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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National Forests

Forest Service seeks public comments on proposed changes to Recreation Fee Areas on Cleveland National Forest

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The U.S. Forest Service has proposed changes that would allow public access to an additional 30,000 acres of the Cleveland National Forest for free.

The changes to Recreation Fee Areas would eliminate or reduce the size of six existing recreation areas where visitors are now required to have Adventure Passes.

The public comments period is open now through December 13, 2013.  Comments may be submitted to:

Cleveland National Forest
Trabuco Ranger District
1147 East Sixth Street
Corona, CA 92879

or by email to: jfrodriguez@fs.fed.us

The full press release follows (you may also view it HERE):

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National Forests, National Parks

Sen. Flake Introduces Bill to Help Keep Public Lands Open During Federal Government Shutdowns

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

 

Press Release from Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ):

Washington, D.C. – United States Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), today introduced S. 1750, the Public Access to Public Lands Guarantee Act. The legislation would require the federal government to enter an agreement with any state or municipality willing to offer funding to keep public lands, such as national monuments, national recreation areas and national parks, open during a shutdown of the federal government. S. 1750 seeks to prevent the federal government from delaying – or denying – the negotiation of these agreements, as it did when Arizona offered local and state funds to keep the Grand Canyon National Park open during the recent shutdown.

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Dead Tree Books, eBook, Writer Reference

Vivalogue Announces New Self-Publishing Forum for Independent Authors

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

New Westminster, B.C. (PRWEB) November 29, 2013 – Vivalogue, an author services company based in New Westminster, BC, has strengthened its commitment to independent authors by launching a new networking cooperative for self-published authors and writers considering self-publishing.

The network “Raindance for Independent Authors” grew out of the Raindance Book Festival for Independent Authors held November 9, 2013 in Richmond, B.C. Believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, the festival included a book fair, workshops, editors’ ‘blue pencil’ sessions and a book drive supporting Frontier College. The festival was organized using a collaborative model which encouraged authors to contribute their collective time and talents. Authors identified this collaborative aspect of the festival as a key benefit of participation and expressed interest in continuing these relationships.

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Activities, Big Bear Lake

There’s Still Good Mtn Biking in Big Bear!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Big Bear Mountain Resorts website is reporting that there’s still plenty of ground left to cover for your biking pleasure.

From the website:

Lift accessed mtn biking may be over for the season but the riding in Big Bear is still really good! The valley did get a small snowstorm but did not receive a substantial amount making the trails clear and tacky. Get out your warmer gear, temperatures are lower and the winter breeze makes the ride a bit cooler. Big Bear offers tons of cross country type rides and the south facing slopes of the mountains tend to warm up and melt off snowfalls quicker than the north side. Meaning trails on the north shore of the lake like Grout Bay are accessible for large parts of the winter.

You can find out more on their website HERE.