Inside this
issue
A load of hose,
Page 10
Pelican Days,
Page 12
T
R
A
C
K
S
December
Made in the shade,
Page 20
2012
Colorado Desert District Newsletter
District’s float wins “Most
Energetic” award in parade
Photos by Leslie Bellah
Covered in balloons
found in our Parks in a
two-year period, the
District float rides
down Palm Canyon
Drive during the 47th
annual Borrego Desert
Days Festival parade
October 27. The float
won the Most Energetic
award
(left).
ABDSP
Superintendent Kathy Dice was
Rammy, the mascot
for Borrego Springs
High School, which
was lent to us for the
parade. ABDSP volunteers also marched.
(Continued on Page 8)
Page 2
LOG JAM: Notes from the District, sectors
Montane Sector
From the desk of Acting Montane Sector
Manager Ray Lennox:
Green Valley Horse Camp is now closed for
the season. Its shower building in the campground loop is being replaced and, with any
luck, it will be ready for the spring opening.
CRSP and PMSP hosted the annual Volunteer Awards Banquet at the Descanso Town
Hall November 10. There was a great turnout.
This past year, Cuyamaca recorded 12,832
volunteer hours which equates to 1,604 days
and Palomar recorded 3,498 hours which
Photo by Dale Boskovich
equals 437 days — a total of more than 400 A pile of rubble is all that’s left of the shower
building at CRSP’s Green Valley Campwork weeks by volunteers!
ground. Everyone at Cuyamaca is hoping it
WHAT AN AMAZING JOB!
will be rebuilt and ready by spring.
The District Resource Crew completed a Cuyamaca in the next couple of months as part of prescribed burn at Palomar the first week of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park’s reforestation pro‐
November (see page 10) and began working on ject. another at Cuyamaca November 15.
The crew is scheduled to do three burns at Salton Sea State
Recreation Area
From the desk of Interpreter I Fredda
Stephens:
Ironwood is one tough champion tree; it has
all the characteristics of a survivor. Armed and
dangerous, it conserves water with its small
leaves and the fruit is abundant — supplying
many desert creatures with food and habitat.
The wood is so hard and dense that it does
not even float. Once used to excess for ornamental carvings, the wood is now protected —
not only in state parks but also in remote areas.
At the SSSRA, our newly renovated Ironwood
Nature Trail is named after this champion.
Photo by Gail Sevrens
November 2 and 3 the California State Park
A day in the life of CRSP’s Acting Montane Champions program helped us with two workSector Manager Ray Lennox: he takes a wa- days for the trail by supplying funding for new
ter sample as part of regular monitoring of
the Cuyamaca drinking water system.
(Continued on Page 3)
Page 3
LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)
(Continued from Page 2)
plants, tools, new posts and signage. We now
are working on our self-guided brochure update with 30 stops pertaining to natural and
cultural history.
In addition to the old route we have plans to
put in a new accessible trail that will be paved
and open a whole new dimension to the existing loop that goes from the Visitor Center to
Mecca Beach Campground.
In addition to funding, the foundation recruited volunteers and brought lunch and
snacks for all for both days.
We rewarded the participants with a kayak
tour afterwards.
Thank you to Margaret Oakley and Phoebe
Oelheim from the foundation for setting this
all up.
This is the second project that the foundation has sponsored for us and we really appreciate the help. Thank you volunteers one and
all. You are the ironwood of our Park!
Anza-Borrego Desert State
Park
There will be no Volunteer Potluck in December; the annual Holiday Bash takes its place
this month.
The Holiday Bash will be at 4 p.m. at the
RoadRunner Club Saturday, December 15.
The Sand Daddies will provide music for
dancing. A message will be emailed to everyone
soon.
From the desk of Marilyn Dickson of
ABDSP’s Botany Society:
Thanks to your donations, our participation
at the last Flea Market netted the Botany Society $508.87.
We also received one pair of
reading glasses which we forwarded to the Lions
Club for its charity project of providing glasses
for children. There are several worthy organizations in Borrego asking for your castoffs.
We hope you remember us when you are
doing your sorting as our next booth will be
Saturday, December 1. You always may take
your donations to Park Headquarters, Room
202 or call 619 318-1126 for assistance. And
(Continued on Page 3)
please remember those castoff glasses.
This season, we now look forward to continuing to work on the Park’s Botany Laboratory and to providing additional interesting and
educational programs for the public (see page
18).
We also can use your personal help at our
booth. We have fun sorting items, talking to
friends and customers, listening to music and
Photo by Fredda Stephens enjoying the morning, knowing that we are supCalifornia State Park Champions joined porting the Park’s goal of preserving our beautiSSSRA staff for two work days on the Iron- ful desert. We hope to see you there.
wood Nature Trail. In addition to the volunteers, the foundation provided lunch and
Superintendent Kathy Dice announced a
snacks for both days. Interpreter I Fredda
Stephens said the volunteers are champi- “soft opening” of Tamarisk Grove Campground
ons as is the ironwood tree.
