Inside this issue

Just a memory, Page 7

No lies here! Page 9

T R A C K S
June 2013

Colorado Desert District Newsletter

Anza-Borrego Foundation, DPR honor Diana Lindsay

Photo courtesy of Diana Lindsay

The AnzaBorrego Foundation (ABF) and State Parks honored Diana Lindsay for her work for ABF and ABDSP March 29 at La Casa del Zorro. Diana is an expert on the Park and has written several books about ABDSP and the area.

Diana Lindsay was honored by the Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) March 29 for her 30 years of volunteer service to ABF and ABDSP at a reception at La Casa del Zorro. Her work with ABF to protect Anza-Borrego Desert State Park includes efforts to block San Diego Gas & Electrics Sunrise Powerlinkoriginally destined to cross through the heart of ABDSPand efforts to obtain privately held land within the boundaries of the Park for ABF which later were transferred to the State of California in the endeavor to make the Park whole. Diana served two terms as president of the ABF board. In addition, ABDSP Superintendent Kathy Dice presented Diana a Medallion Award, the States highest honor for superior achievement in volunteer service.
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Watching desert rats, Page 18

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LOG JAM: Notes from the District, sectors

Salton Sea State Recreation Area
From the desk of Interpreter I Fredda Stephens: What could be better than creating jobs, helping communities and providing education in todays times? AmeriCorps programs have been working in the environment, schools and social programs for more than a decade, helping people and helping youth prepare for the real world by learning about our planet and how to protect it. The mission is to reach out to people in need and help urban kids connect to nature, all the while getting a real life education themselves by learning job and social skills. It is a dual dream, Americans helping America.

Photos by Jim Dascoulias

A Sarcodes sanguinea, snow plant, emerges from the forest floor near Lake Tahoe (above). Soon after, it looks rather like a red Christmas tree (right). It is a parasitic plant that derives nutrients from fungi that attach to tree roots; it is unable to photosynthesize.

Photo by Josh Heitzmann

ABDSP Park Maintenance Assistant Franz Boschiero and Maintenance Aide Dennis Franklin stand with a new interpretive sign they installed near the mud caves in the south end of the Park.

There are many types of AmeriCorps programs including the Vista branch in schools and social services. And now there is the Silver Three of AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region, which is a diverse group of young adults who are a strong force in public service. The team is trained in first aid, CPR and specialty roles. They travel around the United States providing help to communities. Among their many projects are Habitat for Humanity in construction, disaster relief for hurricane Sandy and wilderness restoration in Death Valley. This multi-skilled team of 12 spent five weeks at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area under the lead of Park Maintenance Assistant Lynn Jamerson, helping us fix, repair and paint our facilities. What a hard working team! Their en(Continued on Page 3)

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LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)

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thusiasm was a dream come true. While they were here, they painted the kiosk both inside and out, the Sector Office, the Visitor Centers front counter, our new Sea and Desert Interpretive Association trailer, the Camp Store, all of the restrooms at Mecca Beach and the shop, plus signs, curbs, rails, flag poles and even the gas tank. WOW, we cant thank them enough. These hard workers from all over the country are between the age of 18 to 24 in this special program. Amy Olson from Maryland was

Photo by Linda Roller

Please register in advance

Fit as fiddles and fresh as flowers, this before photo shows Alan Tulving, Jim Roller, Gary Haldeman and Bob Theriault in Anza before they dropped into Coyote Canyon for a hot day of bicycling April 28. The foursome left at 7:30 a.m. and arrived in Borrego Springs about 2:30 p.m. after one flat tire, a challenging trip through Collins Valley and a soak in the water at Third Crossing.

Photo by Jim Dascoulias

Advance registration for training helps facilitators and teachers to prepare for their events. This attendee did not register for the California Trails and Greenway Conference at the Granlibakken Conference Center in Tahoe City, but seems intent on sneaking into the event after helping him/herself to apples in a bowl at the registration desk.

quoted saying AmeriCorps NCCC is a wonderful way to serve communities and I am so excited to spend the next ten months serving with my team. Tangible benefits include minimum wage, health and childcare benefits, and an educational award at the end of service. Time in the program can count as work credits towards retirement in State Parks in the future. I joined AmeriCorps when my kids were young and spent two years part time while going back to college to start a new career. I was a forestry student, but still trying to figure out what I really wanted to do; the program helped me sort out my interests. Working on a fisheries project where I did lots of biological sampling, I got to learn firsthand what I loved and what I didnt. I got to do restoration projects, fish counts, radio tracking, water sampling, wild(Continued on Page 4)

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LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)

