Outdoor News August 11, 2017

Fires at Crater Lake National Park

The Spruce Lake Fire at, 4,681 acres, has burned almost to the rim of Crater Lake.  While continuing thunderstorms and high afternoon winds badger the fire,  the rain and cooler nighttime temperatures are giving firefighters a chance to make some progress on containment lines.  West Rim Drive along with several trails remain closed until further notice.  Affected trails are: a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail from the south park boundary to Highway 62, and from the intersection of the Dutton Creek Trail north to the North Entrance Road; Union Peak Trail; Stuart Falls Trail; Pumice Flat Trail; Boundary Springs Trail; Bald Crater Loop Trail; Bert Creek Trail; Discovery Point Trail; Lightning Springs Trail; and the Rim Trail, from Discovery Point to North Junction.  The photo shows the fire on august 4.

The Blanket Creek Fire continues to burn in the southwest corner of the park.  Firefighters were able to contain a large spot fire in the Lick Creek Drainage north of the main fire.  The fire has burned 4,800 acres and is gradually being contained.  Like the Spruce Lake Fire,  weather seems to be helping.

Smokey Bear’s Birthday

As the world’s best known firefighter, Smokey Bear has been encouraging people to prevent forest fires since 1944.  In honor of his 73rd birthday on Wednesday, the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters launched new digital-first videos and artwork inspired by beloved Smokey Bear posters to raise awareness of lesser known wildfire starts in an effort to decrease human-caused wildfires. The new artwork was created by Brian Edward Miller, Evan Hecox, Janna Mattia and Victoria Ying, portraying Smokey Bear in each of their unique styles.

“Humans cause nearly 90 percent of all wildfires nationwide, which today burn hotter and longer, destroying millions of forested acres and homes; Smokey needs our help now more than ever,” says U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “It is helpful to provide information to children and adults about the less commonly known wildfire causes such as improperly burning debris and not fully extinguishing ashes and hot coals. By bringing awareness and inspiring responsibility, we hope to show how important it is to be mindful of how everyday activities can start harmful fires.”

The Ad Council will distribute the new digital-first videos and artwork across Smokey Bear’s social media channels as well as smokeybear.com and the new Spanish language website smokeybear.com/es. Per the organization’s model, the assets will be promoted and run in advertising time and space that is entirely donated. Over the last 73 years, media outlets have donated more than $1 billion in time and space for the Wildfire Prevention campaign.

 

Zinke Wants to Accept Donated Land

Following a trip to New Mexico, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced Wednesday that he and the Department – through the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – intend to finalize the process to consider whether to accept the donation of 3,595 acres (formerly known as the Rimrock Rose Ranch) that are adjacent to Sabinoso Wilderness to be included as part of the wilderness.

If approved, the donated land will provide public access to the 16,000-acre Sabinoso Wilderness, which is wholly surrounded by non-federal land. By adding the donated land, the Sabinoso will connect with neighboring BLM land and make the Sabinoso accessible to the public for the first time ever.

“I’m happy to announce today the Department intends to finalize the process to consider whether to accept 3,595 acres to make the Sabinoso Wilderness area accessible to hunters and all members of the public for the first time ever,” said Secretary Zinke. “Expanding access to hunting, fishing, and recreation on federal lands is one of my top priorities as Secretary. I originally had concerns about adding more wilderness-designated area, however after hiking and riding the land it was clear that access would only be improved if the Department accepted the land and maintained the existing roadways. Thanks to the donation of a private organization, we we continue to move toward delivering this nonpartisan win for sportsmen and the community.”

The Sabinoso Wilderness is some of the most pristine elk habitat in the country. Sportsmen from all over the world have expressed interest in gaining access to the area.  The area also offers exceptional opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, backcountry camping, and hunting. Public interest in accessing the wilderness for hunting and fishing has been significant. The donated lands include a large portion of Cañon Largo, a scenic canyon that would also become legally accessible to the public for the first time through the donation.
 

Ruffwear Supports Conservation Alliance

On Wednesday Ruffwear announced a $50,000 contribution to The Conservation Alliance to support the organization’s efforts to protect and defend public lands in the United States. The Conservation Alliance will direct the funds into its new Public Lands Defense Fund, created by the organization to preserve and defend the integrity of our public lands system. 

The Bend, Oregon-based manufacturer of performance dog gear is a long-time member of The Conservation Alliance, and is committed to preserving open lands and waterways, providing important habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for humans and canines.

The Conservation Alliance established the Public Lands Defense Fund (PLDF) in January 2017 to safeguard the integrity of our public lands in the face of dramatic proposals at the federal and state levels that would undermine those lands.

“We are grateful to Ruffwear for demonstrating such leadership in our shared effort to protect and defend public lands,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “These lands are the backbone of outdoor recreation in America.”

“We believe in serving our community and protecting wild places,” said Ruffwear President Will Blount. “Many of the moments we cherish most with our dogs take place on our public lands. The Conservation Alliance is doing critical work to safeguard public lands and waterways, and this donation is our contribution to that effort to ensure that future generations of pups and people will be able to experience America’s natural treasures.”
 

Businesses Want Monuments

Western business leaders gathered in Montana on Wednesday to tell Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to keep national monuments the way they are. The business leaders came from Montana, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah to defend national monuments not just in their states, but also across the country. 

Marne Hayes, executive director of Business for Montana’s Outdoors, says although the state’s Upper Missouri River Breaks is no longer under review, she thinks it’s important to defend other states’ monuments and that western leaders gathered in Zinke’s home state.

“We’ve seen that he will listen to Montanans on a number of important public lands issues and so we thought that to have this kind of a West-wide meeting in his home state would highlight the way that Western states are banding together to talk about the value of these places,” she explains.

The vast majority of the 22 monuments still under review reside in the West. Zinke is expected to announce his decision on these monuments at the end of August.

Still under review is the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico. Dave Crider, general manager of Southwest Expeditions, which operates in the monument, was at Wednesday’s meeting.  Although the monument is only three years old, Crider says people from around the world come to visit and that locals in the nearby town of Las Cruces worked hard to get monument status.  “This is a grassroots effort that has gone on for a decade to try to get ours where it’s at right now at the monument status in Las Cruces, and we don’t want to have it taken away on a stroke of a pen,” he states.

Gabe Kiritz is public lands business organizer for the Colorado Outdoor Business Alliance. Colorado’s Canyon of the Ancients will remain intact too, but Kiritz says changes to national monuments in other states affect all of the West. He says these monuments ultimately support jobs and communities. “These monuments have a similar impact across the region in supporting local businesses and local economies and manufacturers and retailers and tourism,” he explains.

Eric Tegethoff, Public News Service – MT

 

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Video of the Week

If you are not familiar with the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, this week’s video offers a tranquil cruise on the river.  You’ll get a great view of the amazing geology of the area!  Enjoy!

   

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