(Continued on Page 4)
Page 4
LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)
(Continued from Page 3)
November 9.
She wrote, “We still have a few issues we are
working on (bathroom plumbing and well), but
feel we can open the campground on a firstcome, first-served basis to start getting things
underway. We have to start somewhere! …
The campground is looking beautiful so be sure
to go have a look at it when you get a
chance. Keep in mind that all water at the campground is non-potable and campers/picnickers
will be informed that they will need to import
their own drinking water. Cabins are due sometime later this year. Wish us luck!
Kathy also said the Park now has two concessions that can provide tours for Park visitors:
As concessioners, they are permitted by California State Parks to operate on our State Park
lands. I am sure you are all familiar with California Overland Adventures, operated by Joe Raffetto.
He has been a fixture in our Park for a number of years now and has vehicles ranging in size
from a single jeep to large “troop” carriers. Joe
is ready to take folks on a desert excursion –
whether it is one person or 20. He does a nice
job helping people understand the fragility of the
Photo by Leslie Bellah
Less than a week after the District sent the
message, “Pop, don’t release” balloons that
litter the landscape during the annual Borrego Days parade (see page 1), Environmental Services Intern Paul Johnson found
a “bouquet” of 36 balloons in ABDSP’s Verbena Wash.
desert, while passing along tidbits on the natural and cultural history of our Park.
This year we have also added a new business
venture in the form of Borrego Jeep Photo
Tours, operated by Aaron Dennis. Aaron is a
newer resident of Borrego Springs and has operated a photography studio in Escondido for
many years. He has decided to branch out in
this business by combining his expertise with
the desert he loves. He drives a red four-door
jeep with his business sign on the door – and
so he can take two to three people on each
trip.
And, of course, his focus is on taking Park
visitors to places where they can take great
pictures and get some useful tips on good phoPhoto by Steve Bier tography.
A red darner dragon fly has wings that are
almost translucent. The hindwings of dragonflies are broader than the forewings.
(Continued on Page 5)
Page 5
LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)
(Continued from Page 4)
From the desk of Interpreter II Sally Thériault:
Birders who would like to participate in the
2012 Christmas Bird Count Sunday, December
16, should contact Bob Thériault by email at
[email protected] or by telephone at
(760) 767-3312. Once again, we would like to
provide a nice hot lunch of chili and cornbread
for the birders when they come in from the
cold. If you can provide a crockpot of chili (or
soup) and/or a pan of cornbread, or if you
would like to help set up or clean up, please
contact me at [email protected] or (760)
Photo courtesy of CGCI
767-0334 or 767-3312.
CGCI Chairperson Janet Eyre, ABDSP InterCalifornia Garden Clubs, Inc. (CGCI) presented a check in the amount of $1,000 to the
Park to assist in the restoration of the gardens
at the Visitor Center on October 27. CGCI
adopted the Visitor Center Gardens as a state
project and pledged a total of $15,000 to support the restoration effort including the repair
and replacement of irrigation lines and fittings
and purchase of new plants.
CGCI, a member of National Garden Clubs,
Inc., includes more than 300 garden clubs, affiliates and associated plant societies throughout
California with more than 20,000 individual
members. Its mission is to promote gardening,
floral design, civic beautification, environmental
responsibility and the exchange of information
and ideas.
CGCI originally became involved with
ABDSP in 1969 and for many years CGCI and
garden clubs in the area provided funding for
the purchase of land for the Park.
Palomar
Park
Mountain
State
From the desk of Ranger Jessica Murany:
Park visitors have been lucky this year to see
an extended color season here at PMSP com-
preter II Sally Thériault, CGCI President-elect
Rita Desilets and CGCI Treasurer Joan
Patten are all smiles after CGCI presented
Sally with a check for $1,000 to help with the
restoration of ABDSP’s Visitor Center’s gardens.
pared to last year’s overnight disappearance
from gusty winds. It has been a beautiful season
of bright color surrounding us on our roads and
trails, which has kept many photographers busy.
As the season winds down, incidents still
may occur. October 29, hikers found a smoldering tree stump along the Scott’s Cabin Trail.
Fortunately it was in an area that was already
clear from previous fire and did not present a
danger to the Park. Investigators were led to
believe that the smoldering stump was the remnants of an illegal ground fire someone lit for
warmth.
It is still a season to remain busy, with campgrounds being full on weekends despite the cold
temperatures at night. Volunteers also are still
making their way up the mountain to work in
their Park as well.
