Opportunity for Public Input on Forest Health Project
Eastern Sierra Climate Communities Resilience Project aims to reduce wildfire danger and improve forest health and resilience around the Town of Mammoth Lakes
BISHOP, Calif., October 24, 2022 — The Inyo National Forest invites public input on the proposed action for the Eastern Sierra Climate Communities Resilience Project (ESCCRP/Project), a partner-driven project aimed to reduce the potential of catastrophic wildfire and improve forest health and resilience.
The Project includes the removal of vegetation over roughly 56,000 acres, to reduce density and bring the landscape closer to its natural condition around the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and toward desired conditions identified in the Inyo National Forest Land Management Plan.
Methods may include hand labor and/or mechanized equipment where effective and appropriate. Work will be conducted at an increased pace and scale to meet the urgent need to restore forests to a more natural and resilient state. The generated biomass may be burned, chipped, left for public fuelwood gathering, or removed for sale.
“We cannot do this work alone,” said Nathan Sill, Resources/Planning Officer for Inyo National Forest. “We are incredibly grateful for our partners such as the Whitebark Institute who are helping us meet our shared stewardship goals in reducing hazardous fuels and restoring forest resilience surrounding Mammoth.”
The Purpose and Need and Proposed Action is available now for review and comment regarding the scope of analysis, issues, opportunities, concerns, and suggestions at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61827
To facilitate information sharing with the public, and in partnership with the Whitebark Institute, the Inyo National Forest will host two meetings about the Project (see details below).
How to submit comments by November 18, 2022:
- Online: click on link above, then “Comment/Object on Project” on right side of the page.
- Mail: Fred Wong, District Ranger, c/o Erin Noesser
Inyo National Forest Supervisors Office
351 Pacu Ln. Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514
(You may also hand-deliver to this address Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) - Information-sharing meetings:
- November 2 from 10-11:30 a.m. – Virtually on Zoom: us02web.zoom.us/j/86763579627?pwd=Z0YrblJmM21WV3h4dUFyc3drK0lDQT09 (Meeting ID: 867 6357 9627. Passcode: 750924)
- November 3 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. – In-person:
Mono County Community Center, 1290 Tavern Rd., Mammoth Lakes in the Mono Lake Room (second floor of the Civic Center).
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(From Inyo National Forest)
