The redwoods at Headwaters Forest Preserve

“The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always.” — John Steinbeck

Stand in the presence of these giants and be amazed. The Bureau of Land Management - California's Headwaters Forest Preserve contains spectacular old-growth and second-growth redwood forests. These trees are legacies, and they honor the past while giving hope to the future. (DOI Facebook)

#GetOutdoors: Bodie Hills

Visitors to Bodie Hills can explore the Bodie ghost town and then head out on a wilderness adventure among wildflowers or fall colors, depending on time of year. Wildlife viewers can see antelope, mule deer, and if lucky, get a glimpse of the Greater Sage-grouse. California’s Eastern Sierra region is a dramatic transition zone between the snow-capped granite spires of the Sierra Nevada and the endless sagebrush covered uplands of the Great Basin. (BLM CA Facebook)

PODCAST: HELP POLLINATORS, “BEE” A COMMUNITY SCIENTIST

Called either citizen science or community science, the opportunity for people to help address real-world issues through science is all around. Training on proper techniques, or protocols, is included, and the data gathered could be used to make new discoveries, solve complex problems or create a more complete picture of the natural environment. BLM wildlife biologist Casey Burns recently sat down to chat about a community science initiative involving bees in Alaska. (BLM Blog)

5 Tips for Cooking at Your Campsite

Learn 5 tips for how to minimize impact while cooking at your campsite, for campers of all experience level. These tips can also apply to any kind of campsite—state park, national park, or even your own backyard! (LNT Blog)

Know Before You Go - Lost Coast Trail Tide Conditions 

Backpackers planning a visit to the Lost Coast Trail within the King Range National Conservation Area may face unfavorable tidal conditions in August and September. When traversing the Impassible Zones along the Lost Coast Trail, visitors must always ensure that tides are receding and are below three feet in height. (BLM CA Facebook)

Fort Sage Off Highway Vehicle Area hosted a first-ever, back-to-back series of contests

The events were so successful that the sponsoring Lassen Motorcycle Club is planning a repeat on Aug. 28. The relaxed, friendly contests began with a daytime poker run, where participants collected playing cards at stops in casual rides along a loop trail. Along the way they faced surprise challenges such as balancing cookies on their noses, to win even more cards. As in regular poker, the best hand won. (BLM CA Facebook)

Interior Department Advances Three Solar Projects in California, Continuing Efforts to Develop a Robust Clean Energy Economy

In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to address climate change and promote renewable energy production, the Department of the Interior announced today it is advancing three solar projects on 4,700 acres of public lands in Riverside County, Calif. (DOI News Release)  

Reclamation partners with BLM to reduce wildland fire risk in Auburn State Recreation Area

The BOR and the BLM are collaborating through a five-year agreement to reduce wildland fire threats in the popular Auburn State Recreation Area in El Dorado and Placer counties. This agreement includes projects to construct fuel breaks, remove hazard trees, and reduce brush. (BOR News Release)

Point Arena-Stronetta Unit of California Coastal National Monument update!

Work was recently conducted on the Point Arena-Stornetta Unit of the California Coastal National Monument located on the Mendocino Coast. BLM Fire Management and Field Office personnel from the Ukiah and Motherlode Offices took part in the week-long mastication project which sought to reduce hazardous fuel loads and improve coastal prairie habitat on the property. (BLM CA Facebook)

CA Ready for Wildfire

Compared to this same time last year, we have seen an astounding 151% increase in acres burned across California and it is only August! Now is the time prepare you and your family by having your go bag ready. (Cal Fire Twitter)

National Fire News

Nine new large fires reported yesterday, three in WA, two in CA and OR, and one in ID and MT. Nationally, 100 large fires have burned 1,947,811 acres in 14 states. Extreme fire behavior on Dixie Fire in CA, increasing by nearly 24,000 acres. https://nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn… #FireYear2021. (kunr.org)

Looking for a #FireJob?

The @BLMNational Fire & Aviation Directorate is hiring a Natural Resource Specialist (Data Analyst) @NIFC_Fire. Visit @USAJOBS. Announcement closes on August 18. How to apply -> https://bit.ly/3loSfSo #NotYourOrdinaryJob (BLM Fire Twitter)

Be #WildfireWeatherAWARE

Pyrocumulus clouds typically form at the top of a smoke column on a large, active fire. The large amounts of heat released by a fire will combine with background atmospheric water vapor and vapor released by the fire to produce these clouds. These clouds may be referred to as an “ice cap” by some on a fire, but pyrocumulus are made up of liquid water. (BLM Fire Facebook)

BLM California fire restrictions

BLM California fire restrictions or temporary public land closures reduce the risk of wildfires and protect the public. Often times, these preventative measures focus on human-related activities, such as campfires, off-road driving, equipment use and recreational target shooting, since human-related activities are the number one cause of a wildfires. Many BLM California offices have issued seasonal fire restrictions. (BLM CA Web)

California Desert District Advisory Council to hold virtual meeting

The Bureau of Land Management California Desert District Desert Advisory Council (DAC) will hold a virtual Zoom meeting on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., demonstrating partnerships and public input are necessary for managing sustainable, working public lands. (BLM CA News Release)

Keep scrolling to find out!

Interior Celebrates Great American Outdoors Act Anniversary with Fee Free Day on Public Lands 

On Wednesday, designated as “Great American Outdoors Day,” the Department of the Interior celebrated the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act. The law, which passed with strong bipartisan support, makes unprecedented investments in national parks, public lands and American Indian schools. (DOI News Release) 

U.S. Marshals Service Recognizes BLM Ranger for Role in Apprehension of Fugitive Kidnapping Suspect

Deputy Pete Thompson with the United States Marshals Service (USMS) recently recognized BLM Arizona Strip Field Office Law Enforcement Ranger Curtis Racker and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument Ranger Brice Provost for the crucial role they played in apprehending a fugitive kidnapping suspect and reuniting the four-year-old victim with his mother. (BLM Medium)

Interior and Justice Departments Take Next Steps in Implementation of Not Invisible Act

The Departments of the Interior and Justice today announced the next steps in implementing of the Not Invisible Act, including the publication of a solicitation for nominations of non-federal members to join the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission will focus on reducing violent crimes against American Indians and Alaska Natives and address the long-standing missing and murdered Indigenous person crisis. (DOI News Release)

This Week at Interior Aug 6, 2021

 Secretary Haaland promotes the Biden-Harris administration's "build back better" agenda in a new op-ed; Interior announces a fresh environmental review of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; a new web portal provides real-time information on the record-breaking western drought; it's the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art elementary school in Laguna Pueblo; we mark the first anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act; and a bald eagle takes aim at dinner in our social media Picture of the Week!. (DOI Video) 

#DYK that one of four northern Pacific Humpback whale pods transit the California Coastal National Monument? They breed along the Pacific coast of Mexico and the Revillagigedo Islands, pass the Baja CA Peninsula, and feed across a broad range from CA to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. (BLM CA Facebook)

Humpback whales are a favorite of whale-watchers, as they can be found close to shore and often display activities near the surface, such as breaching (jumping out of the water) or slapping the surface with their pectoral fins and tails. Check here for Marine Life Viewing Guidelines!

Source: NOAA FIsheries