BLM California News.Bytes Issue 996

View as a webpage

news bytes - bureau of land management california
A green mountain range.

Slinkard Wilderness Study Area, Bishop Field Office

ISSUE 996 - April 22, 2022



🌎Celebrating Earth Day


BLM employee Tracy Albrecht smiles in a selfie with several youth behind her on a trail in a desert landscape.

BLM CA kicked off Earth Day celebrations at the James O. Jesse Desert Highland Unity Center in Palm Springs

BLM interpretive specialists led campers on the first of two field trips to the remote desert palm oasis of the Coachella Valley Preserve - a 20,000-acre sanctuary home to rare wildlife like the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, desert pupfish, and giant red velvet mite, and native vegetation such as creosote bush, smoke tree and desert lavender. (BLM CA Facebook)

A large tree in a green grassy field.

Celebrating Fort Ord National Monument

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Fort Ord National Monument. Bureau of Land Management Park Rangers partnered with FORT Friends to share responsible recreation messages and SAFE PASSAGES trail etiquette and safety guidelines to visitors. (BLM CA Facebook)

A view from the top of a green coastal mountain range.

Earth Day project installs new tiles

The King Range National Conservation Area will host an Earth Day project to install 58 new tiles at the National Conservation Lands monument overlooking Black Sands Beach. The monument, consisting of a symbolic tile mosaic and interpretive signs, was dedicated in 2015, the 15th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands System.

A colorful infrared map of earth.

Earth as Art: Stunning landsat images

Satellites capture incredible views of Earth. See the mesmerizing beauty of river deltas, mountains and sandy, salty and icy landscapes in creative combinations of visible and infrared light.

Experience how beautiful our world is through Earth as Art!

People sitting at a booth with a sign that reads San Joaquin River Gorge.

Happy Earth Day from the Bakersfield Field Office!

The Bureau of Land Management celebrated with Big Sandy Rancheria at their Spring Gathering and annual Earth Day event. Thank you Big Sandy Rancheria! The event brought 300 local community members together for family fun with children’s games, food, raffle and featured a pie eating contest, egg hunt, and information booths. (BLM CA Facebook)

A seed garden.

Planting the seeds for success

Seeds are vital to life on earth. In 2016, the BLM created the Mojave Desert Native Plant Program to help increase native seed supplies to restore desert tortoise habitat in the Mojave Desert region, in partnership with the Mojave Desert Land Trust. (BLM Blog)  

A group photo of people in work gear outside.

AmeriCorps Instagram takeover

Celebrate Earth Day with our members serving in AmeriCorps NCCC. Follow along on our Instagram stories as they share an up-close look of how they're creating a greener, cleaner future with Bureau of Land Management California. Tune in here: Instagram.com/AmeriCorps


Clean Energy on Public Lands

Department of Interior Secretary Haaland photo.

Happy Earth Day from President Biden's Climate Team

On Earth Day, we are celebrating how POTUS and this administration are taking bold actions to deploy affordable clean energy, reduce climate pollution, and protect our lands for future generations. Together, we're building a better America. (Secretary Haaland Twitter)

view of solar panels with clouds reflected in them, and clouds beyond.

Creating more renewable energy

In support of Earth Day, Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning recently sat down with NBC News to discuss the benefits of renewable energy. (NBC News Twitter)

Wind turbines in a field.

Interior Department Outlines Roadmap for Continued Renewable Energy Progress on Public Lands

As part of its commitment to support and inspire a clean energy transition, the Department of the Interior today announced a series of steps taken to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable power on public lands by 2025. (DOI News Release)


Headlines & Highlights

Wildflowers on a hillside with a dirt trail.

BLM seeks input on proposed recreation improvements at Williams Hill 

The Bureau of Land Management Central Coast Field Office is seeking public input on a draft plan to improve the Off-Highway Vehicle riding experience at the Williams Hill Recreation Area in southern Monterey County. (BLM CA News Release)

A women petting a small rat.

One hop closer to recovery for the Stephen's kangaroo rat

This past February, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Stephens’ kangaroo rat from the endangered species list, reclassifying it to threatened. This down-listing was achieved in large part due to the BLM’s and its partners’ collaborative habitat management efforts on the ground. (BLM Blog)

An off-road vehicle driving down a rocky dirt road on a mountain.

Off-road racing at Johnson Valley OHV

On April 23, the BLM’s Barstow Field Office is hosting McKenzie’s 250, a car and truck race event at the Johnson Valley OHV Open Area. The event will have an estimated 90 participants will race six laps around the 234-mile course. (BLM CA Facebook)


What's Happening on Your Public Lands

Runners on a street in the desert.

Ready, set, run!

Law enforcement officers from across the nation laced up their sneakers for the annual Baker to Vegas 120-mile Challenge Cup Relay in the BLM Barstow Field Office on April 9-10. Congrats to all the participants!! (BLM CA Facebook)

Two women sitting at a table that has many arrowheads on it.

Rockhounding rocks!

Bureau of Land Management joined a local rock club to promote geology and rockhounding at the Cabazon Community Library, with two free workshops. These workshops bring opportunity to learn the fascinating and local geology in the magnificent lands of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and other local areas of geological interest. (BLM CA Facebook)

A mobile phone showing an app.

Have you tried the Recreation.gov app yet?

 Whether you're looking for tours of Piedras Blancas Light Station or access to other outdoor recreation experiences and special events, the Recreation.gov app allows you to find and purchase tickets for activities near you or along your travel route. Click here to download the app and start planning your next adventure! 


Question of the Week

Groups of vultures spiraling upward to gain altitude are called _______, while groups of perched vultures are called a _____. 

A turkey Vulture standing on a rock.

 

A. Serendipity, cauldron.

B. Parliament, wreck.

C. Kettles, wake. 

D. Muster, murder.

 

Photo: USFWS


Careers on Your Public Lands

A hillside with purple flowers.

Now Hiring for BLM California

Bureau of Land Management California is looking to fill multiple positions across the state. For all current vacancies, visit USAJOBS!

Featured Job: Field Manager

A Field Manager is responsible for overall program direction, execution, and review of all activities within the Central Coast Field Office.
Location: Marina, CA
Salary: $115,928-$150,703
Grade: GS-13
Apply by: May 23, 2022


DOI & BLM National News

Tall rocky mountain range.

Interior Department announces additional Biden-Harris appointees

The Department of the Interior today announced new Biden-Harris administration appointees who will join the Department’s leadership team to create jobs in the clean energy economy, steward America’s public lands and waters, and honor our nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes.(DOI News Release)

Secretary Haaland stands with eight uniformed employees in front of open water and snow capped mountains.

This week at Interior - April 22, 2022

Secretary Haaland kicks off a week-long visit to Alaska; it's Interior's first ever Equity Action Plan; Interior celebrates Earth Day 2022 with a roadmap for continued renewable energy progress on public lands. (DOI YouTube)

Question of the Week Answer

If you guessed C, you'd be correct! 

A vulture with its wings spread while it soars above.

Groups of vultures spiraling upward to gain altitude are called kettles, while groups of perched vultures are called a wake!

Turkey Vultures scientific name “Cathartes aura” means “purifying breeze,” and as the amazing scavenging raptors that they are, they can smell carrion from over a mile away (having the largest olfactory  or smelling system of all birds). With a 6-foot wingspan, the adult’s featherless, bright red head is distinctive from California’s only other vulture the California Condor.

Check out some trail cam footage of this magnificent raptor!

Source: All About Birds

Photo NPS

 

facebooktwitterflickryoutubeinstagramtumblr