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life counts, snow surveys, interpretation at community events and so much more. Many of the people in my program were older and had multiple degrees; AmeriCorps is not just for the young. Another member of the Silver Three team, Sarah Stelmaszyk from Connecticut, was quoted as saying, When you help others, you help Montane Sector yourself. Now that is the American Dream From the desk of Dave McClure, Volunteer come true. and Unit Coordinator for the Volunteer Trails Maintenance Unit at Cuyamaca Rancho State Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: Park In April, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park was The Volunteer Potluck will be held at 6 p.m. honored with the presence of Troop 308 from Tuesday, June 18, at the Paroli Homesite in Culp San Diego who enjoyed a weekend campout in Valley. Bring a complete place setting, beverage, the Park. potluck dish to share and chair. District and April 20, after a night under the stars and ABDSP staff are encouraged to attend these pines, the Scouts assembled at the Paso Picafunctionsa chance to interact with and show cho maintenance yard with volunteers from the our volunteers how much we appreciate them. Parks Trails Maintenance Unit and were issued Interpreter II Sally Thriault, who manages the loppers, brooms, shovels and buckets of paint Visitor Center, said volunteers always enjoy (Continued on Page 5) having staff attend these functions. ABDSPs 43rd annual Bighorn Sheep Count is scheduled for Thursday, July 4, through Sunday, July 7. Participants will meet July 4 at the Borrego Palm Canyon maintenance shop between 1 and 3 p.m. The group will return to the maintenance shop by 3 p.m. Sunday, July 7, to compile count data. Orientation, mandatory for first-time counters and highly recommended for veterans, will be at the Visitor Center Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m. to noon. The orientation will cover bighorn natural history, census methods, desert safety and preliminary site assignments. There will be a PowerPoint program and a chance to look at skulls and receive handouts. Sheep population numbers continue upward, with the most recent estimate in the Park at about 500. Totals in the entire Peninsular Range

are more than 900 sheep. Organizers have asked for volunteer backpackers and drivers with four-wheel-drive vehicles as well as counters. RSVP by Monday, June 10, to ABDSP Ranger Steve Bier at Steve.Bier@parks.ca.gov. The count is coordinated by Steve and Retired ABDSP Superintendent Mark Jorgensen.

Photo by Mike Hamm

Members of Boy Scout Troop 308 from San Diego haul debris across a meadow. They accomplished a tremendous amount of work on trails and Paso Picacho Campground while on a weekend campout at CRSP.
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LOG JAM: District, sector notes (cont.)

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Photos by Mike Hamm

to spruce up the Paso Picacho campground campfire center. This energetic group cleared overgrown vegetation and painted all the benches in the campfire center. While they were at it, they also cleared overgrown vegetation and weeds that were growing into the campfire center access road. The boys were so efficient and energetic that the entire job was completed early, so they then struck out and cleared the Nature Trail of overgrown ceonothus. Thanks to this hard working troop, the campfire center now is in top notch shape for the Parks visitors this summer.

Painting benches at a State Park campground might not sound like fun to some people, but members of Boy Scout Troop 308 from San Diego worked as if they really enjoyed it at Paso Picacho Campground at CRSP. They also cleared trails after working on the campground.

Area

Picacho State Recreation

Due to the Island Lake Fire which began May 19, there is no column from Ranger Sue Barney this month. Complete coverage of the wildfire, which began in Arizona then jumped the Colorado River to PSRA, will be in the next issue of Tracks.

Footprints
District Safety Superintendent Kent Miller has accepted an out-of-class assignment at Hungry Valley State Recreational Vehicular Area for the next few months. Senior Park Aide Carl Kennerson left ABDSPs Visitor Center at the end of April and will return October 1. The Visitor Centers Senior Park Aide Abby Barker went on summer leave at the end of May and will return November 1. ABDSP Maintenance Aides George Lautenschlage and Dennis Franklin also are off for the summer. ABDSP Park Maintenance Assistant Cheryl Grout retired May 31. Cheri has worked in maintenance for ABDSP for nearly 13 years and began with Parks in 1990. Visitor Services Park Aide Walter Einertson and Park Aide Beau Boulding have completed their seasons at ABDSP.

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Diana still serves in other ways (cont.)

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Although Diana has retired from the ABF board of directors, her volunteer efforts on behalf of ABDSP are ongoing. She is a volunteer on the steering committee for the ABDSP Botany Society. She also recently joined the board of directors of the San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM). As a member of this board she hopes to increase the general awareness of the spectacular beauty, historical value and natural history of San Diegos great desert region. Diana also serves as a SDNHM Canyoneer, leading free public hikes. Not only an extremely active volunteer, Diana is a prominent expert on the Anza-Borrego Desert. She has authored several award-winning books about the Park and the Colorado Desert. Diana Lindsays Superior Achievement She also founded and is president of Sunbelt Award is signed by Major General Anthony Publications. L. Jackson USMC (Ret.), Director of California State Parks.

