Mammoth Lakes Basin Planning Effort Underway

From YubaNet.com

Regional
Mammoth Lakes Basin Planning Effort Underway
Author: Nancy Upham, Inyo National Forest
Published on Sep 8, 2010 - 7:42:02 AM

Sept. 7, 2010 - Thanks to a grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the Inyo National Forest has partnered with the Town of Mammoth Lakes, the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA), and Friends of the Inyo to study mobility and outdoor-recreation patterns in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. As one of Mammoth’s most popular amenities, the area sees thousands of visitors every summer who come to experience a wide diversity of recreation experiences. The Mammoth Lakes Basin is also a critical watershed providing water resources to Mammoth Lakes and other downstream communities. Proper planning and management will ensure that the Lakes Basin can continue to provide exceptional recreational experiences while protecting and sustaining the natural resources of the area.

Over the last eighteen months, data and information have been collected to better inform the planning process. The Forest Service, along with partner organizations, is seeking input from the public that will continue to inform the process and future management decisions. There are two upcoming opportunities to get involved, provide input, and participate:

1. Attend a series of collaborative public meetings: “State of the Lakes Basin” (Sept. 30), “Lakes Basin Recreation Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow” (Oct. 14), and “Lakes Basin Mobility & Transportation” (Oct. 28.) The public may participate in person or through a combination Webinar/conference call; materials will be made available for review on the MLTPA Web site (www.mltpa.org/projects/current/SOS_2010/LABSS/) in advance of these meetings.

2. isit the blog at www.labss.wordpress.com to share Lakes Basin impressions and suggestions through a variety of discussion topics.

Through these processes, the Forest Service intends to work with the public to examine existing use patterns and conditions, identify problems, and work collaboratively to develop solutions that will sustain recreation and natural resources of the Mammoth Lakes Basin.