Enviroment 8-7

What appeared to be a Gap Fire flare-up in the hills above Goleta on 8/1 in the hills above Goleta turned out only to be ash and dust kicked up by crews cleaning up after the blaze, which was contained last week. The Los Padres National Forest cautioned citizens against calling 911 and reporting the apparent fire. (/fauxfire)

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The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced on 8/5 that it has proposed 38,447 acres in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties as critical habitat for the endangered La Graciosa thistle. The proposed area includes the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. The announcement opens up a 45-day public comment period on the matter of the native Californian sunflower relative, which has been listed as endangered since 2000. (/thistle)