Water
Protecting Fish Slough
A groundwater hydrological model will be prepared for the Tri-Valley in the next four-six months which will provide information about groundwater flows and quantities from the Tri-Valley to Fish Slough. Based on that information, the Tri-Valley Groundwater Management District (TVGMD) will need to decide if there are any actions to be taken to sustainably manage the groundwater in the Tri-Valley (Benton, Hammil, Chalfant) or to save Fish Slough. We have been attending the TVGMD board meetings for the past two years, pointing out how special Fish Slough is and that it is drying up. We will be urging the board to protect Fish Slough. You can help do that too.
Holding LADWP Accountable
We have been attending the Technical Group, Standing Committee, and Owens Valley Water Commission meetings and contributing comments on various LADWP well projects, on pumping plans, water banking, and annual reports. As an MOU Party, we have submitted comments on the Lower Owens River Project and the Blackrock Waterfowl Management Area. We will continue to do so.
A year ago, we initiated meetings with the MOU Parties to review the status of mitigation projects that came out of the 1991 Environment Impact Report (EIR), the 1997 MOU for the use of 1600 acre-feet of water, and the 2003 Laws Area Irrigation Project. Out of the resulting 64 mitigation projects, we have surveyed about 40 of them over the past four years. We have discussed eight migitation projects with LADWP so far, but LADWP has been disinclined to do anything more to improve upon them. We find that unacceptable. Many of these projects do not meet the requirements. We'd love it if volunteers would organize tours of these project sites and educate the public as to their shortcomings. You can also help by attending the LADWP meetings and survey mitigation sites with us. We also need to talk to other Sierra Club chapters and groups about LADWP's many impacts on the Eastern Sierra.
Exploratory Drilling for Gold
In the Bodie Hills
There are now five gold exploration projects underway on the east side of the Bodie Hills in Nevada. This stunning area could be destroyed with open-pit, cyanide heap-leach gold mines. We do not want to see that happen.
We expect a USFS Scoping Phase to start soon for the Lodestar and will be preparing comments. This project is on the east slope of the Aurora Crater and the north slope Mt. Hicks. We have been to the area where they will be drilling to know what the impacts might be. Many healthy, mature pinyon pine trees might be removed for this project. Come out with us and see it and comment too.
We expect a USFS Environmental Assessment document within the first quarter of the new year and will be preparing comments. This is a huge drilling project with huge impacts to the region on and around East Brawley Peak, Sawtooth Ridge, and the Aurora Crater. This project is a heartbreaker. We have been to most of the drill sites, but still need to do some ground-truthing on East Brawley Peak. We can use help preparing comments and some help ground-truthing. 4WD is required to reach some of the areas.
Exploratory drilling at Spring Peak and Sawtooth Ridge under categorical exclusions has ended. We have been to these sites many times to assess the impacts. Now we need to return and assess the reclamation efforts or lack of them. We will be preparing comments on the reclamation to send to the USFS and pushing for effective reclamation; not the usual toss some seed and leave approach. Drilling can continue on private property at Spring Peak and we could use help monitoring it.
It would be helpful for someone to lead tours of these project sites to bring attention to the impacts of exploration and mining. It would require vehicles with moderate clearance and very good tires. Some of the roads are on lava rocks and bumpy. If you don't want to be a tour guide, but can take people to these sites, we'd be glad to provide the guide.We need to do more public outreach and education about gold exploration and mining such as starting a beyond gold campaign. We need help to do this too.
At Conglomerate Mesa
We expect a BLM Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to be released in March 2025. We will contribute to the coalition letter as we have done in the past. We have been out to Conglomerate Mesa many times surveying the area, documenting fossils, wildlife, special status plants, and noxious weeds from prior drilling projects and measuring Joshua trees with Friends of the Inyo staff and independently. The documenting of the Joshua trees still needs to be finished before the EIS is released. It is a great way to get involved. Join us.
Raise the Level of Protection on our Public Lands
30x30
We have been and will continue to support Sierra Club's 30x30 initiative to protect 30% of the land by 2030. We have identified public lands in the Eastern Sierra that are special or just should not be degraded. We could use help providing content for story maps to highlight these special places and help in drawing boundaries around them. We also hope to have outings to places that we would like to see protected.
ACECs and National Monuments
We have been supporting the Bodie Hills Conservation Partnership which has been working for over a decade in protecting the Bodie Hills. We have also been supporting the Friends of the Amargosa Basin in their proposal to protect the Amargosa Basin and we have been supporting the Friends of the Inyo in their work to protect Conglomerate Mesa and Centennial Flat. Volunteers could help with public outreach and tours to show off these places. Friends of the Amargosa Basin is currently asking for letters of support (we have templates) from Inyo County organizations, businesses, and individuals. If you are interested in submitting a letter of support or would like more information, please reach out to janetrbarth@gmail.com.
Scenic By-Way
We have been researching how to get a scenic highway designation for Highway 120E from Highway 395 to Benton Hot Springs. In November a proposal was submitted to the Mono County Board of Supervisors. Volunteers could help us with research, outreach, and getting the appropriate agency and legislative approvals contact janetrbarth@gmail.com.
Recreation
Towns to Trails project
The Towns to Trails Project (or https://escog.ca.gov/towntotrails-plan) is planning project to connect communities from Tahoe to Olancha and to connect those communities with the surrounding public lands. When the final maps are released, they will identify a route on existing dirt roads, some segments will allow a variety of modes of travel. We expect the final maps of the proposed trails and recommended supporting infrastructure to be released at the end of April 2025. We have surveyed many segments of the proposed trails and submitted comments and will review the trails when the final maps are released. There are some segments that are concerning and might be on the final maps. We will need help in educating the public as to why some trails will take a heavy toll on wildlife. We also have concerns about how much of the proposed routes are for off-road vehicles.