Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 13, 2019

Lassen To Reopen Closed Areas

Lassen National Park announces

Lassen Volcanic National Park announced today that recently closed areas of the park will once again be accessible to visitors starting January 12, 2019. Some limited visitor services will be restored by using revenue generated by recreation fees.

Areas that have been recently closed but that will be accessible to park visitors include the Lassen National Park Road (Highway 89). The road will be intermittently plowed from the junction of Highway 36 to the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center on the south side of the park, and from Highway 44 to the Loomis Ranger Station on the north side of the park. However, road closures should be expected during the winter season due to strong winter storms with heavy snowfall in a mountain environment. Due to the lapse in funding, the park will not be able to communicate these intermittent closures and openings.

Outdoor areas of the park will remain accessible. However, all facilities will remain closed.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 13, 2019

Joshua Tree National Park Battles Vandalism During Government Shutdown

The Washington Post  reports

Park officials say the protected trees have been cut down by visitors to make roads.

Read story at Joshua Tree National Park battles vandalism during government shutdown – The Washington Post

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 12, 2019

Birding Eastshore State Park – Berkeley 1/12/19

Today we went birding at McLaughlin Eastshore State Park in Berkeley, CA. We walked between North Cove and Sea Breeze, along Virginia Annex, and around eastern end of meadow   We identified 31 species today. The seasonal ponds in the meadow were very minimal.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 12, 2019

Death Valley Status Update

Death Valley National Park status during lapse in appropriations:

Most of the park remains accessible to the public. Visitor services (including restrooms and trash removal) are limited due to the lapse in federal appropriations. All normal park rules and regulations still apply and violators will be cited.

Privately-operated resorts (The Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells Resort, and Panamint Springs Resort) are fully operational.

The following facilities are open due to donations from The Oasis at Death Valley, Death Valley Natural History Association, and Stovepipe Wells Resort: Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Stovepipe Wells Campground, and restrooms at the east entrance, Zabriskie Point, Golden Canyon, and Badwater.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 12, 2019

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Reopens

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks  announcement

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks announced today that the recently closed parks will once again be accessible to visitors starting January 11, 2019. Some visitor services, including campgrounds and entrance stations, will reopen using revenue generated by recreation fees.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 12, 2019

Acting Interior Secretary’s Directive to Keep Parks Open Without Resource Protection Violates Century-Old Bedrock Law 

National Parks Conservation Association News Release

This action blatantly disregards the fundamental duties of park staff who have dedicated their careers to ensuring our nation’s most precious natural and historic places are enjoyed not only today, but for years to come.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 11, 2019

How Climate Change Affects Breeding Birds

ScienceDaily reports

Climate change affects breeding birds

Seed-eaters particularly vulnerable to temperature shifts

The breeding seasons of wild house finches are shifting due to climate change, a Washington State University researcher has found.

Read article at  Climate change affects breeding birds: Seed-eaters particularly vulnerable to temperature shifts — ScienceDaily

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2019

Interior Restaffs Some Wildlife Refuges During Shutdown 

NPR

Just days after announcing that some furloughed staff will be returning to clean up trash-riddled national parks during the government shutdown, the Trump administration is making a similar move at dozens of wildlife refuges around the country.

The plans, which have not been publicly announced, would restaff 38 wildlife refuges around the country for roughly 30 days.

Read full article at  Interior Restaffs Some Wildlife Refuges During Shutdown : NPR

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 10, 2019

Madagascar pochard: World’s rarest bird gets new home 

The BBC  reports

The rarest bird in the world – a species of duck called the Madagascar pochard – has been given a new home in time for the new year.

An international team of researchers released 21 of the birds at a lake in the north of Madagascar.

Read story at  Madagascar pochard: World’s rarest bird gets new home – BBC News

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2019

Anza-Borrego Desert Wildflowers: 1/8/19

Borrego Wildflowers reports

Indication are positive for a below or normal bloom in the months to come.
We still have a way above average bloom in the badlands and some other areas mentioned below.