Joe Hopkins provides corrected Hawkwatch figures

Last month Tracks reported on Hawkwatch and gave the numbers of hawks seen during the years of the official Hawkwatch. District Environmental Scientist Joe Hopkins has more correct information which he shares below. There have been 11 years of Hawkwatch in Borrego Valley, the first year when it was discovered mostly by Hal Cohen, then 10 years as a community project. This year was the fifth best year for Swainsons hawks out of the 11 years. Here are the correct numbers for turkey vultures (TVs), Swainsons hawks (SW) and the grand total (Total) which includes a handful of red-tails, osprey, harriers and others. Year TVs SWs Total Photo courtesy 2003 310 2,031 2,348 of Hawkwatch 2004 855 5,228 6,118 A Swainsons 2005 1,258 2,818 4,114 hawk does 2006 1,251 1,605 2,890 not look 2007 1,159 2,419 3,617 happy 2008 1,411 5,378 6,872 spending a 2009 895 1,876 2,798 few minutes 2010 1,272 3,105 4,402 in captivity 2011 1,437 8,902 10,389 while waiting to be banded. 2012 1,022 4,880 5,915 2013 671 3,205 3,898

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CRSPs volunteers get its trails in shape

CRSPs Trails Mounted Unit
By Michelle Hernandez

Spring has leapt and it is busy, busy business as usual in the Park. During the winter we were usually snowed or rained out on weekends. The only work getting done was by the Wednesday crew, depending on, of course, the weather. Erin and Ron Robillard went to Green Valley horse camp and smoothed out the round pen for the two-footers four-footed friends, giving them a nice place in the center of the camp. Ken McIntyre and his ultra-marathon buddies went up to West Mesa trail and started clearing the ceanothus. These are the same guys who have worked on conejos, sugar pine, black oak and other trails where strong backs, endurance and craziness are required. The Hike & Hack had a nice turn out when E. Baker, S. Russo, Mark Campbell, Oscar Quintanilla and I were joined by Mounted Assistance Unit (MAU) trainees Peter and Karen Axelson. Since the Hike & Hack is the non-power tool group within the TMU, trees are removed using hand saws, usually ones inadequate to do the job and this work party was no exception; next time well make sure we have sharper saws and bigger trees when Peter and Karen join us. Also a big thank you to the Axelsons for giving us a horseback riders perspective on what
Photo by Michelle Hernandez

Photo by Steve Boland

Volunteer TMU members work to get a tree stump out of the trail at CRSP.

Erin and Ron Robillard smooth out the equestrian round pen at Green Valley in preparation for the coming season. Horses now have a smooth place to mosey around in the center of the camp.

is best for horse and rider on the trails. Milo and Janet had a huge group of TMU members and others come out for their trail work day. Along with TMU regulars Mark Campbell, Susan Russo, Elizabeth Baker and Skip Davis, the trail trekkers from Shadow Mountain Church, Neils Manley and his son, Mike and Kathy Hamm, and Dave McClure joined the chow line after the workday was completed (D. Mac and the Hamms helped supervise Jason DeMendoncas high school volunteers on the Azalea Loop while the other volunteers worked on Cold Stream). Tree removal on the Harvey Moore Trail was done by MAU members, Ron Robillard and Ed Speth. We are grateful to those two for working in an area that doesnt get as much work from the TMU as it needs. Thanks again. Of course the Mounted Bike Assistance Unit (MBAU) continues its work on the Cold Spring reroute with April being the annual R.E.I. trail work party/campout in the Park. Thanks to all who made this work party one of the most fun and anticipated events of the year. And for those who have missed out on all this fun, the TMU is always looking for more
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The job is removing downed trees (cont.)

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people. After all, the more the merrier and there is plenty of trail work for everyone!

CRSPs Mounted Assistance Unit

By Bonnie Slager Flowers are really blooming and it is sll very green in the Park. I love the sound of running water in all the little streams. Our campout in June will be a full house. Last year we had enough desserts to last all weekend and then some; they must be our favorite because we really overdid last time. The benefit ride will be here before we know it. If you belong to a club or group that camps, please tell them and mark your calendar for July 28. It is a lot of work but with everyones help we can raise Photo by Mike Hamm quite a bit of money to support the Park. Volunteer Boy Scouts work on the trails at CRSPs Trail Maintenance Unit CRSP so everything will be in top shape for the summer visitors (see page 4). Wednesday Crew By Ken Bonus Early April 17, Howard Wiggins, Dave Capron, Ken McIntyre and I met up with Park Aide John Sproule at Paso Picacho. We drove to Cuyamaca Peak where we discovered that the wet cloudy conditions and high winds overnight had left the trees covered in exotic ice drapery (see photo below). Ice was feathered on some branches in thin sheets three to four inches long. But, our mission was not our collective esthetic enjoyment, it was to remove downed trees on the Burnt Pine and West Mesa trails. Armed with two chain saws, a couple of hand saws and a brush cutter, we headed off. Howard, Dave and Mac took out trees on the Conejos connector trail while John and I worked on the ones on the upper section of Burnt Pine. Eventually our paths merged and we continued downhill, taking out trees ranging from small branches to a large 36-inch-plus pine. We think the total was about 15. We stopped for lunch and, after humping the brush cutter about four miles, Mac put it to work on our mortal enemy, ceanothus. We'll be returning to the lower portion of Burnt Pine/upper West Mesa later to further widen out the trail corridor. Before we got down the hill and back to our vehicle, we discovered another large (36-inch-plus) pine across the trail; time did not permit us to remove it, but, it will be a fun project for someone in the future. It was a pretty long day as we covered about five miles of trail, making it back to Paso around 3 p.m. Mac and Howard had to rush back to town, but Dave and I hung around for tool clean up, etc. Once Photo by Ken Bonus that was done, we moseyed over to the picnic area Ice covered trees now have green leaves to share a bottle from a brewer. basking in sunshine at CRSP where volunteer groups prepared trails for the season. (Continued on Page 9)