(Continued on Page 6)
Page 6
LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)
(Continued from Page 5)
Thirty volunteers, thanks to the Park Champions program, arrived at Silvercrest November 18 to do invasive plant removal with one
plant in mind: mullein. Four teams went out on
trails and cut, pulled and bagged approximately
750 seed-bearing plants.
Park Champions Coordinator Margaret
Oakley delighted everybody with snacks, a nice
lunch and gift card to Chipotle Grill. We are
grateful to the California State Parks Foundation’s Park Champions program for its assistance with recruiting volunteers and helping us
with this project.
November 18 was a busy day. The Boucher
Fire Lookout was closed down for the season.
Fire watch volunteers came up to winterize the
tower after a first great season with an average
of 65 visitors per day.
Photo by Jeff Barnes
A fire truck lies on its side after hitting the
berm on the side of the dirt road on the way
into Picacho State Recreation Area in October. Emergency personnel were responding
to a 911 call for a scorpion sting from Park
visitors when the accident occurred. No one
was injured in the accident.
Picacho State Recreation
Area
ments by installing wood railings to delineate
campsites, roadways and trails.
A new rail installed at the Red Rock Canyon
From the desk of Ranger Sue Barney:
trailhead
will provide a defined parking space
Staff and volunteers have been working hard
in the main campground to make improve- and help keep vehicles from driving up the wash.
The rails in the campground will define the sites
and roadways especially in the areas where all
the tamarisk was removed.
Currently, logs, rocks and recycled telephone
poles line the roadways and campsites. It is very
labor intensive to retrieve and replace these
each time floodwaters wash them away.
Friends4Picacho organized a volunteer work
party during the Thanksgiving weekend and the
hardworking crew installed about 150 feet of
wooden railing. It was a great way to work off
some extra calories from Thanksgiving dinner
and knock out a project that will help save us
Photo by Sue Barney time.
Volunteers work the power auger to put in
posts for one of the many projects they
completed during the Thanksgiving holiday.
(Continued on Page 7)
Page 7
LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)
(Continued from Page 6)
Photo by Sue Barney
Park Maintenance Assistant Georgia Schneider and a happy group of volunteers stand and
sit by a portion of the work they accomplished during the Thanksgiving weekend at Picacho State Recreation Area.
More than 35 Thanksgiving campers attended an evening campfire program where we
looked at the tamarisk removal project and
planting of native vegetation, impacts of flooding
in the desert, impact of feral burros and the successful rescue of a young burro.
We also discussed information about ongoing projects and future projects.
Campers met members of Friends4Picacho
and got to learn about the organization
and some of its future plans for improvements
here.
Footprints
Mary Johnson, daughter of long-time
ABDSP and District Volunteers Chuck
and Mary Bennett, promoted to full colonel in the U.S. Air Force November 1 at
March Air Force Base. Colonel Mary, who
received the Bronze Star for her intelligence
work at the beginning of the war in Iraq in
2003, has been in the Air Force since 1980.
She received her direct commission
through the Air Force Reserve and served in
several functional areas, including imagery
intelligence, all-source collections management, intelligence systems development and
management as well as tactical intelligence
specific to both the A/OA-10 and HH-60G
aircraft.
She is married to retired Air Force Intelligence Master Sergeant William H. Johnson.
Maintenance Aide Kyle Rickard has
resumed work for the Roads and Trails crew.
Page 8
Volunteers, groups march with float (cont.)
(Continued from Page 1)
2
Photos by
Leslie Bellah
1: ABDSP
Superintendent Kathy
Dice holds
the
ram’s
head
she
will put on
just before
the parade.
2: Environmental Scientist Lisa
Gonzales-Kramer,
Senior Park Aide
Larry
Hendrickson
and the late Park Interpretive Specialist
Lisa Spoon finish
decorating the float.
3: Ports Interpreter I
LuAnn Thompson (as
a roadrunner), Kathy in the Rammy suit
and ABDSP Ranger Steve Bier stop for a
photograph before the parade. 4: ABDSP
Ranger/Pilot Kelly McCague flies the Park
plane over the parade route, followed by
other planes with women pilots; this is
always the beginning of the day’s activities.
1
(Continued on Page 9)
3
4
Page 9
State Park is part of the community (cont.)
(Continued from Page 8)
1
2
Photos
1 &your
2 by Leslie
Bellah
Name
favorite
Photos 3, 4 & 5 by Diana Lindsay
books
we can carry
read
1: And so it begins—State
Park so
Volunteers
them
the first banner followed
by too!
