Are you passionate about Eastern Sierra public lands, water, wildlife, and events and outings, and want to get involved?

Join us to meet other like minded people and find the perfect way for you to be part of the Sierra Club's projects to explore, protect, and enjoy our area.

This event is for those that live in the Eastern Sierra to deepen our relationships with one another and work together to protect our local natural treasures. Please register here.

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No word yet on Kore Mining's Long Valley Exploratory Drilling Project as to whether an environmental report will be the next step or if the project will be approved and drilling beginning right away. As of Aug 2, the USFS has reviewed the public comments and is waiting for some of the resource reports.  A decision may be forthcoming in September. Kore Mining has not lost interest. In fact on July 30 they announced they formed an "Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability Committee." According to their website, “The formation of the ESG Committee will help us focus on key stakeholder issues as we continue work to advance the Imperial and Long Valley gold projects in California. We are confident our work in this area will demonstrate to investors, local communities and other stakeholders that we take ESG matters seriously with a commitment to high standards.” (See first article above.) 

(Picture: Where Kore Mining will be drilling as soon as they can, 14 drill sites.)

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The California Natural Resources Agency has hosted three seminars on different topics related to California’s 30x30 Goal to protect 30% of the state’s lands and waters by 2030. They are asking for our input. What protections are important for you? The Range of Light Group and all the California Sierra Club Chapters have been involved in providing input. Add your voice too. The upcoming webinars are:

• Advancing 30x30: Conservation of Lands on August 10, 3-6pm
• Advancing 30x30: Conservation of Coastal Waters on August 17, 3-6pm

Find out more and signup for them here. To register, click on the drop down arrow for Topical Workshop 4, and then scroll down to the registration link. 

(Picture: Protect the Bodie Hills, put them on the list.)

Please write to CA-8 Representative Jay Obernolte and encourage him to push his bill H.R. 3649 Mono Lake Kutzadika’a Paiute Tribal Recognition Act through the Natural Resources Committee. The bill has one co-sponsor so far, Don Young of AK. More are needed. Please write to the Natural Resources Committee asking them to support this important, long time in coming recognition and bill. Don’t let the bill languish. Read more about the Mono Lake Kutzadika’s heritage here.
(Picture: Mono Lake Kutzadika's tribe.)

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The BLM released the scoping document for phase two of Mojave Precious Metals (MPM) plan to further explore for gold at Conglomerate Mesa. MPM is the new California subsidiary of K2 Gold that was set up to counter the argument that a Canadian company was extracting our country’s gold. Conglomerate Mesa is a sacred place, a climate refuge for declining Joshua Trees, and the only place in the world where the rocks tell the story of an ancient North American coastline. Comments are due August 30, 2021. Click here for documents and how to submit comments. Read more. 

(Picture: Conglomerate Mesa billboard on Hwy 395.)

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It has been 24 years since the 1991 Environmental Impact Report officially took effect in 1997 that identified projects that would mitigate some of the damage done to the environment in the Owens Valley from excessive groundwater pumping in the 1970s and 1980s. LADWP started groundwater pumping in the Owens Valley to fill the second barrel of the LA Aqueduct, which caused at least 655 acres of groundwater dependent vegetation to die off and all but one major spring in the valley to dry up. By 2008 a final list of 64 mitigation projects emerged following an MOU, several court orders, a CEQA project, and MOU party agreements. Where do we stand with these projects today? Read more.

(Picture: Mitigation site called TIN054 by Well 349. Drip lines were set up and 108 grass clumps planted by 2004.)

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