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ABF adds more acreage to ABDSP (cont.)

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As we were chatting, I looked over Dave's shoulder and noticed a squirrel making a mad dash over the ground and into its hole. A few seconds later,

a bobcat trotted up and was only about ten feet away! It had been fixated on the squirrel then looked up to see Dave and me! I swear you could hear it thinking, "Oh no!" It headed out across the parking lot and I managed to snap a quick picture with my cell phone. It was a fun ending to a busy day of trail work.

Sea and Desert Interpretive Association

Whew!!!!! One hundred and five degrees here last month, but that didnt seem to bother the fishermen. As I look out on our jetty, I see umbrella after umbrella, fishing pole after fishing pole. This morning there must have been 40 vehicles parked on the jetty. The tilapia love this warm water and are biting like crazy. Several times a day I walk over to the fish cleaning station to see the size of the tilapia that people are catching. I have seen a lot of nice big ones, around two and a half pounds. They are all females right now as this is spawning season. Since there is no limit on the amount of tilapia you can catch at the SSSRA, people are bringing several five gallon buckets full at a time! As you can imagine our fish cleaning station is a crowded place on weekends. I dont think I would want to be the one to clean all of those fish, but I wouldnt mind fish tacos for dinner! The SSSRA Camp Store carries night crawlers, hooks, weights, snacks, rents kayaks and opens at 6 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. We have had several people come in to rent kayaks which they take out for fishing. Can you imagine hooking a huge corvina like there used to be here in the Salton Sea from a kayak what a ride that would have been!
By Connie Brooks
Photo by Connie Brooks

Visitors fish from the shore of the Salton Sea which is full of eager-to-bite tilapia.

The Anza-Borrego Foundation

On April 25 the AnzaBorrego Foundation recorded the acquisition of a 160-plusacre parcel located at the entrance to Coyote Canyon. This new acquisition is the gateway to the canyon and also is on the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Prior to this acquisition the Park did not have a permanent legal access through this property. The land is within the flood zone of Coyote Creek and possesses an array of desert creosote scrub vegetation. In years of good rainfall and spring wildflower blooms, this property has one of the finest displays of annual wildflowers. One of our desert's rarest wildflowers, Ganders cryptantha, lives in this area. The property has been documented as a movement corridor for Peninsular bighorn sheep which move between their lambing area on Coyote Mountain and the San Ysidro Mountains to the west. The acquisition also is important to maintaining the Borrego Valley Aquifer by preserving the land from future degradation or agricultural pursuit.

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Paleontology Society volunteers honored

[Editors note: This is the second of a two-part column on awards and Paleontology Society members who received them.] The April issue of Tracks reviewed the many awards Parks volunteers received at the annual Volunteer Gala. That evening, Paul Larson received the Medallion Award for superior service which includes his work for the Paleontology Society. And three well-deserved Departmental Poppy Awards were given to Paleontology Society members Sandra and Bob Keeley for leadership in the field and to Linda Gilbert for outstanding contributions to the paleontology database, website and invertebrate curation. Pauls efforts for the Park are spread throughout several groups of volunteers, however it is important to mention his work for the Paleontology Society. Paul joined the group in 2006 and completed his training that season. He has participated in the Friday monthly field trips with volunteers and students. He also is a regular participant in the Monday trips for certified volunteers.
District file photo

By Lou Bahar Paleontology Society

Photo by Jon Gilbert

Paleontology Society Volunteers Sandra and Bob Keeley received the Poppy Award for their work in the field.

Paul Larson holds his Medallion Award for superior service which he received at the Volunteer Gala in April. Paul belongs to two volunteer societies and works with ABF.