North:
Along the Henderson Canyon Road hundreds of large Geraea canescens, Desert sunflower, some already in bloom. That said the number of plants might not be enough to give a good flower show.
Coyote Canyon: Fouquieria splendens | splendens Ocotillo in good bloom along the road.
Along the creek more than 50 plants are in bloom, like Encelia farinosa farinosa | Brittlebush, but further away from the creek the area is rather barren.
The area between Henderson Canyon road and Zero crossing looks promising as there is a lot of germination.
South:
The Canebrake area (Ironwood canyon, June Wash, Vallecito wash) a lot of plants are starting to bloom.
Most visible bloom: Abronia villosa villosa, Desert sand verbena.
East:

Confirmed germination:
Ocotillo Wells, Blow Sand Canyon, Cut Across Road, Military wash, 17 palms, Arroyo Salado (camp), east of Ella Wash, Palm Wash, Big Wash, Travertine Wash.
Palo Verde Wash, Smoketree Canyon.

San Felipe wash ‘road’ along East Butte, is one of the best spots right now, with hundreds of Oenothera deltoides deltoides | Dune evening primrose in bloom.
Most visible bloom: Oenothera deltoides deltoides | Dune evening primrose (hundreds), Abronia villosa villosa| Desert sand verbena.
Some Hesperocallis undulata, Desert lily are in bloom, with probably more to follow.
Rain effects are visible east of the line Thimble trail (S22) up to Ironwood resort (78).

Check out Tom Chester bloom report

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 9, 2019

 What Are the Best Native Plants to Attract Pollinators and Natural Enemies?

UC Davis reports on research that

details what plants proved most attractive to honey bees, wild bees and other pollinators, as well as what drew such natural enemies as predators and parasitic wasps.

Read story at UC Davis Research: What Are the Best Native Plants to Attract Pollinators and Natural Enemies? – Entomology & Nematology News – ANR Blogs

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 8, 2019

California Monarch Butterfly Population Declines 86 Percent

The San Francisco Chronicle reports

In 1981 the Xerces Society, a nonprofit environmental organization that focuses on invertebrate conservation, counted more than 1 million western monarchs wintering in California.

The group’s most recent count, over Thanksgiving weekend, recorded less than 30,000 butterflies — an 86-percent decline since 2017 alone.

Researchers with the group called the number “disturbingly low” and potentially “catastrophic,” in a statement.

Read Full story at  Study: Number of monarch butterflies in California declined by 86 percent in one year – SFGate

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2019

Shutdown Closes Muir Woods as of Today

The Mercury News reports

Beginning Monday, the nearly 3,000 daily visitors will find no bathrooms, no gift shop, no open visitor facilities at all in the park. Some staff will be on site providing “essential services to ensure facilities are protected and (to) enforce federal law and policy,” said a statement by Charles Strickfaden, a spokesman for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which oversees a number of national parks and historic sites around the Bay Area..

“That will not change,” Strickfaden said. “Visitors should continue to anticipate (that) closure and parking violations that endanger park resources or other visitors will be enforced.”

Similar agreements with concessionaires are keeping Alcatraz Island and Stinson Beach open during the shutdown, but the same wasn’t true for Point Reyes National Seashore, where visitor centers are closed, along with some restrooms, and trash collection has stopped.

Read full story at  Muir Woods girds for shutdown on Monday

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2019

Volunteer To Clean Up National Parks

 republished from   Alt National Park Service

National Volunteer Action Needed:
The administration’s latest shutdown plan to use entrance fees to clean up our parks will dig our parks into an even bigger financial hole. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, entrance fees are supposed to be funneled towards long-term projects to enhance the visitor experience, not day-to-day functioning. Our parks are currently a mess! We need you to help us clean them up. We are declaring this week a National Park Clean Up Week. If you want to join in every evening this week meet at your closest national park and help us collect trash. In comments below post which national park you are willing to help at (try to connect with others and make a team of volunteers). It’s time to help protect and save our national parks! It’s a shame that the GOP is playing politics while our parks are being destroyed! The picture below is of volunteers who are helping keep Yosemite National Park clean amid the government shutdown. Please message Alt National Park Service your clean up pictures and we will share them.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2019

Anza-Borrego Wildflowers 1/6/19

Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association report

January 6, 2019- More rain and winter flowers
More rain in Borrego Springs last night and continued cool temperatures are keeping ample moisture in the soil, exactly what is needed for an excellent flower bloom this spring.  It also appears that we are seeing a normal cycle of winter storms moving through the area on a 10-14 day baises. That’s more good news.

