Effective October 16, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) California Desert District has lifted its campfire restrictions on all BLM-managed public lands in southern California within the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA).  BLM-managed lands in San Diego and western Riverside County remain under Stage II restrictions that only permit campfires within approved fire pits and grills provided for in developed recreational sites.

"Because we have declared our fire season over, the public will not be required to obtain a campfire permit throughout the CDCA," said Steven Borchard, California Desert District Manager.  "However, campers still are required to provide proper clearance of flammable fuels to a minimum of five feet and to have a shovel or other extinguishing tools readily available."

The following elements of the fire prevention order remain in place and are prohibited:

• Use/ignition of all fireworks;
• Possession or discharge of a firearm using incendiary, tracer, steel core, or armor piercing ammunition;
• Ignition or burning of any tire, petroleum product, wires, magnesium, or any other hazardous or explosive  materials;
• All off-road vehicles being operated on public lands must be equipped with a properly installed spark arrester, and are required at all times throughout the year.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in Title 43 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) 9212.1.  Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the regulations shall upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both.

For more information contact any of the following BLM offices: California Desert District Office (951) 697-5200, Barstow Field Office (760) 252-6000, El Centro Field Office (760) 337-4400, Needles Field Office (760) 326-7000, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office (760) 251-4800 or Ridgecrest Field Office (760) 384-5400.

He called me his little sister; I called him my brother; but we were best friends.

Our beloved friend, fellow desert rat, and Cerro Gordo icon, Mike Patterson passed away on September 24, 2009.

He was only 62 years young.

Moving to Cerro Gordo in 1985 with Owens Valley born Jody Hardin Stewart, they took on together the task of keeping Cerro Gordo alive and well and in a state of restorative reuse.  Bringing out the best in all the volunteers who came from far and wide, the many talents in different fields of expertise, kept this dream alive.  They met people from all over the world in this little mining camp that was the Comstock to the sleepy little Mexican Pueblo of Los Angeles.  Mike & Jody brought the life back into the little camp and put it back on the map by way of magazine and newspaper, short film and documentary.

I join California Senator Dianne Feinstein in applauding BrightSource Energy's decision to scrap plans to build a massive, 5,130-acre, 500-megawatt solar energy power production plan at Broadwell Lake. The Senator is considering introducing legislation that would include the area within a new national monument and preclude alternate energy and other development.

Broadwell Lake is a regular destination for many of DeathValley.com's readers. This unique recreational treasure is a high-point destination along the 85 mile long Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad birm, the last north-south, multiday, expedition-quality, motorized backcountry route in the California desert.

Numerous recreation enthusiasts frequent the Broadwell Lake to enjoy a number of backcountry activities, such as gem & mineral collecting, hunting, OHV and 4x4 touring, history seeking, wildlife watching, equestrian riding and more.

I also agree with Senator Feinstein when she said "there is enough in the California desert for both" conservation and renewable energy.  However, while Broadwell Lake may have been one of BrightSource's most economically profitable sites, it is also one of the least appropriate.

     The desert held him for her own as she does all old-timers. He was under the "terrible fascination," wrote Edna Brush Perkins about her encounter with Francis Marion "Shady" Myrick, the famous Death Valley gemstone prospector. Perkins'The White Heart of Mojave (1922) is a noted desert classic about two wealthy women traveling across the Mojave Desert to Death Valley. Admitting that in the rush of things she did not even learn his Christian name, Mrs. Perkins nevertheless acknowledges Shady Myrick with four pages in her book. Obviously, she was deeply impressed by the man. "Everyone knew Shady," she told her readers. Shady was not, however, the stereotypical miner we often encounter in Western tales, the cranky, miserly misanthrope who had turned his back on civilization, but a kindly, trustworthy sort. Mrs. Perkins recalled Shady's gifts of gold and jasper just before she and her companion departed for their journey to Death Valley.