ABDSP’s rangers
then the balloon float with
the roadrunner
(LuAnn) along
side the truck
(2). More volunteers
follow
with State Park
Interpreter
II
Sally Thériault
leading
the
way. 3: The late
Lisa Spoon and
Regional Inter-
3
4
5
pretive Specialist Michael
Rodriques wave at parade
viewers. 4: Anza-Borrego
Foundation’s (ABF) Institute
Coordinator Briana Puzzo (a
cottontail bunny) and District
Environmental Scientist Mike
Puzzo share a laugh after the
parade. 5: ABF President Ralph
Singer, Executive Director Conrad Kramer and Field Programs
Coordinator Joan Carskadden
carry the ABF banner.
Page 10
Fire everywhere, but it’s all good this time
Photos by Gary Reece
A CAL FIRE worker lights fire (above, left)
at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park to prepare for planting, part of the Reforestation Project. CAL FIRE crews worked with District
firefighters to start and monitor the fires the second week in November on Middle Peak.
Smoke is visible from Ramona (above, right), making some residents nervous although a
press release was issued to let people know the fires were prescribed burns. Environmental Services Intern Gary Reece said, “We had better weather and fuel conditions than
we did last year and the result was better consumption. CAL FIRE kept an engine on scene
all night and two engines and two hand crews were assigned the following day.” Park Maintenance Worker II Scot Martin and Environmental Scientist Mike Puzzo kept vigil the nights
of November 16 and 17. Each day crew members
reevaluated the need for day and night resources.
Thanksgiving week District firefighters moved
hose from Middle Peak to Fern Flat and were planning to burn there in late November, weather permitting. At Palomar (page 11), two ignition teams
worked in opposite directions around the perimeter of the burn plot while stripping fire across the
topographic contours of the interior. In this way
fire intensities can be controlled and prescription
objectives can be met. Both ignition teams are in
radio communication and coordinate with each
other as progress is made around the plot. Holding resources keep the fire contained within the
control lines, while contingency resources are
standing by in case of an escape. Burns always
are implemented using a unified Incident Command with State Parks and CAL FIRE. For Palomar, it was Gary Reece and CAL FIRE Division
Chief Kevin Lawson; at CRSP it was Gary and Battalion Chief Jeff Johnson. Park Maintenance Assistant Daniel Aceves (left) carries hose away
from one burned plot to get it ready for the next.
Photo by Scot Martin
(Continued on Page 11)
Page 11
Crew works with CAL FIRE (continued)
(Continued from Page 10)
Photos by Gary Reece
Usually a sight that puts District personnel on alert, smoke and flames (above, left) at Palomar Mountain State ParkName
were the
result
of a prescribed burn (above, right) the first week in
your
favorite
November. More burns are planned as part of PMSP’s Forest Fuel Reduction project.
books so we can read
them too!
Photos by Scot Martin
As the ignition component is complete, Park Maintenance Assistant
Daniel Aceves and Environmental
Scientist Mike Puzzo monitor the
Doane Prescribed Burn at PMSP for
torching and spotting (above). The
fire looks frightening (above, right),
but the District fire fighters and CAL
FIRE crews have it under control. A
drip torch, an ignition team tool, sits
on a stump (right) in front of the
flames.
Page 12
SSSRA hosts first annual birding festival
(Continued on Page 13)
Page 13
There are activities for everyone (cont.)
(Continued from Page 12)
Name your favorite
books so we can read
them too!
Page 14
Paleontology Volunteers show their work
By Lou Bahar, Paleontology Society
The celebration of Borrego Days October 27
and 28 brought about 75 visitors to the Stout
Research Center to experience the Paleontology Society presentation of the Great American
Biotic Interchange (the two-way exchange of
plants and animals between North and South
America during the closure and establishment of
the Isthmus of Panama, between about 6 and 2
million years ago).
Photo by Jon Gilbert
Volunteers were involved with the entire Volunteers Ron Pavlu and Diana and Lowell
project, beginning with Richard Ingwall suggest- Lindsay join District Paleontologist Lyn
ing the theme of this year’s Open House. Judy Murray in front of the poster presented at
Smith researched the detailed background and the Sonoran Desert Symposium.
Linda Gilbert prepared a very interesting and
informative display of the species of animals that scribe the detailed work of removing sandy mamoved from south to north and those who trix from the giant tortoise to reconstruct the
processes of the original burial.
moved north to south.
The following Friday, Ron and Jon Gilbert
About 20 volunteers offered help at one or
presented
a poster to the Sonoran Desert
more tasks during the days immediately before
and during the Open House, including a thor- Symposium sponsored by the Anza-Borrego
ough second cleaning of the laboratory and col- Foundation and the University of California Irlection hall, selection of specimens and setup of vine’s Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert
the displays, escorts from the Visitor Center to Research Center—the newest addition to the
the SRC, docents to interpret the displays and University of California Natural Reserve Sysanswer questions, tour guides for the collection tem.
