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….
Updates
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…
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…
Press Release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/5/2021 Contact: Kris Hohag, (760) 920-3389, kris.hohag@sierraclub.org Bryan Hatchell, (336) 307-6745, bryan@friendsoftheinyo.org Mining Project Proponents Block Meaningful Public Participation at Town Hall Local businesses, Indigenous leaders, and environmental groups were unable to provide comment and ask questions during the event LONE PINE, CA – On Wednesday, March 24th, Mojave Precious Metals and K2 Gold hosted a virtual “Community Town Hall” about their upcoming road construction and exploratory drilling at National Conservation Lands site Conglomerate Mesa. With roughly 200 people in attendance, community members were eager to share their perspectives and ask company representatives questions…
Friends of the Inyo Commends Decision to Protect the DRECP [Press Release on DRECP] Friends of the Inyo Commends Biden Administration’s Decision to Protect the DRECP, California Desert National Conservation Lands In an announcement today, the Department of the Interior says it would put a stop to efforts by the previous administration to reopen the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). Proposed changes would have rolled back key conservation protections, putting 2.2 million acres set aside for conservation at risk. The following is a statement from Jora Fogg, Policy Director, Friends of the Inyo in response to this announcement: “Friends…
Tribal Nations speak out on Conglomerate Mesa–Friends of the Inyo stands in support Friends of the Inyo stands in support as Tribal Nations call out K2 Gold for ignoring their consultation and request to stop mining at Conglomerate Mesa. Read the Timbisha Shoshone and Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Tribes’ press release below. “Mining Company Threatens Tribal Resources in California Desert” Click here to read the official press release.
The Alabama Hills Management Plan Has Been Released The Bureau of Land Management released the comprehensive management plan for the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area on January 15th, 2021. you can read the BLM’s press release and management plan in their entireties online here. “The plan is designed to provide diverse, high-quality recreational opportunities while minimizing user conflicts, addressing human health and safety concerns, reducing recreational impacts, and enhancing other resources, values, and uses.” – Bureau of Land Management Friends of the Inyo has written a memo highlighting the key points from the management plan. Click here to read our…
Changes to Desert Plan by Trump administration threaten California Desert Proposed rollbacks to the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan threaten 2.2 million acres of precious California Desert lands *UPDATE: Biden Administration Restores the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, Protecting 2 million acres of National Conservation Land. Click here to read more in our press release. “The Trump Administration continues its assault on public lands with an eleventh-hour attempt to gut the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP). These egregious proposed changes to a balanced and comprehensive desert plan that was nearly ten years in the making will strip meaningful…
New Legislation Seeks Federal Recognition for the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Tribe This Autumn, Congressman Paul Cook introduced legislation, H.R.8208, to recognize the tribal sovereignty of the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a tribe. In 2019, Friends of the Inyo submitted a letter of support urging him to move legislation forward recognizing the identity and history of his constituents. Cook’s press release outlines the decades-long struggle to gain recognition from the federal government. Rep. Cook said, “Federal recognition of the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Tribe is long overdue, and it’s time we honor their tireless efforts in preserving their culture and history. I commend the…