BLM California News.Bytes Issue 987

U.S. Department of the Interior sent this bulletin at 02/18/2022 05:36 PM EST

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news bytes - bureau of land management california
Landscape view of Granite Mountain Wilderness washed in pink hues with snow capped mountains in the distance.

Granite Mountain Wilderness, Bishop Field Office

ISSUE 987 - February 18, 2022

For the Love of Public Lands

McCain Valley with various landscape elements, rock, cactus, brush in foreground, layers of rocky hills in the background.

For the love of new adventure

Beautiful landscapes, blue skies and views of  Bureau of Land Management - California's public lands! Located in the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area and among the live oaks of southeastern San Diego County is Cottonwood Campground. The campground offers a tranquil and refreshing experience. It's also an excellent starting point for day hikes, overnight backpacking trips, and equestrian use. (BLM Facebook)
A large "Thank you" poster sign stands in front of shrubs and trees and reads with messgaes, "Thank you - Civil Service Employees".

National Kindness Day

On National Act of Kindness Day, please take a moment to reach out to a firefighter, police officer, dispatcher, or any emergency services provider to show your gratitude for their dedication to public service. #ThankAFirefighter (BLM Fire Facebook)

 
A small yellow airplane used for aerial seeding is stationed on the ground with a person standing on the wing loading seed.

Restoring your public lands 

Staff from our Eagle Lake Field Office launched an aerial assault of sorts last week, as they used a contract airplane to drop more than 9 tons of shrub and grass seed on rugged, inaccessible wildlife habitat burned in last summer's 105,000-acre Beckwourth Complex wildfire in Plumas and Lassen counties. (BLM CA Facebook)
A person is bent down painting over graffiti on a trash receptacle.

Thank you Imperial Sand Dunes staff

Thank you Imperial Sand Dunes staff, they never give up trying to keep our dunes looking good! The dunes season is wrapping up until fall, however, it is not too late to visit for President's Day weekend. Please drive safe! (BLM ISDRA Facebook)

Headlines & Highlights

Landscape of cows being driven by person on horseback across grassland with rolling hills in the background.

Fostering resiliency for western landscapes and communities

By incorporating flexibility into grazing permits through the Outcome-Based Grazing program, we're able to foster both ecological and economic resiliency for western landscapes and communities. In a new film from Intermountain West Joint Venture titled “The Need for Flexibility: Exploring Innovation in a Public Land Grazing System”, the benefits of the Outcome-Based Grazing program are highlighted in more detail. (BLM Facebook)
A communications tower stands tall against blue skies with two trucks in the foreground and mountains in the distance.

The BLM opens public comment for Morongo Highway 62 communication site project

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input on a land use plan amendment to the California Desert Conservation Act for the proposed Morongo Hwy Communication Site. If approved, this project would improve telecommunication and broadband connections for the communities of Morongo and Yucca Valley. The 30-day public comment period will close by March 21, 2022. (BLM CA News Release)
snow-capped mountains back drop a desert landscape with a small cactus in the foreground.

California Desert District seeks District Manager 

BLM CA has an opening for the California Desert District Manager position. Unique within the BLM, the California Desert District was created to protect the natural, historic, recreational and economic riches of the diverse and scenic California Desert. The district is responsible for protecting and preserving nearly 11 million acres within nine counties. (USAJOBS)

Fire & Fuels Management

An ash pile of burned debris is surrounded by dirt, and snow, with conifers in the background.

Report out on successful prescribed burning from the Applegate Field Office 

Fire crews from the Applegate Field Office successfully completed 200 acres of the Twin Lakes Project prescribed burn, which is about 18 miles southeast of Cedarville, CA. The prescribed fire consisted of piled juniper which was thinned to reduce wildfire dangers and improve habitats. (BLM CA Facebook)
Two firefighters work on a controlled burn with active flames in tall grass.

#FireTipFriday: BLM Fire program dashboard

We would like to highlight the Bureau of Land Management Fire program’s fire job dashboard on the National Interagency Fire Center webpage. This page was created to share the current opportunities from temporary to permanent positions. See the current vacancies, visit: https://bit.ly/3JqOM1v. (BLM Fire Facebook)
Two wildland firefighters smiling for the camera with active flames in the distance.

