Desert Mangers Group News Feed

MDEP releases Field Data Collection Devices & Software Tchnical Report

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 08:10:00 PST

In an effort to help agencies understand current mobile data collection, the Mojave Desert Ecosystem Program has released a systematic review of current mobile devices and software applications utilized in collecting field data. Read the Report

California's Mojave Max has emerged

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:30:00 PST

California’s Mojave Max is a female tortoise approximately 30 years old who lives at The Living Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. She emerged at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010. Winners of the Emergence Contest will be contacted soon. Read the Press Release

Senator Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Balance Conservation, Recreation and Renewable Energy Development in the Mojave Desert

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:45:00 PST

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the author of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, today introduced a comprehensive bill to designate new lands in the Mojave Desert for conservation, enhance recreational opportunities, and streamline and improve the federal permitting process to advance large-scale wind and solar development on suitable lands. The carefully crafted legislation, titled the California Desert Protection Act of 2010, is the product of discussions with key stakeholders in Southern California.

DMG Meeting - Laughlin, NV - February 17-18, 2010

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:45:00 PST

The Desert Managers Group will hold its winter meeting February 17 and 18 at the Edgewater Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada (www.edgewater-casino.com). The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on February 17 and adjourn by 4:30 p.m. on February 18. Rusty Lee, Field Manager of the Needles BLM Field Office is our host for the meeting. A full agenda will follow this announcement.

Mojave Max contest is open for entries

webmaster@californiadesert.gov (Webmaster) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:45:00 PST

California’s Mojave Max is a female tortoise approximately 30 years old who lives at The Living Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. The object of the contest sponsored by the DMG is to guess when Mojave Max will emerge from her burrow for the first time after a long winter sleep (brumation). Each fall, when the weather turns cold, desert tortoises brumate, a reptilian form of hibernation. This year Mojave Max went into her burrow sometime during Thanksgiving weekend. Last Feb. 24, she had emerged at 1:52 p.m., while the previous year she emerged on Feb. 10. California students in grades K-12, as well as youth groups, from Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties may enter the contest. Contestants should go on-line to register their guesses for when Mojave Max will emerge from her burrow for the first time in 2010. Winners and their classes or groups will receive prizes. Enter the Contest

Natural Resource Needs Related to Climate Change in the Great Basin & Mojave Desert: Research, Adaptation, Mitigation - Apr 20 – Apr 22, 2010 at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Fri, 4 Dec 2009 15:30:00 PST

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with several other agencies and organizations, are sponsoring a workshop focusing on natural resource research, adaptation, and mitigation needs related to climate change in the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. The workshop, will be held April 20-22, 2010 at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and will examine how climate change is affecting natural resources in deserts of the western U.S., as well as the land, water, and species management and research needs that are essential to address in the coming decade.

DMG Meeting - Palm Desert, CA - November 18-19, 2009

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:40:00 PST

The Desert Managers Group will hold its fall meeting November 18th and 19th, 2009 at the Marriott Courtyard Palm Desert, 74895 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, CA.92211. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. on the 18th of November and adjourn at 3:45 p.m. on 19th of November. John Kalish, the Palm Springs Field Manager, BLM is our host for the meeting.

DMG Meeting

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:00:00 PDT

The Desert Managers Group will hold its summer meeting August 26th and 27th at the Island Palms Hotel on Shelter Island in San Diego, CA. This is the same location as the last meeting held in San Diego. The meeting will begin at 8:30 AM on August 26 and adjourn by 3:00 PM on August 27. The United State Geological Survey is our host for the meeting.

DMG Meeting - CANCELLED

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Tue, 26 May 2009 09:15:00 PDT

Due to the unavailability of the majority of managers, the meeting is cancelled. For those of you who have already made room reservations please ensure you cancel them as soon as possible. The next DMG meeting is scheduled for 26 - 27 August at the Best Western Island Palms Hotel in San Diego and is hosted by USGS. More information on the meeting will be forthcoming soon. Please contact either Clarence Everly or Russell Scofield if you have any questions.

BLM proposes to increase fees at Imperial Sand Dunes.

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:49:00 PDT

The ISDRA is proposing the following changes to the Two Tier Fee Program. Off site sales will increase to $40 / Week and $140 / Season.(The off site rates have not changed since Oct. 1, 2003.) On site sales will increase to $60 / Week and $180 / Season. Contact information for fee increase at ISDRA: Neil Hamada, Outdoor Recreation Planner, 760-337-4451. Visit Imperial Sand Dunes website

Desert Managers Group Applies for Off Highway Vehicle Green Sticker Funds

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:04:00 PDT

The Desert Managers Group announces the Desert Tortoise Outreach Project coordinator has applied for a grant from California State Parks Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Commission. OHV grants are awarded to cities, counties, special districts, federal agencies and non-profit organizations. The Desert Managers Group applied for grant funding in partnership with the National Park Service.

Developing a Biological Assessment Training

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:28:00 PDT

Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Federal agencies are required to describe the potential effects of their activities to threatened and endangered species in a written report, called a Biological Assessment (BA). The BA development process may be improved if the natural resource agency (typically the Fish and Wildlife Service or NOAA Fisheries) concisely describes the interagency consultation process and needed elements of a BA, to the action agency. This course is designed to provide instruction and materials on the BA development process to local action agencies. Emphasis will be placed on efficiently developing BAs which provide adequate information for the natural resource agencies.

DMG Meeting

webmaster@dmg.gov (Webmaster) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:42:00 PDT

The Desert Managers Group will hold its winter meeting March 4 and 5 at the Hampton Inn located at Lenwood Exit in Barstow, CA. The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 4 and adjourn at 3:00 p.m. on March 5. Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt of San Bernardino County is our host for the meeting.