more than ever. Without any natural predators that can control population growth, wild horse and burro herds grow rapidly on the range and can quickly overcome the land's ability to support them. The BLM works to maintain healthy wild herds by gathering excess animals and placing them into good homes. (BLM website)