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In a Sept. 6 News Release, the Inyo National Forest announced the beginning of a 45-day public scoping comment period (through October 20) for an Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation Environmental Assessment. Two public meetings are happening: online on Sept. 20, and live at Mammoth Lakes Community Center on Sept. 21. Please attend, comment, and know that comments received by the INF by Oct. 15, will be especially useful in the preparation of the planned environmental assessment.
Hot Creek Defense Victory! Conglomerate Mesa ‘Protect Rally’! Water Justice Organizer Job Opportunity! A Must-See Indigenous Cultural Exhibit! See You on the Trails? You at the Fair? It’s all in the September Juniper from Friends of the Inyo! But if you don’t read it, you’ll never know! Happy reading…And if you like what you read, happy sharing!
With Labor Day Weekend coming up, we know the end of summer is drawing near. Sigh! But it’s been another exciting season in the world of Friends of the Inyo, as you will be able to tell from these narratives submitted by our hard-working Trail Ambassadors. Please enjoy reading about what they have been up to, share with your friends and networks, and, if you see them out on the trails, please say hello to them and thank them for their work. They will still be working with us and leading hikes till the end of September! Smiles all around….
Conglomerate Mesa needs our protection! Canadian company K2 Gold’s “modified” mining proposal could impact up to 15 acres of pristine lands that are sacred to Paiute-Shoshone and Timbisha-Shoshone peoples in Southern Inyo County, and a haven for thriving Joshua Trees and other threatened plants and animals. Join us Labor Day for a “Protect Rally” at Spainhower Park in Lone Pine, as we tell K2 Gold we want them to go home! Click on the image at left to download our flier. Help us share this information with others! Want to help us make posters for the rally? Come to Friends…
In case you missed it last Friday, August 18, please take a listen to Friends of the Inyo’s Executive Director, Wendy Schneider, and Campaign Organizer – No Hot Creek Mine, Emily Markstein, discuss our campaign to oppose Canadian company KORE Mining’s exploratory drilling for gold at Hot Creek with KMMT FM’s Arts, Culture & Entertainment Show Host John DeMaria. Happy listening…and if you like what you hear, happy sharing!
Your comments in 2021 against K2 Gold’s exploratory drilling operations at Conglomerate Mesa in Southern Inyo County caused the BLM’s Ridgecrest Field Office to consider requiring an Environmental Impact Statement. Now you have an opportunity, during the Open Comment Period from Aug. 16 to Oct. 16, to provide feedback on what the EIS should include. Check out our Action Alert to learn how to submit your comments to help #ProtectConglomerateMesa.
KORE Mining is getting ready to start spoiling the landscape at Hot Creek. Drilling operations could begin as early as September 1! Vulnerable species, tourism and Native American cultural values are at stake. Take Action Now!
Earth Law, a new partnership to defend Hot Creek from mining, other collaborations, and lots and lots of events! But if you don’t read the August issue of The Juniper, you’ll never know! Happy reading…And if you like what you read, happy sharing!
Read some exciting progress notes from our Trail Ambassadors, with an introduction and post-note from Stewardship Director Lindsay Butcher. It is hard to believe, but here we are- already halfway through the Trail Ambassador season! My how time zips by… Despite the multiple false starts of summer and the ongoing damage control from winter, our TAs have been up to some awesome work alongside our Forest Service partners. Here are some highlights from their last month of work. From Logan, TA on the Mt. Whitney Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest: My Favorite day this month- Overnight in the Eastern…
Emily Markstein, co-founder of NoHotCreekMine.com, has been hired on a temporary basis by Friends of the Inyo as our Campaign Manager, No Hot Creek Mine. Emily will play a key role in organizing volunteers to monitor KORE Mining’s operations at Hot Creek, which could start as early as September 1 of this year, to make sure the company stays within the bounds of its approved projects. She is also working on developing a number of outreach and educational activities for the coming months. Read our full media release, which also gives the background of the KORE Mining saga, and has…
Pine nuts, a high-energy food, helped sustain Native peoples of the Eastern Sierra through the winter. Friends of the Inyo’s annual impact report, which we usually release at mid-year to celebrate the previous year’s accomplishments, is symbolically named thus to acknowledge the support of our donors, funders, and volunteers, whose generosity sustains our work of protecting and caring for the land and water of the Eastern Sierra.