News and reports from the Department of the Interior.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has unveiled the first Phase 1 formula grant of 2024, an $80 million allocation expected to be part of a series of annual grants totaling nearly $320 million for Texas. The state will be mandated to monitor methane emissions from sealed orphaned wells, assess water impacts in ground and surface water, and conduct clean-up operations for wells located near low-income and Tribal communities.

Last year, the National Park Service (NPS) announced its intention to manage the stray cat population that roams around the San Juan Historic Site. The estimated population of these felines is around 200.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Headwaters Forest Reserve is now home to a newly designated historic site. A townsite and lumber mill, with origins dating back to 1884, have been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places by California’s historic preservation officer last October.

Steve Feldgus has been appointed as the new principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management, a position he has been serving in for some time. The Department of the Interior (DOI) also announced two other appointments: the principal deputy director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the Special Assistant to the Senior Counselor.

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) defines a noxious weed as any plant designated by a Federal, State or county government as injurious to public health, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, or property. Such plants are also characterized by their ability to grow out of place and their resistance to common pest control methods.

Grants amounting to $5.73 million have been awarded to tribes across various states. The grantees are set to receive between $200,000 and $300,000 annually for a span of three years in support of their projects.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced plans to conduct a wild burro gather in early January aimed at reducing the number of wild burros in the Black Mountain Herd Management Area. The operation is expected to last up to two months.

The international partnership initiative aims to empower government partners to manage land, surface water, and resource use sustainably. The initiative will leverage Landsat’s data records and provide a new capability to comprehend and manage the impacts of climate change on landscapes at state, regional, and international levels.

Backcountry camping permits will be available for half off the usual price on January 15. This offer is part of six special days where fees are waived or discounted in national parks, with the next one scheduled for December 19.

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced a temporary closure of the off-highway vehicle recreation area in preparation for the upcoming King of the Hammers race. The event operates under a special permit from the BLM, which allows usage for 10 days each year.

Several agreements with multiple water agencies are set to conserve up to 643,000-acre feet of water in Lake Mead. Among these agreements are those made with the Coachella Valley Water District and the Quechan Indian Tribe.

The Winter Steam Festival, a festive event that marks the end of the holiday season, is set to return to Golden Spike. Over the course of three days, visitors will be treated to demonstrations and a variety of activities.

During the COP28, Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, unveiled the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) strategy to combat climate change using nature-based solutions. The DOI also announced that the public would be granted access to a new online nature-based solutions roadmap later in the week.

The US National Park Service (NPS) recently announced the appointment of Waller to a new position, as stated in a news release this week. Currently serving as the natural and cultural resources division manager at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan, Waller's journey with the NPS began during her graduate school days at Fort Pulaski National Monument, Savannah, Georgia. After working in the NPS Capital region, she returned to Fort Pulaski before moving to Michigan.

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has announced the appointment of David Szymanski as the new regional director for the Pacific West region. His jurisdiction will include parks in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, parts of Arizona and Montana. In addition to these states, he will also oversee parks in Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.