The poster session was an opportunity for
hall and the final put-away and clean-up.
the
Paleontology Society to present the methIn addition to the main displays, volunteers
presented background stories of geology, plants ods of recovery and paleontological significance
and birds. Myrl Beck manned the entrance to of the giant tortoise. Linda prepared this poster
the Open House, providing a brief overview of with input from Richard, Research Analyst II
the
geologic processes
that brought
South and (GIS) L.Louise Jee and District Paleontologist
Library
volunteers
prepare
North America together, forming the Panama- Lyn Murray.
for new software for us
Paleontology Society Member Steven Byrum
nian land bridge.
presented
his poster for the summer internship
Lowell Lindsey presented the geologic history
he undertook at the DSRC. The poster, Fossil
of the Anza-Borrego Desert. Sue Vescera dis-Volunteer
librarians areIdentification,
learning t
Canid Taxonomic
was based on
played the fossils of two giant birds fromThere
is a self-check out sheet on a shelf on
teeth details measurements and results of his
ABDSP: the condor-like Aiolornis incredibilis and
the west side of the library (619) 318-1126 or
study to determine identifications of ABDSP
the terror bird, Titanis walleri. Tom Spinks had
and instructions on how to use the computer if
fossils of coyotes and wolves.
his new portable microscope working to show
no one is there.
The first fossil survey trip of the new Palethe fine sections of fossil wood he has been
ontology Society season was successful, with
studying.
And finally Ron Pavlu was on hand to de(Continued on Page 15)
Page 15
Group is already having busy season (cont.)
(Continued from Page 14)
the discovery of four fossil localities. Field work
also has recommenced at two potentially significant sites discovered in April.
To date, several small fossilized bones and at
least two bones large enough to require plaster
jacketing were brought into the laboratory for
preparation. Several more specimens will be
brought in soon from these localities, which will
be discussed at a later date.
The first general meeting and lecture took
place on the second Friday of November; a PaPhoto by Lou Bahar
leontology Society tradition.
Thisyour
is the
introName
favorite
Paleontology
Society
Volunteer
Ron Pavlu
ductory meeting for thosebooks
interested
in becomso we
can readstands with the poster that describes
the
ing certified volunteers. The potentially new
them too!
giant
land
tortoise
that
he
worked
on
during
members introduced themselves to the existing
the summer.
membership and were welcomed.
Society members presented updates of the to the laboratory health and safety manual and
many ongoing projects in field work, prepara- beginning-of-the-season inventory of the fossils
tion, collection management and other functions still in preparation. Field leaders Sandy and Bob
of the Society. Laboratory Supervisors Hugh Keeley reviewed new field safety procedures
Vance and Norm Gallagher discussed the update that Jon had composed.
Field leaders Ron Shugan and Arnie Mroz
presented plans for the new field season, including surveys in areas affected by the torrenlinger
tial summer rains, which may present newly
exposed fossils. Linda reviewed the database
In vastly different ways, John Audubon,
entry on the invertebrate collection that was
Edward Abbey, Cesar Chavez and Charles
completed during the summer. And with Tom’s
Darwin all left their marks on the world.
work on the fossil wood, she is ready to deWhat a delight it would have been to have
velop a database for fossil plant materials.
met them in person.
Lectures were given by Lyn, introducing the
Although we can’t sit down and have a
Paleontology of Anza Borrego, and Myrl, introvisit with them, we can meet them
ducing the faulting and tectonics of the Salton
through their works, writings and the
Trough. After lunch new volunteers assembled
words others have written about them in
in the laboratory to begin their education on
the Stout Research Center Library.
the different aspects of work they will be perThe library is open during office hours
forming.
and it, as it is with sector libraries, is availThe 2012-2013 season promises to be anable to staff and volunteers.
other very productive one. The Society is forThere is a self check-out station on the
tunate to have a sizable group of dedicated volwest side of the Stout Research Center
unteers with many interests to move the paleLibrary at District Headquarters.
ontology program forward.
Their thoughts
on
Page 16
Botany society revises certification course
By Mike Bigelow, Botany Society and teers and contribute a minimum of 60 hours a
Environmental Services Intern year to the Botany Society. Volunteer opportuJudy Ramírez nities for students who receive certification in-
ABDSP’s Botany Society was very active clude plant specimen mounting in the Botany
during the past year. Plans for the current sea- Society’s new laboratory, Sahara mustard reson began last spring with meetings that ad- moval, flower walk assistant and participation in
dressed the need to get the herbarium volun- the Botany Society’s monthly flea market booth
teer program running and revise the botany across the street from Christmas Circle.
certification course. In May, Judy Ramírez, who
Enrollment is required. Information is availhas a background in education and project able by emailing Judy at [email protected]
management, was hired as an environmental or by calling her at (760) 765-0156. The weekly
services intern to assist District Botanist, Sen- course runs from Monday, January 7, through
ior Park Aide Larry Hendrickson.
