Blog
Time Sensitive: Act by Friday, June 23! Please read our full Action Alert appeal.
Go to any ghost town in the Western U.S., and, if you can see beyond the romanticism of wooden mineworker shacks, company stores, hoist houses, mine trolleys and railways in tunnels that no longer go anywhere, you will see the ugly ghosts of desecrated landscapes, exploited resources, short-lived fortunes, and broken dreams. Those are the Ghosts of Mining Past, and they can teach us much about the industry’s boom-and-bust curse. That is the legacy of mining. It always has been.
Many national parks now require entry fees to be paid via credit or debit card. With access to nature—a costly affair—already a challenge for Latinos, cashless access to national parks represents still another barrier for ubanked Latinos to enjoy the great outdoors. In response to this, Friends of the Inyo is hosting a FREE bilingual outreach event called “Naturaleza, Conectividad y Crédito” (“Nature, Connectivity and Credit”) in Bishop on July 15, as part of Latino Conservation Week. In partnership with AltaOne Federal Credit Union, Naturaleza, Conectividad y Crédito aims to help local Latinos and others apply for credit to facilitate…
Caring for the Eastern Sierra also means caring for the people who live in the Eastern Sierra. Which is why, as part of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, Friends of the Inyo’s column, “Amigos de Nuestras Tierras” (“Friends of Our Lands”), which publishes in local Spanish-language weekly, El Sol de la Sierra, looks to highlight news that can help improve the quality of life for members of our local Hispanic community. In the latest issue of El Sol, our column focuses on Cerro Coso Community College’s Associate Teacher Certificate of Achievement Program, a 12-unit course taught online, in Spanish,…
Summer, which begins this month, is always better with Friends…of the Inyo! Start getting into the energy of the season by reading the June issue of The Juniper! Happy reading. And if you like what you read…happy sharing!
By Joseph Miller, Indigenous Community Relations Coordinator Introduction Burners Without Borders is a volunteer organization devoted to providing innovative disaster relief solutions, and supporting underserved communities by participating in service projects that promote resiliency. Since its inception, Burners Without Borders has grown to a worldwide organization and has become a forerunner in creative solutions to bring about positive community change. The 2023 Burners Without Borders Summit was held on May 19th through May 21st on the Burning Man Project owned Fly Ranch, located on the Hualapai Flat near Gerlach, NV. This is what I witnessed and felt as a summit…
As we head into Memorial Day weekend after a long winter season, the Inyo National Forest would like to caution visitors to plan for a safe trip, while also being aware of winter’s impacts to its recreation sites. There is also a heightened risk of flooding, rock or landslides, debris flows, road or trail washouts and avalanches.
Speak Up On How Bureau of Land Management Lands Should Be Managed! – Attend an in-person or online public meeting in early June (two dates to choose from), and offer YOUR public comments on the BLM’s draft Public Lands Rule, a once-in-a-generation change on the Bureau’s land management priorities; and/or – Submit written comments by the June 20th deadline!
If you have not yet made up your mind about joining Friends of the Inyo for our FREE Spring Dark Desert Skies Campout at Conglomerate Mesa this coming weekend, May 19-21, perhaps listening to our Desert Lands Organizer, Jaime Lopez Wolters, talk about the wonders that await will entice you. Listen to his guest appearance on KMMT FM Radio’s Arts, Culture & Entertainment (ACE) Show last Friday, May 12, get to know him a little better, and learn what you will be missing if you don’t join us for what promises to be a wonderful experience under the stars!
Friends: May is that in-between month when we apply Earth Day lessons learned in April, as we prepare for summer, which begins in June. Read about what Friends of the Inyo has been up to – with your support, of course – in the May Juniper! Happy reading! And if you like what you read, happy sharing!
There are thousands of “winged” reasons to #KeepLongValleyGreen: The permanent avian residents of the lush meadows and Crowley Lake, as well as the many migrating visitors who grace the natural landscape with their presence and song! Read all about it and enjoy some breathtaking photography and thoroughly informative descriptions of our fine feathered friends in the April issue of “Every last Drop.” Help us share it widely.
Ellen Wehr is General Counsel for the Grassland Water District in Merced County. She has practiced water and land use law in Sacramento since 2007, specializing in Central Valley Project water issues. Besides serving as Secretary on Friends of the Inyo’s Board of Directors, she also serves on the boards of Ducks Unlimited and Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority. Listen to her talk to Golden State Naturalist Podcast Host Michelle Fullner about the geology, history and hydrology of California’s Central Valley. It’s a fascinating conversation!