Lake County News,California

Recreation

: BLM Ukiah Field Office; Posted On Wednesday, 14 February 2024 01:25; 14 February 2024

BLM Ukiah Field Office seeks public input for off-highway vehicle grants

UKIAH, Calif. —The Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office is seeking input from the public on how to improve off-highway vehicle trail safety and maintenance on public lands throughout Central California during a virtual public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 22., at 5:30 p.m.

The public must register to participate in the virtual public meeting at: https://ow.ly/1YB450QwvOk. Registrants will receive a link and phone numbers to join the meeting. Please contact the BLM for reasonable accommodations to participate.

“This public meeting will give off-highway vehicle users a chance to discuss with BLM staff ideas for changes or improvements that can help enhance outdoor recreation,” said BLM Ukiah Field Manager Nicholas Lavrov. “The BLM will use the public feedback to prepare grant applications to the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program for law enforcement, restoration, and ground operations and maintenance projects.”

The division supports well-managed, off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $30 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees, and off-highway vehicle sticker registrations. Cities, counties, districts, federal and state agencies, educational institutions, federally recognized Native American tribes and nonprofit entities can apply for funds to develop, maintain and restore trails; provide law enforcement; and offer safety and training for riders.

Preliminary applications must be submitted to the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division no later than March 4 and will be available on the division’s website from March 5 to May 6 at www.ohv.parks.ca.gov, for additional public review and comment. The website will provide detailed instructions for accessing the preliminary applications and submitting comments.

Public comments must be submitted to both the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and to the BLM Ukiah Field Office by May 6. Comments may also be emailed to the BLM at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 31 January 2024 03:05; 31 January 2024

Get your SNO-Park parking permit, avoid penalties

As winter takes hold in the Sierra Nevada, the USDA Forest Service kindly reminds travelers to secure parking permits before using any of the 18 SNO-Park sites scattered across the region.

Neglecting this requirement may result in fines and tickets.

From Nov. 1 to May 30, every vehicle must prominently display a valid SNO-Park parking permit on the left side of the dashboard, visible from outside. SNO-Parks are identified by brown signs along highways.

Simply visit ohv.parks.ca.gov for more information and online purchases. Or use the SNO-Park Ranger Districts Directory to contact your nearest ranger district. Day and seasonal passes are available.

California State SNO-Parks, located on Forest Service lands, offer designated parking for winter enthusiasts heading out on non-motorized activities — such as cross-country skiing, dog sledding, or just playing in the snow. Some SNO-Parks cater to both motorized and non-motorized activities.

SNO-Parks contribute to safe winter landscapes in the Sierras. Parking on highway interchanges is strictly prohibited. Sales of SNO-Park parking permits help finance plowing services and restroom facilities through the Winter Recreation Fund.

The administration of the SNO-Park program is a collaboration between the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Transportation, California Highway Patrol and local community organizations.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Saturday, 27 January 2024 23:37; 27 January 2024

Grindstone Ranger District wet weather trail closure lifted

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — On the Grindstone Ranger District, the wet weather OHV trail closure lifted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, per termination of Forest Order 08-24-02.

Stonyford OHV trails are now open.

Please note Forest Order 08-24-01 for Upper Lake Ranger District is still in effect, and OHV trails on that district remain closed.

Trail users can check the precipitation data online before traveling to the forest.

When closures occur, information will be posted on the forest website and social media @MendocinoNF.

: California Department of Fish and Wildlife; Posted On Saturday, 03 February 2024 23:02; 03 February 2024

California Outdoors: Frog hibernation, nonlead ammunition, Tulare Lake

**Mountain yellow-legged frog. Photo courtesy of CDFW.**

Frog hibernation

Q: Is it true that frogs hibernate during colder times of the year?

A: Black bears aren’t the only wildlife species in California that hibernate in winter months. There are 27 species of native toads and frogs in the state and many hibernate, whether in water or on land. Mountain yellow-legged frogs are a good example. To escape frigid weather, the frogs take shelter in underwater rock crevices and submerged vegetation located in deep pools, which are less likely to freeze over.

Elevation plays a big role in what time of year this happens, with frogs at higher elevations having longer hibernation periods than those at lower elevations. Once the frogs find a perfect location, they can remain there throughout winter. During hibernation, the frog's heart rate and metabolism slow enough that the animals don’t require food.