These trips allow for surveying to areas that are too difficult for the entire group to explore. These weekly field trips have expanded the collection of vertebrates from three million years ago to four million years ago and invertebrates from four million years ago. With all this experience in the field, Paul has enrolled in the training to become a paleontology field leader. Although Paul is very active in the outdoor work, he also is an active participant inside. He worked with the invertebrate volunteers to curate and input data regarding this part of the collection. He is the person who will pick up the broom or dust cloth and clean up or do anything that needs doing. He served on the 2012 bylaws committee and is active in the highly successful 5th Grade Camp program, now known as Camp Borrego. And beyond the Paleontology Society, we would like to note that Paul is a founding member of the Botany Society and now serves on its steering committee. He has been a leader of the group maintaining the Visitor Center garden and for many years has led Anza-Borrego Foundation/Botany Plant and Wildflower walks educating the public about the flora of ABDSP. He likely holds the record for leading the most ABF/Botany plant walks. He is so knowledgeable and approachable that return visitors to the Park ask for him to be their leader.
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Their paleontology work? Priceless! (cont.)

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Both the Botany and Paleontology societies are grateful for his participation in their activities. Sandra and Bob have led numerous field trips. The words, leading a field trip, might sound like guiding a car caravan to a chosen spot, hiking around a bit and returning. However, there are many hours of work on either side of those actions. Every trip begins with instruction by the District Paleontologist regarding the geographic area to be surveyed. Maps of the area are prepared. Leaders bring backup tools and recording supplies (for volunteers who forget) in addition to first aid and emergency equipment. Field leaders are responsible for the physical safety of the volunteers as well as the quality of the data they collect. Volunteers survey the terrain in groups of two or more and, when a fossil is found, the leader must go to the site and take a GPS reading, often traipsing hundreds of meters away from their own survey area to assist. GPS recording secures the geographic coordinates of the fossil locality from which the stratigraphic unit (geologic context/age) of the locality may be determined. Leaders count heads at lunch break and again at the end of the trip to make sure everyone is present. Those who find fossils return to the laboratory at the end of the trip (instead of going straight home), to place them in the preparaDistrict file photo

Photo by Lou Bahar

Paleontology Society Volunteer Michael Guberek leads the entertainment portion of the annual end of the season party.

Paleontology Society Volunteer Linda Gilbert was honored for her work on the database and other projects.

tion system and to complete the required paperwork. Field leaders must verify that paperwork is completed correctly and record the numbers of fossil finds for their annual report to the District Paleontologist. In addition to normal duties, the Keeleys also prepared all aspects of the annual field camp, a three-day fossil survey. Field camp also may produce interesting finds. In the event of a large excavation, such as a tortoise or a mammoth, leaders must request a CEQA (California Environmental Quality Acta formal review of the impact of a proposed project) to dig in the State Park. They then lead the volunteers for as long as it takes to excavate the fossil. In recent excavations this has added up to several months of several days per week. Finally, leaders prepare a year-end report for the District Paleontologist, who will use the
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Volunteers keep programs running (cont.)

information and correct it when needed. The database is the last stop for all information associated with any fossil on its long road from the field to the drawer. After all the other steps it goes through, recording the information of a specimen into the computer is as important as finding it. Once recorded, scientists can access the data and use it in their own research projects, visit the collection or obtain a specimen loan to measure and study the fossils. Recorded data includes geographic coordinates, geologic context, species identification, fossil description and at least 70 other fields of information. Linda, Sandra and Bob are all fossil magnets, and have each brought in many fossils, large and small. They all have served on the Paleontology Society Steering Committee and are always available to help wherever needed. The Paleontology Society applauds these Poppy Award recipients and thanks each of them for their

Photo by Jon Gilbert

Paleontologist Lyn Murray gives Hugh Vance a certificate of appreciationthe Endovelicus Awardfor his dedication to health and safety in the laboratory.
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information in making his annual report to the Department of Parks and Recreation. Everyone involved with field programs led by Sandra and Bob appreciate their commitment and dedication to this important part of the program. Linda, the other Poppy Award recipient, was honored for her massive amount of work on the collections database and for her leadership in making curation of the invertebrate collection an active and viable project. She is the webmaster for the Paleontology Society web page http://www.anzaborregopaleo.org/ and keeps it current throughout the year. Linda has spent many hours working with volunteer James Landers (another database expert) to correct errors accumulated in the database and card catalogue systems in the past 50 years. She has developed new tables and revived little-used tables for invertebrate, plant and track fossils. This includes creating a data entry protocol for volunteers working in curation. She has organized volunteers to sort hundreds of drawers and thousands of fossil trays, specimen labels and catalogue cards to validate the

Staff, volunteers survey for flat tailed horned lizard

Resources again is conducting its flattailed horned lizard (FTHL) surveys which fulfill its participation in the Interagency Coordinating Committee for FTHL Management (ICC). FTHL Volunteers from last year, Robin Halford and Kate Harper, have returned to survey with Environmental Scientists Joe Hopkins and Eric Hollenbeck. Several new volunteers will be joining us throughout the summer, but more are needed, Joe said. If you are interested in helping out with this interesting endeavor, please call me at (760) 767-5748 or email me at Joe.Hopkins@parks.ca.gov.

