Volunteer Backcountry Work Week: Cottonwood Creek and Tres Plumas Meadow Wilderness Fence Removal

Join Friends of the Inyo and the Inyo National Forest for a backcountry volunteer trip in the White Mountains from June 19 – 21, 2026

The mission!

Volunteers will spend 2 nights camped along upper Cottonwood Creek in the White Mountains. Cottonwood Creek is a federally designated Wild and Scenic River, home of a nursery population of the Paiute cutthroat trout, a fish listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Volunteers will work for two full days on dismantling obsolete barbed wire fencing and other debris in upper Cottonwood Creek and Tres Plumas Meadow. Tasks will involve cutting and rolling up barbed wire, pulling up t-posts, and digging out and/or sawing wooden corner braces and hauling debris.

Why fence removal?

These fences were constructed to manage livestock when the area had active grazing and were in use until 2000, after which livestock were removed from this area. The fences have been deteriorating in wilderness and are in non-functional condition. This fence debris not only impairs the wilderness character of the area and impedes recreational access to the creek and meadows, it also presents an entrapment hazard for wildlife that utilize these meadows.

Who can join this trip?

This project is open to any volunteers with an interest in backcountry volunteer work and a physical ability to perform physical work in a remote setting.

Timing 

Volunteers will meet in Bishop, California, in the morning of June 19th at 8am and load into Forest Service and Friends of the Inyo vehicles. From Bishop, there will be an approximately 2.5-hour drive to upper Cottonwood Creek, over rough, high clearance 4wd roads, to a dispersed camp site that the group will utilize. Personal vehicles may be utilized for those with a high clearance, off-road capable vehicle and experience with challenging driving conditions. We will set up camp near Cottonwood Creek.

The first day will involve setting up camp and removing and hauling materials near Cottonwood Creek. The second day will involve an approximately 1.5 mile hike one-way to Tres Plumas meadow, where we will dismantle a small barbed wire exclosure fence and haul the material back to the camp site. We will complete hauling and removal of other nearby fence debris on the last day, and return to Bishop by evening on Sunday, June 21st. Work days will mostly be from 9:00am – 4:30pm.

Work Location

This worksite will be in upper Cottonwood Creek at the end of a road leading into the White Mountains Wilderness. The drive requires high clearance 4WD and recovery gear, and vehicle access will be provided by USFS and Friends of the Inyo. Volunteers should bring all amenities desired for car camping, including chairs, tables, cooler and other camp equipment. We will drive to the end of the road highlighted in orange in the map below and set up camp at the location shown. From there we will hike along the trails shown to the project work sites.

Gear

All tools will be provided by the Forest Service and Friends of the Inyo, but volunteers will be expected to have sturdy hiking boots, long sleeves and long pants, and appropriate gear for potential rain.

Volunteers should bring their own camping gear, food and cookware. Bear resistant canisters will be provided. Waterproof boots are strongly recommended for working in the meadow.

Email izzy@friendsoftheinyo.org with “White Mountain fence removal” in the subject to sign up

To support effective project planning, we ask that volunteers commit to a work week only if they are confident they can participate as scheduled. Last-minute changes can impact the success of the project, and we appreciate your reliability and consideration.