Current BLM fire jobs 

Bureau of Land Management California is looking to fill multiple positions across the state. Check out USAJOBS for opportunities to explore an exciting career with the BLM!

Many of these opportunities close soon, so apply today!

Forestry Technician (Fuels), GS-6-7

Forestry Technician (Fire Engine Operator), GS-6-7

Forestry Technician (IHC Superintendent), GS-9

Forestry Technician (Fire - Helitack), GS-5

Forestry Technician (Senior Firefighter), GS-5

Upcoming Events

View of mountains in with large boulders in the foreground of the San Gorgonio Wilderness in Sand to Snow National Monument.

What are you doing this Presidents Day weekend? How about spending quality time on your public lands!

In honor of President's Day, the Bureau of Land Management will waive Standard Amenity fees for everyone on Monday, February 21, 2022. BLM California site-specific standard amenity and individual day-use fees at BLM-managed recreation sites and areas will be waived for the day. Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use and use of special areas, will remain in effect. (BLM CA Facebook)
Beavertail cactus

The BLM seeks Desert Advisory Council subgroup applicants by February 28

The BLM California Desert District is seeking applicants who may be interested in serving on any of three subgroups that assist the Desert Advisory Council, a citizen-based advisory committee that develops recommendations for the BLM related to public land management issues. (BLM CA News Release)

Question of the Week

True or False: The Hopkin's rose nudibranchs utilize their feathery appendages to lure their prey. 

A pink sea slug with many appendages.

A. True

 

B. False

 

Photo: Michael Ready, NPS

DOI & BLM National News

A child and man look out to into distance of a green field, geared for hunting in bright orange vests.

Interior and Agriculture Departments invite nominations for federal council to support hunting, conservation efforts

The U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture announced they are opening a nominations period to find qualified individuals to fill current member vacancies in the newly re-established a Federal Advisory Committee to advance wildlife and habitat conservation efforts and to encourage partnership with sporting conservation organizations. (DOI News Release)
serene sunrise patricia montanez.

Interior Department takes action to foster equity and inclusion across its bureaus

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today established the first-ever Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Council to incorporate these practices into the Department’s work across its many bureaus. (DOI News Release) 
Sunset over eroded hills at Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Department of the Interior to solicit nominations for first-ever Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee

In remarks at the National Congress of American Indians 2022 Executive Council Winter Session today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that the Department is requesting nominations for Tribal member representatives for the new Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC). (DOI News Release)
National Park Service rangers stand in front of the African American Monument in Vicksburg National Military Park.

This week at Interior - February 18, 2022

Secretary Haaland tours significant civil rights sites in Mississippi and Alabama, part of a multi-state tour exploring how Interior can better tell the story of America; the Secretary commemorates the groundbreaking of the South Fork Wind project; the Bureau of Indian Affairs announces a series of reforms to protect the rights, dignity and safety of those being held in custody; the number of national park visitors is on the rise toward pre-pandemic levels; Interior’s bureaus submit plans to put the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law into action. (DOI Video)

Question of the Week Answer

If you guessed FALSE you'd be correct! They are used for protection.

A rose nudibrahch up close.

The Hopkin’s rose nudibranch (Okenia rosacea) is one of the shell-less gastropods of the sea, collectively known as “sea slugs”. A well-known subgroup of mollusk, the nudibranchs (or “Nudis”, as they are affectionately called), are among the most colorful and captivating creatures in the ocean. Like many nudis, Hopkin’s roses are carnivores, stealing toxins and calcareous spicules (needle like structures) of their prey and placing them into their feathery appendages for protection. 

Historically, the range of these nudis extends from Northern Baja California, Mexico up to the lower Oregon coast, including your BLM California Coastal National Monument coastline. Over the last few years, Hopkins’ roses have been seen in surprisingly high numbers.

These nudis get their stunning color from their bryozoan food which contains the compound responsible for the slug’s intense pink hue. Though small, only 2-3 cm long, it’s hard to miss their bright pink, frilly papillae swaying in the water.

Source: NPS 

Photos: Michael Ready, NPS
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