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Warner-Carrillo ranch house opens June 1

The grand opening of the newly restored Doa Carrillo was described by William Heath 1857 Warner-Carrillo adobe ranch house is Davis, a prominent early San Diego pioneer, as scheduled for Saturday, June 1. There will be "a beautiful and fascinating widow" who historically-themed activities and attractions "managed her rancho with much ability." Settlers, gold prospectors, soldiers and adfrom 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at San Felipe Road/State Highway S-2, one-half mile east of Highway 79. venturers stopped at the house, which served Admission is five dollars, but is free to those as the Butterfield Stage Stop from 1858 until 3 and under. There will be food and refresh- the Civil War began in 1861. The Overland ments. The event also is a fundraiser for the na- stage route was one of California's regularly tional landmark, with its adobe barn next on the scheduled transcontinental connections and a popular choice, as it was the restoration list. most southerly route to CalThere will be tours of the and the one with the ranch house, a Wells Fargo The Warner-Carrillo ifornia best weather. exhibit and interactive Many settlers' diaries recdemonstrations and exhibits. Ranch House played orded the pleasure and relief Those who arrive in costume can have tintype phoimportant and colorful of arriving at the inviting adobe outpost, set in the welltographs taken. The Anteroles in the Western watered valley, after an ardubellum Marine Band and Kuand often dangerous, meyaay bird singers will perfrontier as a Butterfield ous, journey crossing the great form and there will be a historic reenactment by the Overland Stage Station, southwestern deserts. After the turn of the 20th Army of the West. stopover for itinerant gold century, the ranch was The Warner-Carrillo owned by a series of cattleRanch House played improspectors, Civil War men, including former Caliportant and colorful roles in the Western frontier as a trading post and longtime fornia Governor John G. Downey. Cowhands moved Butterfield Overland Stage cattle ranch. in using it as a bunkhouse; it Station, stopover for itinerended its life as a family ant gold prospectors, Civil home. Despite this heavy use War trading post and longand subsequent deterioration after it was vacattime cattle ranch. Centuries earlier, Native Americans enjoyed ed in 1960, the ranch house had survived with the nearby hot springs and water sources, but much of its architectural integrity and a great they were expelled from their homeland by the deal of its historic fabric intact. The original fireplace mantle, woodwork and vigas remain. ranch's ownership in the early 20th century. Its restoration was made possible by funds Doa Vicenta Seplveda Carrillo, a well-todo rancher, wife and mother, had the adobe raised and grants awarded to Vista Irrigation ranch house built for her family and lived there District, which responded to the call for prountil 1869. Twice widowed, she supervised tection when Save Our Heritage Organization ranch operations such as raising cattle, sheep, (SOHO) identified the ranch house and barn as barley and hay with the help of her children and San Diego County's "most important unprotectlocal Mission Indians. Known for her hospitality, ed historical site" in 2000.

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Two budget items will help the Salton Sea

Officials announced May 9 that the Assembly Budget Subcommittee has supported Assemblyman V. Manuel Perezs request for two budget items that will back restoration efforts at the Salton Sea. The subcommittee approved $2 million for the Salton Sea Funding Feasibility Study and $3 million for the Salton Sea Financial Assistance Program, according to an article in the Desert Sun. Perez has been working for the restoration of the Sea, building habitat and controlling dust emissions. The $2 million, which is from non-General Fund bond funds, will go toward a study to analyze state, local and federal funding that can support restoration of the Sea, including money from developing local energy resources. The $3 million will fund a second year of the assistance program administered by the Department of Water Resources and Department of Fish and Game. The programs grants support projects that improve habitat for fish and wildlife at the Salton Sea, while also benefiting air quality by covering exposed lakebed with habitat, according to Perezs office, the Sun said.

Desert tortoises should be left alone, expert tells us

Recent encounters with desert tortoises prompted us to repeat the advice given by Environmental Scientist Eric Hollenbeck. Any desert tortoise should be left alone when encountered, he said. They are not native to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, but are native to Picacho State Recreation Area and possibly Indio Hills Palms. They should not be touched or hindered in their travel unless they are found on a road and are in imminent danger of being run over. In that case, they can be District file photo gently picked up and moved to the side of the road in Desert tortoises are fun and interestthe direction they were headed. ing to watch, but we shouldnt touch When lifting a tortoise, always support all four feet to them. avoid stressing the animal. If the animal has tags or numbers those should be reported. If possible, photos Library is open year round should be taken and emailed to the District environmenAlthough it is undergoing some tal staff. If possible, take GPS or other coordinates so changes, the Stout Research Center we can keep a log of all tortoises found in our parks. Library is open all summer during Tortoises known to have been kept in captivity of any office hours. kind should never be released back into the wild. DisThere is a self-check book on the trict environmental staff can be consulted about what to west side of the room to note do with tortoises brought in from a captive situation. whether you have borrowed a Tortoises found in Picacho State Recreation Area or book, or a video or audio tape. Indio Hills Palms should never be touched at all and If you come in to study or to avoided in all circumstances. If a tortoise in these areas borrow books, the Librarians ask is in imminent danger, activity should be halted and Disthat you sign the guest book near trict environmental staff should be contacted so a qualithe door. fied person can deal with the situation.

