Mammoth Lakes Community e-News — June 5, 2026

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ACTION ITEMS; JUNE 3

Watch the meeting online.

EXCLUSIVE-USE HELICOPTER ENHANCES EASTERN SIERRA WILDLIFE RESPONSE

Wildfire response capabilities have just expanded in the Eastern Sierra with the assignment of an exclusive-use Type 1 helicopter based at Mammoth Yosemite Airport for the 2026 fire year. CAL FIRE, in partnership with the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Yosemite Airport has placed a CH-47D Chinook helicopter equipped with a 2,800-gallon fixed water tank at the airport to support initial attack and extended wildfire suppression operations throughout the region. The helicopter provides firefighters with a rapid-response aerial resource capable of delivering large volumes of water to emerging incidents, helping slow fire growth and improve firefighter effectiveness on the ground. The placement of this aircraft in Mammoth Lakes reflects the strong partnership between CAL FIRE, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and Mammoth Yosemite Airport. Through continued collaboration, local and state partners are enhancing emergency preparedness and strengthening wildfire response capabilities across Mono County and the Eastern Sierra.

REPORTING BAD BEAR BEHAVIOR

Bears have long been a prominent symbol of wildlife in Mammoth Lakes, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to respect and care for them. An often-overlooked key to successful co-habitation is reporting bad bear behavior as soon as it occurs. By reporting a bear that is demonstrating bad behavior such as getting overly close to people, getting into dumpsters or threatening people for food, you allow professionals the opportunity to teach the bear proper behavior through negative conditioning. This helps prevent the bear from evolving into further bad behavior that can lead to conflict. The Town is dedicated to caring for all wildlife and continues to grow its partnership with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to help manage the wildlife in our community. Both agencies have reporting tools available. Please keep them in mind this summer and let’s all work together to help keep our bears and our community safe.

LAKE MARY ROAD TRAFFIC DELAYS FOR FUELS REDUCTION WORK

Beginning June 8, expect traffic delays on Lake Mary Road and a temporary closure of the multi-use pathway due to forest thinning and fuels reduction work in the area. The project will run from June 8-11 and June 15-18 from 7 am -2 pm. Drivers should expect delays of 15-30 minutes. Forest health and fuels reduction work taking place around Mammoth Lakes this season is part of the Eastern Sierra Climate & Communities Resilience Project (ESCCRP), a collaborative effort led by Whitebark Institute in partnership with the Inyo National Forest and other regional partners, including the Town of Mammoth Lakes.

SAVE THE DATE; SIERRA SUMMER NIGHTS: JUNE 11

The Town in partnership with Mammoth Lakes Tourism is excited to launch Sierra Summer Nights; a FUN, FREE, community event for all ages at Mammoth Creek Park. Beginning at 4:00pm, enjoy local artisan vendors, food trucks, Blue Heron local produce, live music from 6:00-8:00pm, corn hole games and complimentary access to the Mammoth RecZone from 4:30-7:00pm. We’ll see you there!

News Staff