The main bloom will be in springtime, whenever daily temperatures start to reach into the high 70s and 80s on a consistent basis.  But the rain is already giving us unusual winter blooms in some areas, with scattered patches of flowers being reported in various locations.

See photos of early blooms at https://www.abdnha.org/pages/03flora/reports/current.htm

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 7, 2019

National Parks To Increase Staff During Shutdown

 Alt National Park Service reports

NPS is planning to dip into entrance fees to expand operations as the partial government shutdown stretches into a third week. There was an order Saturday allowing managers to bring on staff to patrol open parks, clean bathrooms, and collect trash. The move comes after several deaths in accidents at the understaffed parks since the shutdown began. One death at Yosemite National Park went unreported for at least a week. It’s a shame that the GOP was willing to risk the American public’s safety for politics. Only after several deaths is the GOP listening that NPS employees are essential! You can’t leave the parks open without staff!

Read related National Park Service News Release at https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/updatelapse.htm

Read NPR Story at National Park Service Expands Operations During Government Shutdown which further explains limits and details of expanded park operation.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2019

Early Mt. Burdell Bloom 1/4/18

Marin Native Plants has an early season posting for Mt. Burdell with photos showing Common Manzanita, California Poppies and Milkmaids starting to bloom.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 6, 2019

Why can’t we feel Earth’s spin?

EarthSky answers the question “Why can’t we feel Earth’s spin?”

Earth spins on its axis once in every 24-hour day. At Earth’s equator, the speed of Earth’s spin is about 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km per hour). The day-night has carried you around in a grand circle under the stars every day of your life, and yet you don’t feel Earth spinning. Why not? It’s because you and everything else – including Earth’s oceans and atmosphere – are spinning along with the Earth at the same constant speed.

Read more at Why can’t we feel Earth’s spin? | Earth | EarthSky

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2019

Henry Coe Wildflower Update 1/5/19

Henry Coe State Park has a new wildflower bloom report  for January 5, 2019 at the Pine Ridge Association website with photos and a list of flowers now in bloom at: Henry W. Coe – Wildflower Guide.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2019

Fullerton Arboretum

submitted by Terry Lucas

Fullerton Arboretum looking good lately. They’ve been doing some scaping and maintenance, and there are some goodies blooming right now. Nice place for a walk and it’s free, but be sure to drop an offering in the donation box. 🙂 See the last 7 pics on my Flickr page, all from Fullerton, taken on Dec 26th. https://www.flickr.com/photos/tdlucas5000/

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2019

Winter Garden Photos 1/4/19

Photos taken on 1/4/19 at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2019

Yosemite Park Site Closures

Yosemite National Park reports

Beginning tomorrow, January 5, the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail between Yosemite Valley and the top of Nevada Fall will be closed. The Tuolumne and Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias will also close tomorrow. (The Mariposa Grove is closed, meaning no access to giant sequoia groves in Yosemite.) These closures are due to human waste and safety reasons.

Yosemite Ski and Snowboard area is closed this weekend during the storm. The ice rink will close for safety and maintenance reasons through January 17 (opening January 18).

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2019

Death Valley Closes Several Sites

Death VAlley National Park reports

Death Valley National Park update:
Due to the government shutdown, several sites within Death Valley National Park will be closing for health and safety concerns associated with continuing issues of human waste, trash, vandalism and park resource damage.

On Friday, January 4, the Furnace Creek and Texas Springs Campgrounds will be closed. Access roads to Natural Bridge, Dantes View, and Keane Wonder Mine will also be closed. The road to Salt Creek remains closed.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 5, 2019

More Top Astronomical Events For 2019 

National Geographic reports the top 8 Astronomical events for 2019 are

  • Super blood moon eclipse—January 20-21.
  • Moon joins Jupiter—April 23.
  • Eta Aquarid meteor shower—May 6.
  • Total solar eclipse—July 2.
  • Partial lunar eclipse—July 16.
  • Transit of Mercury—November 11.
  • Annular solar eclipse—December 26.
  • Crescent moon meets Venus—December 28.