Monday, March 18 and is centered on underThe San Diego State University Botany De- standing the desert through its ecosystem. On
partment donated two herbarium specimen completion, students will have gained a new apcases and the Botany Society purchased a new preciation of the desert as well as a thorough
freezer to freeze plant specimens (or rather introduction to many of its plants. To further
any bugs that might want to feast on them).
enhance the curriculum, a pollination session
Larry, Judy and Consultant Pat Flanagan re- has been added as well as instruction about the
designed the Botany Certification Course many ways that desert plants adapt in order to
which Judy has been working on during the survive in a harsh and forbidding environment.
summer.
The second course will focus on pollinators
Volunteers already are needed to assist Judy including bees, butterflies, beetles, flies and
as she prepares materials for the upcoming moths. They assist plants in providing food and
course. In addition, newcomers and experi- cover for wildlife and also support biodiversity.
enced volunteers are all welcome to participate According to the Wildlife Management Institute,
in the course which begins in January, 2013. there is a positive correlation between
Members will use a patterns approach to iden- plant and pollinator diversity.
tify plant families and spend lots of time in the
Pat, former education coordinator at the Tifield, applying knowledge and practicing skills.
juana Estuary National Estuarine Reserve and
The beginning Certification Course has been education director at the San Diego Natural
completely
revised
for 2013. It has
been simpli- History Museum, will teach the pollination class.
Library
volunteers
prepare
fied by dropping technical terminology, adding
Students will learn the characteristics of pollifor new
software
for
interactive
classroom
activities
andus
expanding nators and, using a pollinator chart, will be able
field work to enable students to examine and to determine which pollinator interacts with
learn to identify the Park’s desert plants. The what plant.
Volunteer librarians are learning t
revision was in response to students’ sugges- ThereThe
no longer
usesonthea Jepson
is asociety
self-check
out sheet
shelf onDesert
tions. Larry, Judy and Pat designed the new
Manual
and
will
use
Bob
Muns’
15
the west side of the library (619) 318-1126Major
or Plant
course. Pat has a degree in biology, a long-time
Families, Author
Paulif Johnand instructions
on howand
to Photographer
use the computer
interest in pollination and has led field trips fono one
is there.
son’s
Cacti, Shrubs and Trees of Anza-Borrego and
cused on the natural history of the desert.
Sia and Emil Morhardt’s California Desert Flowers.
There is no charge for the course, but students will be required to become Park volun(Continued on Page 17)
Page 17
Work begins on herbarium (continued)
(Continued from Page 16)
Course sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m., with roughly half the time in the field. In
dry years when there are few or no annual flowers, students will spend the same amount of
time in the field, studying perennial plants and
learning about the desert ecosystem.
Advanced volunteers are being asked to
teach classes or act as mentors in the classroom
and in the field, where students will do their
work in small groups with the aid of the senior
volunteers. Senior volunteer activities include
flower walk leader, specimen collecting, data
base entry and plant survey assistance.
Another addition to the course is the use of
an EcoMap, a graphic conceived and designed
by Pat. It presents a unique way of viewing a
desert ecosystem. The map shows links between living and non-living components of the
desert and how they might be interconnected.
In the classroom, it starts out as a map with
blanks. Students will get an orientation on how
it is used in the field. There, they will note the
terrain, elevation, location, where the plant is
growing and describe it, all by filling in the
blanks.
The required text for the course is the Morhardts’ California Desert Flowers. A hand lens
that will be used to study plant parts in the field
during the identification process is highly recommended.
Creator of Wayne’s Word speaks to Botany Society
Wayne Armstrong, who is known for his
award-winning website, Wayne’s
Word®, will talk about desert plants at the
December meeting of the ABDSP’s Botany
Society in Borrego Springs. The public is invited to the free presentation, which starts at
10 a.m. Monday, December 10 at ABDSP’s
Visitor Center. His topic is Curiouser and Curiouser: A Walk Through Fascinating Desert Plants
on Wayne’s Word®.
Armstrong, professor emeritus in Life Sciences at Palomar College in San Marcos, has
taught biology and botany for nearly 40 years.
His online textbook contains much of his lecture material from his long career at the college.
He is the author of more than 200 publications in natural history magazines and he also
contributed the duckweed section for the
California plant identification book, the Jepson Manual.
His website is http://waynesword.palomar.edu/mrwolfia.htm.
Photo courtesy of Wayne Armstrong
Wayne Armstrong will discuss desert
plants at the next meeting of the ABDSP
Botany Society at 10:00 a.m., Monday,
December 10, at the Park’s Visitor Center. Armstrong is the creator of Wayne’s
Word, a well-known website.