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District firefighters have refresher course

Photos by Gail Sevrens

District fire fighters gathered May 1 to participate in a refresher class with facilitators Park Maintenance Worker II Scot Martin and OWSVRAs Research Analyst II (GIS) Don Solleder. Environmental Services Intern Gary Reece and Senior Park Aide Bob Eisele assisted with teaching modules. Associate State Archaeologist Sue Wade (above, left) prepares to get into an emergency shelter. Other class members (above, right) start to climb in their shelters. Below, some class members observe while others lie in their shelters. Others who participated were Park Maintenance Assistant Daniel Aceves, ABDSP Ranger Steve Bier, Park Maintenance Worker I Randy Burt, Park Maintenance Supervisor Jim Dascoulias, Environmental Scientist Eric Hollenbeck, Research Analyst II (GIS) L.Louise Jee, State Park Equipment Operator Gregg Johnson, State Park Superintendent I Kent Miller, Environmental Scientist Mike Puzzo, State Park Peace Officer (Lifeguard) Timothy Senneff from Inland Empire, District Services Manager Gail Sevrens and ABDSP Ranger Don Strampfer.

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LuAnn visits Taipei, Taiwan, for PORTS

In April, for the first time, I was able to leave the country for a PORTS program and went to Taipei, Taiwan! United States Teacher Seth contacted the PORTS team and requested a program for his English Language Learners in Taiwan and they sent him to me. We set the date for when Teacher Seth was going to be in Taiwan to visit his students. In the meantime, I learned how to say Good Morning, my name is and Thank you in Chinese. There were many teachers and a large group of fifth grade students in the classroom for the
Dear Ranger LuAnn, Hello, I am Shenna. I am the student in Tsai Hsing 501. I love today's field trip of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, I learned many of the desert, l learned the animals in desert and animals' fossil, like lion's. It was very cool! You helped us to understand many interesting things in the desert, I hoped that we can do that again, I want to learn all of the things in desert, desert's things were toooooo cool. I have a question to ask you, why did the sidewinder can walk on the sand very fast, is that it's skin help it? I just have this question because you told us very detail about all of the things. Thank you!! I hope that you can come to Taiwan, Taiwan is a good country, it often rains and the night market is great, there also have many fun animals in Taiwan. I think that you will like it. I can be your tour guide. Sincerely, Shenna

By LuAnn Thompson State Park Interpreter I

Dear Ranger LuAnn, Hello Ranger LuAnn, I am William thank you for telling me the desert animals, I like the birds and fossil. I like the fossil because the fossil are taking the long time to be a fossil, so I like the fossil. I didn't want to the desert before so this trip is my favorite. I think the desert are cool because it has a lot of cool animals can see. Here is a Taiwan's representative animal it name are Formosan Blue Magpie William C.

Student William sent LuAnn a picture of the Formosa blue magpie which is shown above. The bird is a member of the crow family and is an endemic species living in the mountains of Taiwan.

program. I started with my Chinese greeting and received a big round of applause from the students! As we travelled around the desert, students told me adaptations they observed after seeing videos of various plants and animals. We saw cactus and cactus wrens, roadrunners, desert iguanas and sidewinders as we travelled across the open creosote desert floor. The sidewinder
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Students want to visit ABDSP now (cont.)

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was a favorite in their letters. Brave students offered to try their English to share adaptations. I took them up Borrego Palm Canyon where we saw bighorn sheep and chuckwallas, frogs and palm trees. We talked about endangered species and how Parks protect habitats. After sharing a hummingbird video, I asked the students to talk to each other and share the adaptations they observed. I looked out at a whole class of students fluttering little wingsthey had never seen a bird that could hover in the air in one place. In the middle of the class some soft music started playing and I asked what was happening. Teacher Seth said it was time to share some of their culture with me. We massaged our eyes and temples and face muscles to relaxing music that is played in all classrooms for morning relaxation! Nice Then we flew, in ABDSP Ranger/Pilot Kelly McCagues plane, out over the badlands to see the size of the Park. Teacher Seth and the bilingual Chinese teachers helped with interpretation throughout the program. In the badlands, I shared the fossils we find and the great migrations from the Ice Ages. I told them that during the Ice Ages many of the animals from Asia came into North America for the first time and many of our animals migrated to Asia for the first time in their evolutionary history! At the end of the program I shared my green screen technology and travelled with Google Earth from Anza-Borrego to their school in Taipei. The teachers helped me navigate right to their school site and all of the students gave a big cheer when I zoomed in on their school buildings, as if I had actually travelled to them. Technology is really amazing The students wrote letters offering to be my tour guide and show me the beautiful nature in Taiwan and attached pictures of animals that I

