Category Archives: California

Conservation, National Forests, State Parks

Mountain Section of Bald Eagle Count for TODAY – CANCELLED!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Just got up this morning, and saw that the mountain areas portion Bald Eagle Count scheduled for today has been cancelled due to snow and road conditions.

The affected areas are:

  • Big Bear Lake
  • Lake Hemet
  • Lake Gregory
  • Lake Arrowhead

The Bald Eagle Count will still take place at Lake Silverwood and Lake Perris.

While I’m somewhat disappointed, I realize that not everyone has a nice, comfy Hemi-powered 4×4 with heated seats, cup warmers and slush mats.  I pity them … even though I only get a whopping 9 MPG in my Man Car.

You can read my original post about the Bald Eagle Count HERE.

You can read the cancellation notice (that only went out yesterday – even though we knew there was a heck of a storm coming in all week) from the Forest Service HERE.

Conservation, National Forests, Off Roading, State Parks

Comments Period Open For Land Management Plans For So. Cal. National Forests

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Forest Service has opened the public comments period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans which will affect all four of the Southern California National Forests; Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino.

From the press release:

“The environmental impact statement analyzes the proposal to modify the existing land use zones allocations in selected inventoried roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. It also analyzes the proposal to modify the land management plan monitoring framework. The statement evaluates alternatives for both topics, including an alternative that would recommend most of the study area as wilderness.”

The Amendment is part of a Settlement Agreement approved back in January 2011 in the cases: California Resources Agency, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture; and Center for Biological Diversity, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture. Continue reading →

National Forests, Off Roading, State Parks

San Bernardino National Forest OHV Grant Application Comments Period Open!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Forest Service is soliciting public comments for the 2012-2013 Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Applications.

From the Press Release yesterday:

“The Forest Service announced today that San Bernardino National Forest recreation managers will be seeking public comments on their proposals for the 2012/2013 State of California Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant program. According to state requirements, public comments can be submitted from Tuesday, March 5 through Monday, April 1, 2013.

A two-step application process is used by the State to allow public comment and feedback before final submittal. The preliminary application was due March 4, 2013. This will open a public review and comment period and will follow with final applications due May 6, 2013. The State is using an Internet-based “On-Line Grant Application” process as the means to apply for State funding.”

Continue reading →

Conservation, Off Roading, State Parks

Johnson Valley – Marines Continue to Pursue Costly Land Grab

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

You’d think that with the sequestration cuts taking effect – which are, according to the Obama White House (the same guy whose idea sequestration was in the first place) going to destroy western civilization as we know it now and for all time (and is all the Republicans fault; I’ll never get tired of the liberal “I was for it until I was against it and it’s all someone else’s fault!” line) – the Hammers would have caught a break.

But nooOOOooo. According to the California Motorized Recreational Council (CMRC) and Save the Hammers.org the Secretary of the Navy is now seeking Congressional approval to move forward with the base expansion at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms. Continue reading →

Conservation, National Forests, State Parks

Public Meetings for the Merced River and Tuolumne Meadows Plans Announced

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Yosemite National Park has released two Wild and Scenic River Draft Comprehensive Management Plans and Environmental Impact Statements for the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers, respectively, for public review and comment.

The public comment period for the Tuolumne River Plan is open through March 18, 2013. A copy of the plan as well as a complete description of alternatives is available HERE.

The public comment period for the Merced River Plan is open through Thursday, April 18, 2013. A copy of the plan as well as a complete description of alternatives is available HERE.

From the press release:

“… A series of webinars and public meetings have been scheduled. Webinars are geared towards specific topics of each draft plan and are an opportunity for the public to prepare for public meetings. They will provide a brief overview of key topics, followed by an interactive question and answer session. To participate in one of the webinars, please visit http://yose.webex.com. Each webinar will be recorded and available for download from this same website afterward.

Continue reading →