Merced River Recreation Management Area, Mother Lode Field Office
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ISSUE 994 - April 8, 2022
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Wildflower season is off to a dry start
The ongoing drought and lack of rain throughout the state has reduced wildflowers, so some of your favorite locations like the Carrizo Plain have little to no blooms right now. Assess the situation before you head out and have a back up plan if you go for a wildflower road trip. (BLM CA News Release)
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Tungsten Hills offers pockets of wildflowers
Wildflowers may be sparse around the state this year, but you'll find a few at Tungsten Hills just outside Bishop, CA. These photos of Tungsten Hills were taken recently and you can see pockets of these yellow blooms on the landscape! (BLM CA Facebook)
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The golden state's very own pop of color
Designated as California's state flower in 1903, the California poppy's historic range included western California and Oregon, south into Baja, Mexico. Also known as Copa de oro (cup of gold), the California poppy produces flowers ranging from orange to yellow. (USFWS Twitter)
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Can you tell the difference?
Have you been seeing these yellow wildflowers everywhere? You may have to look closely! Learn how to identify the differences between desert dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), Yellow tackstem (Calycoseris parryi), and Scalebud (Anisocoma acaulis). (BLM CA Facebook)
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Stay weather wise when recreating
Remember to #KnowBeforeYouGo - with record heat expected across most of California this week go to Ready.gov for tips on preparing for extreme heat and the National Weather Service for up-to-date weather information before you hit the trails. Bring plenty of water and tell someone where you are going. (BLM CA Facebook)
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Prescribed fire to improve wildlife habitat
BLM fire engines conducted a prescribed burn, which is part of an ongoing effort at Lake Mathews to improve Steven's Kangaroo Rat habitat in Riverside Co. This will remove non-native grasses that degrade SKR habitat and modify the vegetation composition. (BLM CA News Release)
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Temporary access restrictions set at Samoa Dunes during jetty project
The BLM will be temporarily restricting public access to Jetty Road and the parking area at the Samoa Dunes Recreation Area, while the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers completes improvements. These closures will be from April 11 through 15, and from April 19 through 25. (BLM CA News Release)
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Providing youth with opportunities
The Prevention Education Team from the Bakersfield Field Office spoke to students during Taft Oil Technology Academy's Career Day at West Kern Oil Museum. Throughout the event they talked to students about the opportunities within the Bureau of Land Management as well as fire prevention measures. (BLM CA Facebook)
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What should you do if you come across a mountain lion?
A. Appear as large as possible.
B. Yell and wave your arms.
C. Slowly back away
D. All of the above
Photo: CDFW
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Now Hiring for BLM California
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!
Featured Job: Facility Operations Specialist
Join the Eagle Lake Field Office team as a Facilities Operations Specialist who will oversee and ensure expert stewardship of DOI assets and facilities to ensure the public can continue to use, enjoy and benefit from them far into the future. (USAJOBS)
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President Biden’s budget invests $2.8 billion to support outdoor recreation economies, access to public lands
The proposed allocations, authorized by the Great American Outdoors Act, will fund projects, grants and programs that support local economies and voluntary national conservation efforts in every U.S. state. (DOI News Release)
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Interior Department releases five-year monitoring, maintenance and treatment plan to address wildfire risk
President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $1.5 billion to the Department of the Interior’s Wildland Fire Management Program to address wildfire risk and prepare communities and ecosystems against the threat of wildfire by making historic investments in forest restoration, hazardous fuels management and post-wildfire restoration. (DOI News Release)
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Secretary Haaland joins the celebration as a Virginia Tribe gets back its ancestral lands; a five-year roadmap outlines Interior's strategy to take on the threat of wildfire; there's new action in the effort to protect wildlife corridors and improve habitat connectivity; it's the first wave of reimbursements to zoos and aquariums for helping to save animals and plants from extinction during the pandemic. (DOI YouTube)
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What's happening at the Alabama Hills?
The Bureau of Land Management and its partners have begun making exciting changes to camping in the Alabama Hills as described in the 2021 Alabama Hills Management Plan. At this event, you’ll hear a short presentation on what’s happening and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Click this link to register!
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Question of the Week Answer
If you guessed D you'd be correct, all of the above!
Generally, mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. Mountain lions are an important part of the ecosystem, helping to keep deer and other prey populations in check. Although lion attacks are rare, they are possible, as is injury from any wild animal. Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards. There is a far greater risk, for example, of being killed in an automobile accident with a deer than of being attacked by a mountain lion.
For more information on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion, visit the National Park Service.
Photo: NPS
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