California

As you read this, Cal French has should be just about finished walking across California.

At the age of 74, the retired high-school teacher and Paso Robles resident is a 45-year member of the Sierra Club and longtime member of the Santa Lucia Chapter’s executive committee, with a shelf full of national Sierra Club awards for his conservation work. He could rest on his laurels. But two months ago, he decided he wanted to make a statement. He would take seven weeks to walk across California—from the Colorado River to Morro Bay—crossing the lands of the Tejon Ranch Conservancy, the Wind Wolves Preserve, Mojave National Preserve, and the Carrizo Plain to call attention to the need for protected wilderness lands.

“The public needs to know what a wonderful treasure has been saved,” he said. “It is through this personal connection with the land across about 530 miles that I hope to speak for the necessity of preserving and protecting what wildness remains.”

Carlos Alcalá

El Dorado County has a new tool to try to train the off-roaders who – at least in times past – have trashed the area along the fabled Rubicon Trail.

"It's in your hands" is the message of a new 15-minute video produced by Todd Stanley, the Cool filmmaker of "Deadliest Catch" fame.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is reminding the public to avoid harassing wildlife as they enjoy Colorado's backcountry. The DOW is starting a public education campaign primarily aimed at snowmobilers and snowmobile rental companies. Wildlife officials say they're seeing too many videos posted on popular social video websites that show people chasing and harassing moose while riding snowmobiles.

"Moose don't behave like deer or elk," says DOW Area Wildlife Manager Lyle Sidener. "You can't 'shoo' them off a trail. Moose don't see people as threats and they will stand their ground, or possibly attack."

David Sneed

County supervisors Tuesday approved the installation of five wind towers in the Oceano Dunes over the misgivings of some Nipomo Mesa residents.

Phil Jenkins, director of the Off Highway Vehicle Division of the State Department of Parks and Recreation, said the towers will be used to gather data to evaluate the effectiveness of pilot projects being conducted in the Dunes this spring to reduce the amount of sand blowing onto the Mesa.

John V. Ciani

The Ridgecrest Police Department has submitted a preliminary application for funding to the California State Parks, Off‐Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grant Program for the 2011 project year.

The public may review and provide comments and letters of support during the preliminary phase of the application process. Public comments will be accepted from March 8 through April 4.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Off-Highway Vehicle Enforcement Team and officers with the U.S. Forest Service patrolled the area of the Bee Canyon Truck Trail in the San Jacinto Mountains to help educate the public, said Sgt. Mike Walsh.

The goal of the March 5 crackdown was to reduce illegal off-roading, excessive noise activity, promote wilderness area conservation and increase off-highway vehicle safety and education through citizen contacts, warnings, and citations, Walsh said in a news release.

David Sneed

County supervisors Tuesday will take up the sometimes emotional and controversial issue of dust blowing off Oceano Dunes when they hear an appeal of plans to install five wind monitoring towers there.

Officials with State Parks say the 33-foot-tall stations are needed as they begin implementing dust control pilot programs at the Dunes.