Page 18
Huxman is Steel/Burnand faculty director
Dr. Travis Huxman was recently selected
to replace Dr. Tim Bradley as faculty director
of the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert
Research Center. Dr. Huxman took Diane
Pataki's place as professor in the Ecology and
Evolutionary Biology Department and also
succeeded Diane as director of the Center for
Environmental Biology.
At California State University in San Bernardino, Dr. Huxman received his bachelor’s
of science degree in 1993; in 1996 he received
his master’s degree in biology. He earned his
Ph.D. at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas
(UNLV) in 2000 in biological science.
Dr. Huxman has received the Forrest
Shreve Award for Desert Research from the
Ecological Society of America; Best Student
Poster Award from the Ecological Society of
America, Physiological Ecology Section; the
UNLV Foundation Dissertation Research Excellence Award from the university and is a
distinguished alumnus of Cal State at San Bernardino.
Dr. Huxman is a physiological ecologist
who focuses on understanding the evolution
of functional traits in plants and the impacts of
climate change on ecosystems. He investigates
physiological or plant-mediated processes
from the spatial scale of cells to that of whole
landscapes.
A recent focus of his scholarship is the understanding of the dynamics of climate-ecosystem
interactions and their influence in coupling of carbon and water cycles in arid landscapes, which
encompass approximately 40 percent of the
earth’s surface. He is interested in the plant
processes underlying these couplings and how
these patterns and mechanism are related to
processes in diverse biomes from around the
globe.
Dr. Huxman began his career as an assistant
and associate professor in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona (AZU) at
Tucson.
From 2010 through 2012, he was a professor
of ecology and evolutionary biology; from 2009
through 2012 he was co-director of Arizona
Center for STEM Teachers in the College of Science; from 2010 through 2012 he was the director of UA Science: Flandrau, College of Science,
and from 2007 through 2012 was the director of
Biosphere 2 and B2 Earthscience at the College
of Science, all at AZU.
Center Director Jim Dice says that Dr. Huxman has a State Parks background, “having been
a seasonal lifeguard at Huntington State Beach
and Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area and a
seasonal interpreter at the latter.”
Library volunteers prepare
Interpretive
Specialist
for
new software
for us Lisa Spoon succumbs to injuries
Park Interpretive Specialist Lisa Spoon Interpreter I LuAnn Thompson giving propassed away November 23 from injuries grams to children throughout the state.
Volunteer librarians are learning t
sustained in an automobile accident NoLisa is survived by her husband Kelly, her
There is a self-check out sheet on a shelf on
vember 13 on the Montezuma Grade.
mother, brother and sister. A memorial serthe west side of the library (619) 318-1126 or
Lisa was an Anza-Borrego Desert State
vice will be held later in the season. Condoand instructions on how to use the computer if
Park Volunteer, a Certified Interpretive
lences
may be sent to her husband, Kelly Medino one
is there.
Guide, a Park Aide and, as a Park Interpre- govich, at P.O. Box 1497, Borrego Springs, CA
tive Specialist, was working with PORTS 92004.
Page 19
Group says farewell to Kelley Jorgensen
Name your favorite
Photos by Sam Webb
books so we can read
ABF staff and board members join State Park staff and volunteers to wish Kelley Jorgensen
them on
too!
a fond farewell as she takes
a new career after nine years as ABF’s interpretive sales
manager. The group gathered at ABF Board Member Dick Troy’s home for a dessert evening
October
25.
ABDSP’s Superintendent Kathy Dice (right
in photo above, left)
and ABF’s Executive
Director
Conrad
Kramer (above, right)
thank Kelley for all she
did to bring in money
for and to promote
ABF
and
ABDSP.
Guests (below) listen
to people praising and
thanking Kelley for her
achievements including creating
coloring books, wildflower brochures, films, posters, calendars
and post cards. She helped bring
nearly $2.3 million in sales and
close to $400,000 in profits that
have been used to educate people about ABDSP’s resources.
She also conceived many special
events and developed a new
product line for the State Park
Store which ABF opened in Park
Store in 2009. Kelley is going to
work for Bear Designz.
Page 20
Carrizo resident enjoys tamarisk-free shade
Photo by
Scot Martin
A coyote rests in
the shade of a
smoke tree in
Carrizo Wash. The
District’s Resource
Crew members
have been working
at tamarisk
removal in the
wash and were
happy to see a
Carrizo resident
enjoying the shade
of a native tree.
Good Housekeeping—From DPR’s Tailgate Meetings
Good housekeeping identifies a safe
workplace and indicates how workers feel
about safety. Good housekeeping is an essential factor in promoting safety, health,
production and morale.
