Attend an online State Water Board information-gathering workshop tomorrow, Wednesday, February 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. Pacific Time. Write to the State Water Board by March 17 asking it to suspend water diversions by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) until Mono Lake rises back to a healthy, sustainable level. Find out how you can get involved.
Policy
While Friends of the Inyo supports renewable energy development, we do not support it at the cost of destroying lands with ecological, cultural, historic, scenic, or other important values. It is imperative that the BLM hear from the Eastern Sierra community so that they can take our opinions and concerns into consideration when deciding if and how to amend their 2012 Plan. Find out what you can do!
Despite January’s wet weather, Mono Lake’s surface elevation is so low that an intervention is needed. The Mono Lake Committee has asked the State Water Board to suspend stream diversions until the lake rises enough to protect wildlife and the ecosystem, and to quickly schedule a hearing to implement long-term stream diversion changes that will ensure Mono Lake can rise to the healthy, sustainable level mandated by the Board in 1994. Now is an important time to speak up for our beloved Mono Lake! Take action and make your voice heard! Write a letter to the State Water Board. Start here!
(Photo by Diana Tomback) In a December 14 press release, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced a final action to list the whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Service has concluded that the whitebark pine is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout its range. Service Regional Director Matt Hogan said, “As a keystone species of the West, extending ESA protections to whitebark pine is critical to not only the tree itself, but also the numerous plants, animals, and watersheds that it supports.” The final rule to list…
The Policy Director leads and provides strategic direction for Friends of the Inyo’s policy programs to fulfill our mission to protect and care for the public lands of the Eastern Sierra, working to ensure the health and vibrancy of the ecosystems of public lands throughout Inyo and Mono Counties. The position reports directly to the Executive Director. The Policy Director is a permanent position that could be part- or full-time and could be remote, but frequent travel to California’s Eastern Sierra is required. Details, including compensation package and instructions on how to apply for this or other available opportunities, are on the…
Please come to an Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 19, at our new satellite office space, located at 142 East Bush Street, across from the post office in Lone Pine. There will be free food, drinks, and the opportunity to meet our board and staff, and to mix & mingle with your Eastern Sierra neighbors. No RSVP necessary. Just show up! While Friends of the Inyo has always worked to protect and care for the lands of Southern Inyo County, the opening of our Lone Pine office is an important demonstration of our long-term commitment to…
On August 3rd, attend virtually the first ever Great Basin Water Justice Summit, which is bringing together diverse water protectors from Eastern California, Nevada, and Utah to discuss water justice issues. Then, later in the week, attend in person a movie screening of award-winning local short films on water justice. Two dates and locations to choose from: Cerro Coso Community College Bishop Campus Friday, Aug. 5th, and Mammoth Campus Saturday, Aug. 6th. These events are FREE and open to the public.
“The futures of tourism, wildlife and ranching in Mono County are now at the mercy of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power – according to environmental groups – now that a court has upheld the agency’s authority to cut irrigation water.” Click here to read the entire article, which has been distributed to numerous media outlets throughout the Western U.S., thanks to our partnership with Public News Service. We Need Your Support! If you would like to help Friends of the Inyo continue the good fight for water justice in the Eastern Sierra, please read our June…
The latest issue of Friends of the Inyo’s Jeffrey Pine Journal, now in its twentieth year, features timely conservation-related topics such as fire management, wayward balloon litter in nature, the 30×30 Initiative to conserve 30 percent of our public lands and coastal waters by 2030, and more. Click on the image above or this link to access and download a pdf version. Happy reading! Please remember that you can get a hard copy of the Jeffrey Pine Journal delivered to your home twice a year, in Spring and Fall, as one of the perks of membership with Friends of the…
In a recent conversation with “The Oxygen Starved Podcast” hosts Mono County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stacey Adler and Mono County Free Library Director Christopher Platt, Friends of the Inyo’s Executive Director Wendy Schneider talks about public land stewardship and protection, leadership, family and more. Take a listen. Begin at min. 32 of the podcast. Happy listening…And if you like what you hear, happy sharing!