Category Archives: California

National Parks

Meeks Creek Meadow Restoration Public Comment Period Open

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit  has opened the public comment period for the proposed Meeks Creek Meadow restoration project.

From the press release:

The project area is located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe near Meeks Bay.  The proposed project would restore approximately 300 acres of meadow habitat, reestablish a natural fire regime, and provide for diverse wildlife habitat.

Proposed project work would include removal of encroaching trees and prescribed fire operations.  Implementation would depend on funding availability.

The comment period is open through Tuesday, April 30, 2013.  Comments may be submitted electronically to comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us.

For more information, contact Sarah Muskopf at (530) 543-2835 or email smuskopf@fs.fed.us, or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/MeeksMeadow

You can read the full press release HERE.

Conservation, Kayaking, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

TROUTFEST 2013! Catch ’em, Clean ’em, Cook ’em and Eat ’em!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

California Department of Fish and Wildlife in central California is gearing up for TroutFest 2013.

TroutFest is an annual event that is offered free to introduce families to the sport of trout fishing.

From the press release:

“Beginner, novice and experienced anglers alike will find that this activity-filled day features something for everyone,” said CDFW Education and Outreach Director Kirsten Macintyre. “If you are looking to build your fishing skill set or find an enjoyable activity for the whole family, Trout Fest is a great place to start.”

TroutFest will be held at the following locations: Continue reading →

National Forests

Prescribed Burn Planned Near Angelus Oaks April 8th, 2013

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Forest Service has scheduled a 120 acre burn starting as early as April 8, 2013 near Angelus Oaks as part of the Angelus Oaks Fuel Reduction project.  The burn is to take place near Forest Road 1N12 (north of Angelus Oaks), and smoke will be visible along State Route 38 (and, certainly, other part of the forest communities as well!).

From the press release:

“Doing this work under these favorable  weather conditions reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire threatening mountain communities under typical, dryer and windy conditions common to the area in the summer and fall fire seasons,”  stated Front Country District Ranger Gabe Garcia. “The understory burn is part of a larger 535 acre project initiated in 2004 and will maintain that work we have all invested in to improve the survivability of Angelus Oaks,” Garcia added.

My understanding of what an ‘understory burn’ is is that it’s a low-intensity controlled burn that can only be done within a narrow climatic window – the conditions have to be right; not too dry, not too windy, etc.  Sometimes these are done by aerial ignition in other parts of the  world, but locally most of these prescribed burns are set by hand using drip torches.

These prescribed burns reduce the possible fuel loads, which reduces the intensity of wildfires, and releases nutrients which enrich the forest making it healthy.

A healthy forest is a happy forest!

You can read the press release HERE.

National Forests, State Parks

Interview With Jim Harmer on ForestForward.com

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

As an outdoor photographer, I suck. While some of it may have to do with my lack of a photographer’s eye, not one lesson in photography or image composition, or even my innate dearth of artistic ability … I’m going to place the blame on my equipment instead; My camera kit consists of a Virgin Mobile Kyocera, with scratches on the cover where the lens is.

Honestly, I can probably take better pictures with my Jeep by putting it in reverse and waiting until the backup camera comes on.

I would love to be good at taking pictures of the places I go, so that I could share them without the embarrassment of having to say “yeah, that’s my thumb” or “the mother and her cubs are juuuuuuust over that rise, behind the tree” or “my cell phone doesn’t have a flash.” I do take photos. They’re just not of anything even close to what I’d call ‘quality.’

I’m a big fan of guys like G. Dan Mitchell and Cat Connor who take amazing pictures, and I’m impressed by photographers like Larry Griffin and Jaime Harris as well. Continue reading →

Conservation, National Forests, National Parks, State Parks

Merced River Plan – Bad Idea. REALLY Bad Idea

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Mercury News published an article by Paul Rogers, titled “Yosemite National Park may ban horse, bike and raft rentals, and remove ice rink and pools.”  You can read it HERE.

It’s a good article, and Paul is a good writer, and he lays everything out really well.

Personally, I have issues with the plan; I don’t believe we should be destroying ice rinks or banning bicyclists.  I believe that we should, however, draw a line in the sand; take a snapshot of how Yosemite Valley is right now, and look at preserving what we have, and managing it for future generations.  Which makes it sound like I’m against the Merced River Plan as drafted by the National Park Service.  I kinda am, but I’m also kinda not.  I like the idea behind the plan, I just think that – after the years and years of lawsuits, the fake sequestration cuts, and the political posturing by both sides – the plan is too convoluted and open to interpretation to be workable.

What I DO take exception to, however, are the so-called ‘environmentalists’ who seem to think they know better than those that would seek to conserve the land.  More often than not, environmentalists are people who never visit the places they seek to ban humans from, never see the damage done to the environment by the invasive alien species of plant and animal life they seek to “protect,” and very rarely stray far from their parent’s basements – unless it’s to use the hybrid car (made with batteries that have destroyed more environment than every Hummer ever made and that will continue to degrade the planet for decades to come) to drive to the mall to pick up cosmetics or sundries tested on innocent animals so they can live a more comfortable, air-conditioned life that is far removed from the true outside world. Continue reading →