Good housekeeping is everyone’s responsibility. Clean work areas and aisles
help eliminate tripping hazards. Respecting
"wet floor" signs and immediately cleaning
up spills prevents slipping injuries. Keeping
storage areas uncluttered reduces chances
of disease and fire as well as slips, trips and
falls. Accumulated debris can cause fires
and clutter slows movement of personnel
and equipment during emergencies.
Other good housekeeping includes keeping tools and equipment clean, in good
shape and keeping hoses, cables or wires
bundled when not in use. Broken glass
should be picked up immediately with a
broom and dustpan. Fix or report open
cabinet drawers, electric wires, sharp cor-
ners or protruding nails.
How a workplace looks makes an impression on employees and visitors. Good
housekeeping goes along with good public
relations, projecting order, care and pride.
Rubbish accumulates quickly on job sites
and construction rubbish is often irregular
in shape, hard to handle and full of sharp
objects. Too often packaging gets removed
and left where it falls, creating hazards.
Housekeeping is an ongoing effort.
Whether employees or employers fill out
work orders, pick up after each task or
clean the workplace themselves, each one
plays a role in keeping job sites clean and
safe. Besides preventing accidents and injuries, good housekeeping saves space, time
and materials. When a workplace is clean,
orderly and free of obstruction, work gets
done safely and properly. Workers feel better, think better and the quantity and quality of their work increases.
Page 21
ABF programs start with wreckage of time
The Anza-Borrego
Foundation’s (ABF) fall
programs are in full swing
starting with Wreckage
of Time: Fish Creek
Badlands from 9 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Saturday December 1.
Paul Remeika will lead
a tour into the stony
depths of Split Mountain
Gorge to see the initial
rock record of sedimentation within the Salton Basin. You will follow Fish
Creek Wash on a journey
through a host of sedimentary layerings to Sandstone Canyon. Several
short hikes will introduce participants to the
complex history of the badlands.
Ernie and Katie Cowan will lead a Sunset
Photography Tour from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, December 1. the group will visit one of
ABDSP’s most iconic locations, Font’s Point
while learning techniques that will turn afternoon and evening photographs into works of
art. This workshop is open to anyone interested in improving his or her landscape photography skills. Class will include a few short
walks.
Fred Jee will explore ABDSP’s Military
Past from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, December
2. Participants will explore ABDSP’s significant,
yet little-known military past.
This class will introduce the group to remnants of the military experience, dating from
World War II, which left a lasting impression
on segments of the Park. After a short presentation, an auto tour will visit military artifacts at
Clark Dry Lake, and Fault and Military washes.
A Women’s Wilderness Backpack Adventure is scheduled from December 6 through
December 9.
Janene Colby and Nancy
Wittig were inspired by
the book Wild by Cheryl
Strayed, when they decided to lead this threeday, women-only adventure. This program will go
into the wilds of the AnzaBorrego Desert.
For beginners, the trip
will be an introduction to
desert backpacking. For
the more practiced outdoorswomen, this is a
chance to enjoy a group
experience in a seldomvisited area of the AnzaBorrego Desert State Park.
The trip will include up to eight miles of moderate hiking per day and two nights of backcountry
camping. Participants will provide their own
equipment and meals.
A Winter Solstice Members-Only Sale is
scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 21, at
ABDSP’s Visitor Center. This sale offers ABF
members special discounts on all merchandise.
Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to
(760) 767-4063.
Hikes & Hops: Borrego
is
We’re Mountain
looking forWash
District
a day scheduled to staff
help members
you decompress
from
who will share
holiday stress and discover
their ten some
favoritehidden
books beauto be
ties of Anza-Borregopublished
Desert State
Park.
in TRACKS.
sendis your
book
list
The trip, led by ErniePlease
Cowan,
planned
from
with
short
reviews
to
lbel10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, December 22.
[email protected].
At the end of an exciting
exploration through
a slot canyon, you will relax at a breathtaking
viewpoint to enjoy fine beers. Bring a trail lunch
and an easy chair to relax and enjoy with a cold
beer after the hike.
For more information on ABF programs or
to register for events, call (760) 767-4063 or
visit ABF at www.theabf.org.
TRACKS
Colorado Desert District
200 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
TRACKS
Colorado Desert District Newsletter
Gail Sevrens, Acting District Superintendent
Leslie Bellah, TRACKS Editor
Colorado Desert District
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(760) 767-4037 Fax: (760) 767-3427
E-mail: [email protected]
Anza-Borrego Sector……………………………………….....…….....Kathy Dice, Superintendent
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park®
Montane Sector………………………………………..……..Ray Lennox, Acting Sector Manager
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Palomar Mountain State Park
Salton Sea Sector……………………………..……...………Paul Reisman, Acting Superintendent
Indio Hills Palms
Picacho State Recreation Area
Salton Sea State Recreation Area