Read about these events at Top Sky-watching events coming in 2019

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 4, 2019

Why National Parks Are Getting Trashed

Vox reports

National parks are getting trashed amid the government shutdown

Here’s why they’re still open.

Strewn with garbage and overflowing toilets, national parks have taken an especially bad hit during the most recent government shutdown.

Although visitors centers are closed and staffing is low — some law enforcement and emergency personnel is on site — park gates remain open, free of charge, and people are flooding in largely unsupervised. This decision to keep parks open is part of a contingency plan set up last year allowing a small staff to remain on the payroll, but the limited staffing has proven to insufficient for how many people are visiting.

Read more at  Government shutdown: why national parks are getting trashed – Vox

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2019

More California National Property Closures and Restrictions

Cabrillo National Monument Access is closed to all visitors, including pedestrians and cyclists. Click here for updates.

Channel Island National Park The park islands, with the exception of San Miguel Island, are open to visitors. Park concessions are operating. Mainland and island visitor contact stations are closed. Restrooms are open, but they won’t be maintained during the shutdown. Click here for updates.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, Lands End, the Marin Headlands, Alcatraz Island and Muir Woods area open. Fort Point is closed. Visitor services will not operate, and parking lots and restrooms may be closed.

Pinnacles National Park

The west entrance is open. The east entrance is open to campers only. No visitor services will be provided. Click here for updates.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation

Open trails include Paramount Ranch, Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa and Cheeseboro/Palo Comado canyons. The visitor center is closed, and other sites are closed due to damage from the Woolsey Fire. Click here for updates.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2019

National Wildlife Refuges Are Closed

The Department of Interior announced all units of the National Wildlife Refuge System nationwide are closed to public visitation and use during the government shutdown. Read Closure Notice at https://www.fws.gov/home/National-Wildlife-Refuge-System-Closure-Determination-and-Notice.pdf

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2019

Redwood National and State Parks Updates

Redwood National and State Parks reports

During the federal government shutdown, Redwood National and State Parks will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, there will be no visitor services on national park (NPS) lands within Redwood National and State Parks; NPS visitor centers (Hiouchi Visitor Center, Crescent City Information Center, Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center), parking lots, and restrooms may be closed; all NPS offices and contact stations will be closed; and hazardous or dangerous conditions may exist.

The Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park units of Redwood National and State Parks will remain open according to normal operating hours and seasons because they are managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR). CDPR facilities that will remain open include:

  • Prairie Creek Visitor Center
  • Jedediah Smith Campground
  • Elk Prairie Campground
  • Gold Bluffs Beach Campground

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2019

Death Valley National Park Open But Limited Services

Death Valley National Park announces

The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is open. The Oasis at Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells, & Panamint Springs are open. Most campground restrooms are closed. Some roads & hikes are closed. Expect crowds over holidays. No services; recreate at your own risk.

Shutdown

Below is a list of services and facilities that are open or closed. Visitor services may be diminished or areas may be closed due to environmental, public safety, or other unknown factors. We are not be able to update road and weather information. This was updated on 1/1/2019.

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Posted by: Sandy Steinman | January 3, 2019

Joshua Tree Campgrounds Closed

Joshua Tree National Park announced

Closure Update: Campgrounds in the park will be closed effective noon on Wednesday, January 2, 2019. The park is being forced to take this action for health and safety concerns as vault toilets reach capacity. In addition to human waste in public areas, driving off road and other infractions that damage the resource are becoming a problem.

Indian Cove and Black Rock campgrounds will be open for day-use only, sunrise to sunset. Additional closures include Lost Horse Mine Road due to illegal activity and Rattlesnake Canyon in order to reduce the number of search and rescue events for rangers already spread thin due to the government shutdown.

During the federal government shutdown, we will not monitor social media. Some park areas are accessible; however access may change without notice, and there are no NPS-provided services.

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