A publication of
Bureau of Land Management in California
Issue date: 10/23/2002
This week in News.bytes:
- Land Use Planning:
- Coachella Valley
- WECO Draft Amendment Published
- Rights of Way Across Public Lands:
- Power line
- California water supply
- Not for Educators Only
- Plant of the Week - Tiehm's milkvetch
- Wildlife Trivia: What is the rarest pocket mouse
species in North America?
- Headlines and Highlights: fire, mining history, pot growers and more
- Selected Upcoming Events
"PART OF PRESERVATION PLAN REVEALED" (Palm Springs Desert
"Public land stewards unveiled a major portion of a plan to streamline
local development while preserving the Coachella Valley's prolific collection
of wildlife, plants and birds. The [BLM] said Thursday it intends to protect
nearly 300,000 acres in the valley by limiting off-road vehicle access,
improving the mountainous habitat of the endangered bighorn sheep and
expanding the unique life zone around an oasis near the Salton Sea."
Related: "PROPOSED COACHELLA
VALLEY PLAN AMENDMENT PUBLISHED" (BLM California news release,
(Relates to story above -- repeated from previous issue of News.bytes.)
"COACHELLA VALLEY PRESERVE - Watchable Wildlife Site"
(BLM California Web site)
The best "Watchable Wildlife sites" in California were selected
by experts with the National Watchable Wildlife Program -- a unique partnership
of state and federal agencies and private organizations dedicated to promoting
wildlife-related recreation, education, and conservation. This page includes
tips on watching wildlife, summary of wildlife types you may spot here,
and related information.
"DRAFT AMENDMENT AND
ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE WESTERN COLORADO DESERT ROUTES
OF TRAVEL DESIGNATIONS RELEASED" (BLM California news release,
The BLM has released draft amendment and associated environmental assessment
of the California Desert Conservation Area Plan for off-road vehicle trail
(route of travel) designations in the Western Colorado Desert (WECO) portion
of Imperial County.
"BLM SEEKING PUBLIC
INPUT ON KING RANGE MANAGEMENT PLAN" (BLM California news release,
Will host five meetings in Northern California. Written comments due Dec.
RIGHTS OF WAY ACROSS PUBLIC LANDS:
"JUDGE RULES AGAINST POWER LINE" (North County Times,
Public Utilities Commission Judge rules that San Diego Gas & Electric
Co. failed to demonstrate need for new 500,000-volt power line. Member
of same commission -- which has final say over "Valley-Rainbow Interconnect"
-- said in separate filing that a line is needed to ensure electrical
reliability, but SDG&E's proposal not cost-effective. Proponents and
opponents both say ruling is progress.
"POWER LINE PANNED" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 10/22/2002)
Proposed Valley Rainbow Interconnect: "A judge rejects a San Diego
utility's proposal, but it's not dead yet. " Some proposed routes
would require BLM rights-of-way permits.
RIGHTS OF WAY ACROSS PUBLIC LANDS:
California has December deadline for plan to use less Colorado
River water -- or face 15 percent cutback to meet its legal limit. Many
proposed routes for increased water supply to southern California cities
would cross BLM-managed lands in the southern California desert.
"DESERT WATER LAW OK'd"
(Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/23/02)
"Large-scale users of desert water will be required to file detailed
plans to preserve underground aquifers under an ordinance granted preliminary
approval Tuesday by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors."
Proposed ordinance was seen as reaction to proposed Cadiz, Inc. plan to
pump water into and out of under the Mojave Desert that had received conditional
BLM rights-of-way permits. Ordinance supporters say cancellation of that
plan does not mean their groundwater is safe from exploitation.
"WATER BOARD OKs PLAN
IN HOPES OF AVOIDING CUTBACKS" (Palm Springs Desert Sun, 10/23/02)
Coachella Valley Water District narrowly approves proposal aimed at avoiding
massive cutbacks in the amount of water California can draw from the Colorado
River. Close vote of 3-2 "reinforces doubts as to whether water districts
involved in the deal can reach final agreement on a transfer by the end
of the year."
"IMPERIAL VALLEY FARMERS
QUESTION PROPOSED PACT" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/23/02)
"Imperial Valley farmers sought assurances ... that they will be
able to stay in business if they support a pact that will transfer water
from their crops to urban Southern California."
"CALIFORNIA TO TAKE
LESS WATER FROM COLORADO RIVER" (Grand Junction (Colorado) Daily
Perspective from a state that shares Colorado River water with California.
"WATER DISPUTE CONTINUES
FOR 40 ACRES, DWP" (Inyo Register, 10/22/02)
Water crisis on a smaller scale: Dispute between residents of Wright's
40 Acres and Los Angeles Division of Water and Power: structure to regulate
water is on BLM-managed land. BLM employee suggests solution to dispute.
