Category Archives: Conservation

Activities, Conservation

Sportsmen’s Priorities Included in 2014 Farm Bill

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

After three long years of debate, the United States Senate passed the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, also known as the 2014 Farm Bill. This bipartisan legislation enhances and strengthens vital polices important to sportsmen and women across the United States and has been a long time priority of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC).

The 2014 Farm Bill, which passed in the Senate with a vote of 68-32, includes critical provisions to enhance habitat for wildlife, increase access for hunters and anglers, encourage conservation stewardship and protect our forest health. This legislation includes the conservation and sportsmen’s community’s priorities of re-coupling conservation compliance to crop insurance and an important Sodsaver program.

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Conservation, National Forests, National Parks

U.S. Forest Service’s Ecological Restoration Implementation Plan – How it affects you

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Pacific Southwest Region of the US Forest Service has released a statement of its Leadership Intent for Ecological Restoration, which laid out the Region’s guiding vision and goals for its stewardship of wildland and forests for the next 15-20 years. The following draft document reflects the Regional leadership’s current thinking on how the Leadership Intent will be implemented. This draft is a beginning point for discussions with employees, partners, tribes, agencies, communities of place and interest and those who care about the future of their National Forests.

Like the Leadership Intent the Implementation Plan is fluid and we expect that adjustments will be made over time as the Region continues to collaborate; follow new science; and seek out and form new alliances. These ongoing processes will reveal new and smarter ways to increase the pace and scale of restoration work while balancing the ecological, social and economic benefits of our restoration actions. Regional leadership has committed to editing and improving this document following these discussions and then reviewing and updating it at least annually in the future years. Hence we invite discussion, input and insight to ensure that the Implementation Plan reflects and is responsive to new information, partnerships, and conditions.

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Conservation, National Forests

Inyo National Forest posts on “What to do if you Encounter a Marijuana Cultivation Site”

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Apparently I’ve been going to the wrong forests; I NEVER leave any of the places I hike in looking for Cheetos and pizza!  I guess I’d better head up to Inyo!

From the USFS website:

The Inyo National Forest and the Bishop Field Office of the BLM seek to provide a safe environment for the public, its employees, and natural resources.  So while only a fraction of our public lands are affected by illegal marijuana cultivation, the agencies believe that safety risks are real and visitors and employees should be informed about them.

“The safety of public land visitors and our employees is our top priority,” said Forest Supervisor Ed Armenta.  “Marijuana cultivation does occur on some public lands.  It’s important for people to understand that they need to be aware of their surroundings.”

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Conservation, State Parks

Come volunteer at our California State Parks during this holiday season!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From the California State Parks Foundation:

Give thanks for your favorite state parks by volunteering with Park Champions. Help us repair popular hiking trails at Chino Hills or Wildwood Canyon, improve habitat by removing invasive plants at Silver Strand, or help with general park maintainence and CAMP FOR FREE at Palomar Mountain.

Chino Hills State Park
Saturday, November 16, 9:00am to 1:00pm

Help us make improvements to the Easy Street Trail. Teens 14 and up welcome with a legal guardian. See a map here.

Silver Strand State Beach
Saturday, December 7, 9:00am to 1:00pm

This family friendly workday is part of an ongoing project to restore valuable beach dune habitat at Silver Strand. Kids 10 and up welcome with a legal guardian. See a map here.

Palomar Mountain State Park
Sunday, December 8, 9:00am to 1:00pm

This workday will focus on general park maintenance. Teens 14 and up welcome with a legal guardian. FREE CAMPING available Saturday night. See a map here.

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Adventures, Conservation

Your Immediate Action is required to Save Johnson Valley!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

OHV Call to Action! Your immediate action is required to save Johnson Valley Wednesday November 13th 2013

The Senate Arms Service Committee now looks prepared to move their bill S1309 to the floor beginning Thursday with Senator McCain managing (Senator Inhofe is out for his son’s funeral).

It is time again for the OHV Community to engage in the discussion.

Please consider taking some time to participate and extend our reach to your friends, family, and networks that find the value in saving the largest OHV area in the United States, while meeting the training requirements of the USMC. Your participation is paramount to our continued success.

While the Marine Corps let the Cook/Mckeon Compromise go unchallenged in the House of Representatives, we believe they will introduce their Alternative 6 language through Energy and Resources Committee on the Senate side via S 1309. We must contact these individual members of the Senate to ask them to oppose such language.

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