A common misconception is that hibernating frogs bury themselves in mud at the bottom of a pond or stream. But unlike a hibernating turtle, frogs would suffocate without access to oxygen-rich water.

Terrestrial frogs normally hibernate on land, burrowing deep into the soil and safely below the frost line.

Nonlead ammunition

Q: I am new to hunting and understand that we need lead-free ammunition to hunt in California. For larger game, are copper-jacketed bullets with lead cores legal under the nontoxic criteria? Or do my bullets need to be 100 percent copper or fully lead-free?

A: You’ll need nonlead ammunition for any type of hunting with a firearm in California. No copper-jacketed, lead core bullets are permitted as they contain lead at their core. One hundred percent copper bullets are fine; They are the most common and commercially available nontoxic big game ammunition available, but copper itself is not necessarily required. There are other nontoxic metals and alloys used for bullets, but copper remains the most popular. The best resource to be sure your hunting ammunition is lawful to use in California is found here: wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified

Specifically, Section 250.1 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations requires hunters to use nonlead ammunition in accordance with Fish and Game Code Section 3004.5. These regulations and code sections contain definitions that help explain California’s nonlead ammunition requirements.

Tulare Lake

Q: Is it likely that Tulare Lake will continue to exist year after year, or could it drain off and disappear again?

A: When it’s full of water, Tulare Lake in Kings County is practically the size of Lake Tahoe. The major rivers which feed Tulare Lake are dammed and diverted for agricultural and municipal water uses so the lake only fills during exceptional rain years. Tulare Lake made a dramatic reappearance last year after a heavy rainy season, and the lake is likely to remain present in 2024 with rainfall predictions once again being above average.

CDFW is deeply involved in the monitoring of Tulare Lake because of the health implications for the state’s bird populations. As a main landing spot within the Pacific Flyway, millions of waterfowl, shorebirds and other bird species are expected to spend time there. It’s because the water is stagnant and too warm in summer months that avian botulism occurs.

The disease is caused by a toxin-producing bacteria that appears naturally in bodies of water like Tulare Lake. During bacterial growth, the botulinum toxin becomes concentrated in the bodies of invertebrates, such as fly larvae, which are then eaten by waterfowl and other birds, infecting them.

The last large avian botulism outbreak in Tulare Lake happened in 1983 when approximately 30,000 birds, mostly waterfowl, died. The numbers were far more encouraging last year, with fewer than 5,000 deaths. CDFW worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s, Oiled Wildlife Care Network and California Waterfowl to quickly collect dead birds to slow the spread of the bacteria and treated more than 1,200 birds releasing nearly 900 healthy birds back into the wild.

: Mendocino National Forest; Posted On Tuesday, 30 January 2024 02:18; 30 January 2024

National Forest’s Upper Lake wet weather closure lifts at midnight

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — Mendocino National Forest officials have terminated Forest Order 08-24-01.

Effective at midnight on Jan. 30, all OHV trails will be open.

Trail users can check the precipitation data online before traveling to the forest.

When closures occur, information will be posted on the forest website and social media @MendocinoNF.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Thursday, 25 January 2024 01:29; 25 January 2024

State Parks announces 2024 Anderson Marsh nature walk schedule

LOWER LAKE, Calif. — The California State Parks Clear Lake Sector has announced the 2024 schedule for guided nature walks at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

The leisurely walks are led by volunteer State Parks docents on a three-mile trail over mostly level terrain. There is no charge for the guided nature walks and parking is free for those attending.

Guided nature walks will be held on the second Saturday of each month in 2024. The walks begin at 8:30 a.m. No pets are permitted on the park trails.

The next guided nature walk is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 10.

Everyone is invited to take a walk in the park and experience the benefits of getting out into nature for some healthy exercise.

The first half mile of the nature walk over the Cache Creek Nature Trail is ADA accessible. Rain will cancel the walk.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Hwy 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.

For more information about the guided walks, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-995-2658.

Recreation

BLM Ukiah Field Office seeks public input for off-highway vehicle grants

Get your SNO-Park parking permit, avoid penalties

Grindstone Ranger District wet weather trail closure lifted

California Outdoors: Frog hibernation, nonlead ammunition, Tulare Lake

National Forest’s Upper Lake wet weather closure lifts at midnight

State Parks announces 2024 Anderson Marsh nature walk schedule

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