Dear Ranger LuAnn, Hi, my name is Felicia, it is so nice to meet you! I learn a lot about desert animals and plants. The coolest thing is that you became invisible, it is so awesome!!!!!!! In this summer, I am going to go to America and Canada with my family and friends, if it is okay with my family, maybe we can go visit you at your desert, your park looks super fun ! I like the roadrunner, it can run so fast! I like the baby borrego it is so cute. I like the coyote, too. It looks like it is finding food. I think I really need to go visit your fabulous park to learn more thing! Is the big fossil really a mammoth's teeth? It is so big, so enormous! It can't fit in my mouth! I like the humming bird, too. It is very small and eats nectar. I never seen a bird who eats nectar, other birds only eats insects and other things that is much more smaller than they are. I still don't really know how you became invisible, it is awesome! This project is fun, I wish I can do it again. Thank you for teaching us more about desert. Wish you have a great day!! Your friend, Felicia H.

could see there and pictures of their pets and families! I love sharing Anza-Borrego with 8,000 California students every year, as most of them have never visited a desert or a State Park and we want to invite them to explore our parks. A cross-Pacific exchange was a fun and unique challenge. The Taiwanese students also loved seeing the desert and learning about its unique life forms. Many hope to see Anza-Borrego one day when they travel to the United States.

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ABDSP volunteers, staff tour Mt. San Jac

Photos by Sam Webb; written by Sally Thriault

Twenty ABDSP Volunteers, Senior Park Aide Abby Barker and I (left) spent a day at Mount San Jacinto State Park April 24. After the ride to the mountain top in the tram, we explored the Park. There was great weather with enjoyable temperatures in the desert and on the mountain, although haze and high clouds (above) dimmed the panoramic views. Park Aide John led us around the top then down to Long Valley, a picnic area that doubles as the trailhead for many hikes, long and short. Some folks hiked the 1.5-mile Desert View Trail while others explored the .75-mile Discovery Nature Trail. Several people noted the film in the Visitor Center was written by Regional Interpretive Specialist Joanie Cahill (formerly a District employee) and Office Technician Leslie (Martony) Bellah and featured former District Superintendent Dave Van Cleve, all reminders of the day when Mount San Jacinto was part of the Colorado Desert District.
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Group remembers our Districts link (cont.)

(Continued from Page 18) Photos by Sam Webb; written by Sally Thriault

Most of us came down the mountain with a few unique souvenirs, a resolve to visit again and a great suggestion for summer visitors looking for things to do outside. There are many other trails wed like to hike, including the four-mile loop to Round Valley, an eightmile hike across the Park to Idyllwild (which would require a car shuttle) and the 12-mile trek to the top of the peak! Many thanks to Volunteer Mike Medema for planning this trip.

Volunteer Karin Vickars was close to Boston bombing

in the marathon when the bombing occurred April 15. Her husband, Volunteer Mac McNair was in Borrego Springs. After returning to their home in Vancouver, Canada, she wrote, My daughter and I were just around the corner when the bombs went off. It was an extremely traumatic experience and I had trouble sleeping for about 10 days after. I think that it probably triggered old fears from when I was very young and in the blitz in London during the Second World War. We were then also 'locked down' in our hotel room for the balance of the day and night until we left for our flight the following morning. It was some time before we knew that my son, David, was safe. He had completed the race before the bomb went off, but everything was such chaos that our plans to meet up with him did not work and we had a worrisome time until we knew that he was safe.

District file photo

Volunteer Karin Vickars and her daughter Heather Redfern have a good time at the Volunteer Gala weeks before the Boston bombing.

District and ABDSP Volunteer Karin Vickars and her daughter Heather Redfern were in Boston to watch Karins son, David, participate

TRACKS
Colorado Desert District 200 Palm Canyon Drive Borrego Springs, CA 92004

TRACKS

Colorado Desert District Newsletter

Colorado Desert District Borrego Springs, CA 92004 (760) 767-4037 Fax: (760) 767-3427 E-mail: Leslie.Bellah@parks.ca.gov

Dan Falat, District Superintendent Leslie Bellah, TRACKS Editor

Anza-Borrego Sector...........Kathy Dice, Superintendent Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Montane Sector.........Ray Lennox and Brent Hufford, Management Team; Dan Falat, Law Enforcement/Public Safety Management Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Palomar Mountain State Park Salton Sea Sector.........Kathy Dice, Acting Superintendent Indio Hills Palms Picacho State Recreation Area Salton Sea State Recreation Area