Category Archives: California

Welcome to National Public Lands Day!

Today is National Public Lands Day! Entry fees are waived in most of the national parks and national forests, so you won’t have to pay for day use areas – visitor centers, picnic areas, trailheads, etc.

You’ll still get o pay for concessions, camping, rentals, and other services. Check with your local national forest or park for specific information on the park you plan on visiting.

You can find out more about national parks, forests, wildernesses and other areas managed but the National Parks Service HERE.

Get outdoors and enjoy the day!

Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act

From the BlueRibbon Coalition: Earlier this year, California Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-21), Sam Farr (CA-21), and Jeff Denham (CA-10) introduced H.R. 1838, the Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act, to direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reopen the 75,000 acre Clear Creek Management Area in San Benito and Fresno counties for recreational use, including access for off-road vehicles. Additionally, the legislation would protect approximately 21,000 acres of BLM land adjacent to Clear Creek as the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness.

Once considered a premier off-road vehicle recreation site, Clear Creek was temporarily closed in 2008 to the public after an Environmental Protection Agency analysis about the risk created by naturally occurring asbestos.

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BLM Plans Meetings on Cow Mountain Recreation Management Plan

From The BlueRibbon Coalition:

The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office will hold public scoping meetings in September to gather comments for a recreation management plan for North and South Cow Mountain.

BRC strongly supports the managed OHV recreation program at the Cow Mountain National Recreation Area (NRA). The NRA provides important OHV opportunities for both casual riders and competitors in motorized events.

BRC urges its members to attend the following meetings to show support for the current program and to offer comments on ways to enhance the OHV program. Here are just a couple of ideas: Continue reading

Every Kid in a Park Program Launches

The National Parks Service has launched the “Every Kid in a Park” program, which offers a free annual pass to all fourth grade students and their families to visit more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including America’s national parks.

Beginning today, any currently enrolled fourth grade student can visit www.everykidinapark.gov, finish an activity on the website and get a voucher. Parents and the student can redeem the voucher at any national park for an Every Kid in A Park pass. The pass is valid from September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016.

“A primary focus of the National Park Service’s Centennial celebration is to connect young people with national parks and engage the next generation of stewards for America’s treasured places,” stated Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher. “We are excited about this opportunity for students and their families to come to Yosemite and experience their national park.”

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Happy Birthday National Park Service!

“…Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby created in the Department of the Interior a service to be called the National Park Service, which shall be under the charge of a director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary and who shall receive a salary of $4,500 per annum. There shall also be appointed by the Secretary the following assistants and other employees at the salaries designated: One assistant director, at $2,500 per annum; one chief clerk, at $2,000 per annum; one draftsman, at $1,800 per annum; one messenger, at $600 per annum; and, in addition thereto, such other employees as the Secretary of the Interior shall deem necessary: Provided, That not more than $8,100 annually shall be expended for salaries of experts, assistants, and employees within the District of Columbia not herein specifically enumerated unless previously authorized by law. The service thus established shall promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations hereinafter specified by such means and measures as conform to the fundamental purpose of the said parks and reservations, which purpose is to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations…”

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