FOR EDUCATORS ONLY
OF THE WEEK - Tiehm's milkvetch
Much branched mat-forming perennial herb, gray hairy, 4 -16 inches
wide. Leaves dense, 1/4 - 1 inch, with 7-9 leaflets. Flowers white tinged
with lilac, about 3/16 inch. Pod small, hairy, usually 2 seeded. http://www.ca.blm.gov/surprise/surpasti.html
("Special status plants" are those plants whose survival on
BLM-managed lands is of concern.)
TRIVIA QUESTION: What is the rarest pocket mouse species in
(See answer near end of this issue of News.bytes)
WILD HORSES AND BURROS
WILD REBORN" (Eureka Times-Standard, 10/20/2002)
"Once-devastated wild horses now find homes." Wild horses shown
off, gentled, adopted at recent event.
"WILD HORSES AND BURROS HEADED FOR PASO ROBLES" (BLM
California news release, 10/17/02)
Free horse gentling and training demonstrations -- at the only wild horse
and burro adoption opportunity in San Luis Obispo County this fall. Nov.
"GUZZLERS FAVORED" (Needles Desert Star, 10/23/02)
"While controversy has waxed and waned over water sources for wildlife
in the East Mojave Desert, the [BLM] has determined no significant impact
would be realized from the installation of two big game guzzlers in the
Sheephole Valley Wilderness."
"ROUGH 'n' READY"
(Bakersfield Californian, 1021/02)
California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs' driving clinic helps
improve off-road driving skills. The association is heavily involved in
federal state and local recreational land use issues. "Our staff
and volunteers work very closely with legislators and land use managers
to provide input, influence, expertise and manpower to keep public lands
open for four-wheel drive vehicle access."
CONTROL EXAMINED" (Red Bluff Daily News, 10/17/2002)
Series of workshops on environmentally sensitive road maintenance and
brush clearing techniques to help prevent wildfires -- partially funded
by BLM "fire safe" grant.
"BURN IT TO SAVE IT" (Los Angeles Times, 10/20/2002)
"A Century Ago, Blazes Caused by Man Regularly Purged Forests, Says
Historian Stephen J. Pyne, Who Warns That Decades of Fire Suppression
Have Put the West One Spark From Conflagration"
(Note: Los Angeles Times articles require free registration
to view articles on their Web site. This is a policy of the Los Angeles
"POT IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY:
Both sides of the story/Climate attracts many growers" (Eureka
"It's kind of like Napa to wine ... Mendo(cino) and Humboldt are
the Napa and Sonoma of marijuana country. There's no doubt about it, it's
got the No. 1 reputation in the country." Two-part series points
out much of it is grown on public lands.
USE INCREASE REQUEST TO BE HEARD" (Imperial Valley Press, 10/18/2002)
Farmers want to pump more groundwater than can naturally be replaced,
said representatives including BLM. Earlier request delayed, when groups
said it needed to go through California Environmental Quality Act review
"COURT UPHOLDS CLINTON-ORDERED NATIONAL MONUMENTS IN FIVE WESTERN
STATES" (Associated Press, in San Francisco Chronicle, 10/18/2002)
Federal appeals court affirms lower court dismissal of challenges to 1906
Antiquities Act, as it related to creation of seven monuments in Arizona,
California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Industry and property rights
groups say they will appeal.
"OPERATION DUMP DUMBO: Ore Car Recovery in the Argus Mtn. Range"
(Desert Geographic, 09/30/2002)
Ore carts are "symbols of America's ingenuity and an icon to our
past." Many restored carts are on display in museums. Volunteers
and BLM Ridgecrest Field Office personnel work to find abandoned ore carts
and other mining artifacts, and document their condition and location
or in some cases recover them.
"OPINION: MOST DANGEROUS JOB" (Denver Post, 10/20/2002)
Guest column: Groups say national park rangers are injured or killed on
duty at high rate, ask for investigation.
TRIVIA ANSWER to the question: What is the rarest pocket mouse
species in North America?"
Answer: White-eared pocket mice are the rarest pocket mice in North America.
They are found in the area managed by BLM California's Ridgecrest Field
Office, and very little is known about their habits.
Learn more about this animal on the BLM California wildlife database:
(See note below "Selected Upcoming Events"
-- for information on connecting to our database's secure server.)
(Note: the Upcoming Events Web site is now on a more
secure server, and your browser
may state that "You are about to view pages over a secure connection"
and ask you to
"Trust a Security Certificate" from the Department of Interior that
hosts this site.
To view the pages, you must select "Yes" or "OK" for both
10/23/02 - Northwest California Resource Advisory Council meeting
10/24/02 - Ridgecrest Steering Committee
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office
10/26/02 - Historic Falk Town Site Hike - Headwaters Forest Reserve
10/26/02 - Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 2nd Anniversary
11/02/02 - Pasa Robles Wild Horse and Burro Adoption
11/12/02 - WECO Routes of Travel designation public meeting
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News.bytes published by
Bureau of Land Management
California State Office
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834
Sacramento, Ca 95825
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