Announcements

UKIAH, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management California and the Mendocino National Forest announce the selection of Kay-Leigh Barnitz as the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument manager. Her career in public service and natural resources spans more than 10 years. She now embraces the challenge of overseeing the management of 330,780 acres of public lands in a region stretching from Napa County to the mountains of the Mendocino National Forest north of Clear Lake.

The Bureau of Land Management is increasing fire restrictions and temporary target shooting limitations for BLM-managed public lands within the Central California District. Increased restrictions are in effect for the Central Coast Field Office, Mother Lode Field Office, and the Ukiah Field Office effective July 24, due to high fire danger. These increased restrictions are in addition to the initial fire restrictions issued by the field offices and the year-round statewide fire prevention order and will remain in effect until further notice.

The Bureau of Land Management will host an in-person public meeting of the BLM California Desert District Advisory Council from 9 a.m.– 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, in the Monterey Bay Conference Room at South Point Hotel, 9777 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, 89183. The meeting is open to the public with a public comment period scheduled at 9:30 a.m.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management Bakersfield Field Office is issuing an emergency closure of the Chimney Peak Campground, Long Valley Campground, and a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail in Tulare County, due to wildland fire danger from the nearby SQF Lightning Fire. This temporary closure is effective immediately, until further notice. The emergency temporary closure order can also be found on the BLM website. The SQF Lightning Fire started Tuesday, July 13, and has burned more than 6,000 acres of short grass and brush near the Chimney Peak Recreation Area. Chimney Peak Recreation Area includes most of the Bakersfield Field Office's Southern Sierra Recreation sites and Wilderness areas, including Domelands Wilderness, Sacatar Trail Wilderness, Owens Peak Wilderness, Chimney Peak Wilderness, Long Valley Campground, Chimney Creek Campground, Walker Pass Campground, the Owens Peak segment of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, Lamont Peak and other wilderness trails. Only Chimney Peak, Long Valley Campgrounds, and a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail are affected by this order. The campgrounds are closed to all forms of public access to provide for public and firefighter safety in relation to the SQF Lightning Fire and management of that fire. The affected area includes all BLM lands south of Sherman Pass Road, west of Canebrake, north of Highway 178, and the boundary with Sequoia National Forest. The recreation areas are in Tulare County. For specific questions related to the closure, please contact the Bakersfield Field Office at 661-391-6000. For information about the SQF Lightning Fire, please email 2024.lightning@firenet.gov, or call 559-492-9967.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The BLM reminds claimants who wish to retain mining claims on public lands through the 2025 assessment year to pay a Maintenance Fee or file a Maintenance Fee Waiver Certification (Small Miner’s Waiver) on or before Tues., Sept. 3, to prevent the mining claim from being declared forfeit and void.

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for positions that are or will soon become vacant on its California Desert District Advisory Council (DAC), Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC), and the Northern California District Resource Advisory Council. A notice was also published in the Federal Register.

The 2024 California State Fair in Sacramento opens today! Every year through an interagency collaboration, the Forest Service, CAL FIRE, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Firefighters Burn Institute brings visitors of all ages a fun, educational, and interactive fire safety and prevention exhibit called Camp Smokey.

The Bureau of Land Management is issuing fire restrictions for northeast California public lands managed by the Applegate and Eagle Lake field offices in Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sierra, Siskiyou and Shasta counties in California and Washoe County, Nevada beginning Monday, July 15.  These seasonal restrictions listed in the fire order will be in place to help prevent wildfire and will remain in effect until further notice. These restrictions are in addition to the BLM year-round statewide fire prevention order.

REDDING, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is issuing fire restrictions for public lands managed by the Redding Field Office in Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Siskiyou and Trinity counties beginning Wednesday, July 10. These seasonal fire restrictions listed in the fire order will be in place to help prevent wildfire and will remain in effect until further notice. These restrictions are in addition to the BLM year-round statewide fire prevention order.

Plan BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a draft Recreation Area Management Plan and associated environmental assessment for the Keysville Special Recreation Management Area near Lake Isabella, Kern County. Interested parties may submit written comments until Friday, Aug. 30.

SUSANVILLE, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management reminds area residents and visitors to be careful with fire and to leave fireworks at home when they celebrate Independence Day on public lands. “After a wet spring and two years of plant growth, we have abundant grasses that are drying out quickly,” said Emily Ryan, manager of the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office. “These fine fuels can feed wildfires that spread rapidly under hot, dry and windy conditions. We urge everyone to keep fire safety top of mind when they visit the outdoors.”