The Amargosa River is one of the crown jewels of the desert southwest, providing a globally important resource for biodiversity, hydrology, and recreation. It is also one of the most fragile ecosystems in North America, and must be managed with the highest possible level of conservation. Water and protection of flows The Amargosa River is unique among the Wild and Scenic River system in that it is entirely reliant on groundwater discharge for its flows. Essentially all of the ORVs for which the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River was designated depend on sustained groundwater flows for their survival. As such,…
Policy
Did you miss the live event? Join Friends of the Inyo and Sierra Club as we virtually explore Conglomerate Mesa and remind ourselves on why we work so hard to protect this beautiful landscape. This event was hosted by Bryan Hatchell from Friends of the Inyo and Kris Hohag from Sierra Club. They show a recent flyover tour video of Conglomerate Mesa and then dive into the recent threats to this landscape.
Speak for the Eastern Sierra – Two Important Meetings May 25 – Comment on approval of the Urban Water Management Plan The LADWP Board of Commissioners meeting plans to address the Urban Water Management Plan. This meeting includes high level decision makers from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and your comments can make a real difference. The Urban Water Management Planning process provides the city an opportunity to apply conservation gains towards reducing the need to import water. Talking points for comments include: The City of LA has made incredible progress in water conservation. It is clearly…
Coalition Opposes Forest Service’s proposed Categorical Exclusion to Drill for Gold in the Long Valley Read the full letter here Background and Main Objections Kore Mining intends to proceed with exploratory drilling under a catagorical exclusion (CE) to, circumvent environmental review, from the Forest Service. Friends of the Inyo coauthored a 40 page with a powerful coalition of local, regional, and national groups. argued wrote a 40 has long enjoyed serving and recreating in the Alabama Hills. This important document outlines how the plan does not meet Forest Service regulations for a categorical exclusion, and should require an environmental assessment…
Conglomerate Mesa Campaign Update | May 2021 The season of visiting Conglomerate Mesa is on its way out as desert temperatures quickly rise into uncomfortable ranges and folks from across the west are getting in their final trips. As people trend away from their desert trips in Saline Valley and the Southern Inyo Mountains, Conglomerate Mesa remains in limbo from mining threats that would forever alter these landscapes where people from across the globe come to explore and recreate. K2 Gold and Mojave Precious Metals are ramping up for their much more destructive second phase of exploration at Conglomerate Mesa….
LADWP will provide minimal amount of water In late April, DWP indicated by correspondence that it will provide a minimal amount of water for irrigation in Long Valley this year. In early April, the KLVG coalition submitted official comments on DWP’s Urban Water Management Plan pointing out that the data provided by DWP in its draft plan indicates that it is possible for the agency to meet the water demands of its ratepayers and drastically reduce, or even eliminate, reliance on water exported from the Eastern Sierra over the next 25 years. In spite of this, the agency’s draft plan…
Action Alert: Mining Exploration Threatens Long Valley *Updated 5/10: Comment period extended to May 13, 2021 What’s happening? Kore Mining proposes to construct a total of fourteen drilling pads, measuring 30 feet by 50 feet each. Access to these drill pads will require re-opening roughly a third of a mile of road for the duration of the project. Impacts of this proposed project include local quality of life, tourism, air quality, noise pollution, decimated habitat of local flora and fauna (including the at-risk sage grouse and local mule deer). The impacts of the exploration might be only the beginning, however. If…
What’s happening? In October 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-82-20 committing the state to conserve at least 30% of its land and coastal waters by 2030. To help achieve this goal, the order created the California Biodiversity Collaborative, comprised of state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses, sovereign Tribal nations, academics, recreational users, and others. By February 1st, 2022, the relevant state agencies, in consultation with the Collaborative, must develop and report strategies to the governor of how to achieve the 30×30 target. What can I do?
Christopher Leonard’s piece highlights the issues and concisely explains Kore Mining’s proposal to mine gold from the perspective of a local fly-fishing guide. This article was featured on the front page of the annual Green Sheet or page 9 of the .pdf.
Keep Long Valley Green Update LADWP faces no 2021 water shortages, yet refuses to start irrigation in Long and Little Round Valleys The Keep Long Valley Green (KLVG) coalition, made up of ranchers, environmental non-profits, local tribal members, and representatives from a diverse set of recreation interests, continues to seek a long-term commitment from Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to maintain historic water spreading practices in Little Round and Long Valleys. So far, the recalcitrant agency has steadfastly refused. Indeed in 2021, as reported by the LA Times, LADWP faces no foreseeable water shortages and yet has…