The Juniper for June 2021 | Friends of the Inyo

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Dear Friends,

Like many of you, the work done by Friends of the Inyo is incredibly meaningful to me because I know the Eastern Sierra to be such a special place. I can’t express in words just how grateful I am to have been welcomed to the FOI community so graciously and for the privilege of being a part of this wonderful team for the past two and a half years.

It is very bittersweet to share that I am leaving the organization to pursue other professional and personal goals. I’m thankful for my experience at FOI, the relationships I’ve built because of it, and the opportunity to have seen first-hand your incredible support for its mission.

I know I’ll find myself at many of FOI's events in the future and I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Kyle Hamada

Trail Ambassadors are Off to a Hot Start

June is here. The days get longer, the mercury inches higher on the thermometer as we near the summer solstice. And of course so too arrives the Trail Ambassador season at Friends of the Inyo. Our TAs are already out there, doing great work to maintain trails, pick-up trash, and educate and inform the recreating public on how to do so with as little and impact as possible.

Check out our Stewardship Director, Alex Ertaud's blog post about what all the TAs will be doing, and where they will be. Happy trails!

Our Summer Volunteer Events Calendar is Live!

Want to get out and give back to the public lands you enjoy so much? Join us at one of our volunteer events throughout the summer!

Volunteer Backcounty Stewardship Week | Eagle Creek, 6/21-23/2021 - Space Limited, RSVP today!
June Lake Trails Day, 6/26/2021, 08:30-12:30 - Event capped at 60 participants, RSVP today!
Rock Creek Lake Clean-Up, 7/24/2021, 08:30-12:30
Volunteer Backcountry Stewardship Week | Cottonwood Creek, 8/6-9/2021 - Space limited, RSVP today!
Bridgeport Trails Day, 9/18/2021, 8:30-12:30
National Public Lands Day w/ Bishop BLM, 9/25/2021, 8:30-12:30

See all our Events

Congressman Obernolte Introduces Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Paiute Tribal Recognition Act

We are pleased to share that District 8 Congressman Jay Obernolte has introduced H.R. 3649, the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Paiute Tribal Recognition Act to grant federal recognition to the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Tribe.
Congressman Paul Cook originally introduced a similar bill in the 116^th Congress prior to his retirement in 2019. Please reach out to our Congressman and thank him for his leadership on this important issue and show your support for the Kutzadika'a people.

Click here for updates on the progress of the bill, read the Congressman's press release about the matter.

Keep Long Valley Green Coalition Newsletter!

June Campaign Update

LADWP had committed to do exactly what the Alameda County Superior Court ordered the agency to do: leave at least enough water in southern Mono County to support the activities and ecosystems that have arisen there over the last 80 years. When the court ruled against LADWP the litigious agency threw out their promise and appealed the Court's order. This combative move follows the LADWP strategy to force Mono County and nonprofits fighting for the health of our land to needlessly expend their resources. The Keep Long Valley Green coalition continues to pressure LADWP to enter into a long term management plan regarding water in southern Mono County and is building resources and partners for a drawn out fight.

Our coalition is also working to pressure the agency to share the conservation dividends that have resulted from the water savings by the people of Los Angeles over the last four decades with Payahuunadü (the Eastern Sierra). The coalition will pressure the agency to achieve these goals through releasing a film and series of short clips this fall, and by producing a new email series demonstrating the broken promises of LADWP and highlighting a more positive future where water savings can be shared equitably. These savings can provide adequate water for Los Angeles ratepayers with little need to dewater the Eastern Sierra.

Visit the Keep Long Valley Green page on Friends of the Inyo's site to learn more, and see the coalition's site at KeepLongValleyGreen.org. Also be sure to sign up for the newsletter: Murky Waters and Conservation Dividends

Fire Restrictions in Effect on Inyo National Forest & Bishop BLM Lands

On May 24, the Inyo National Forest & Bishop BLM Field Office instituted fire restrictions across all lands they manage. Campfires outside of a fire ring or pit in an established campground are prohibited, and all users of camp stoves must have a California Campfire Permit.

Click Here for the Full Announcement

Graphic courtesy of Mammoth Lakes Trail System.

Shady Rest-Inyo Craters Planning Meeting Set for June 17th

The Town of Mammoth Lakes, Mono County, Mammoth Lakes Recreation, and the Inyo National Forest are conducting a three-year planning grant surrounding recreation in the Shady Rest-Inyo Craters (SRIC) area between Mammoth Lakes and June Lake, west of Highway 395.

On June 17th, at the Shady Rest Park Pavilion in Mammoth, there will be a public meeting with the project planners. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about this project and ask any questions you may have.

This is not a Friends of the Inyo event. We are listing this planning meeting to encourage our members to become aware and engaged in the planning process. Friends of the Inyo is researching this issue and will be releasing formal position statements in the future.

Click Over to the Project Page

Reminder: New Office Location

I'd like to remind you that we have moved from our previous location on Barlow Lane to a new downtown office on West Line Street. Please also take a moment to update our address in your contact records so that all donations and correspondence will go to the right address.