Appealing the Categorical Exclusion Decision on the Long Valley Gold Exploration Project

The Sierra Club (through the Range of Light Group), Center of Biological Diversity, Western Watershed Project, and Friends of the Inyo filed an appeal regarding a recent US District Court decision that will allow KORE Mining's gold exploration project at Hot Creek to proceed under a categorical exclusion (CE). CEs are commonly used by the Forest Service for many mineral exploration projects and most of them also impact the environment. We are pushing back because there will be harm to the environment if this project goes forward. Read more...
 

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Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, April 22nd
10am - 5pm
Bishop City Park

We'll be tabling at Earth Day Sierra and Community Art Day on the 22nd and we hope to see you there! There will be live music, artist and food booths, kids activities, native dance, and other Earth Day activities! Stop by our table to learn about everything we're doing for the Eastern Sierra and take your shot at an Earth Day game for a fun prize.

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State and BLM Large Scale Solar Planning

The scoping period recently ended for the 2022 BLM Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) also known as the Western Solar Project. The project is a revision of the planning for large-scale solar on BLM lands completed in 2012. Ten years later, the technology has evolved significantly and solar development doesn't need to be only on flat land and in very sunny regions. Read more...

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California Gold Cyanidation Ban

Virtual Presentation
April 25, 2023
6:30-8:00pm

Range of Light Group has been looking for ways to discourage exploratory drilling for gold in the Eastern Sierra. One possible way would be a statewide ban on the use of cyanide in the extraction of gold from ore. In this presentation we will learn why we don’t really need gold, and explore the harms gold mines inflict on landscapes, water supplies, biodiversity, and the carbon footprint. Read more and register...

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Volunteers Needed for Tabling and Leading Hikes

There are so many ways to get involved with your local Sierra Club group! Join us when we table at community events like Earth Day. It's easy and a fun way to spread the word on all that we do in the Eastern Sierra, and interact with the community with Earth Day activities and more. Or, do you love to hike? Do you love to show people your favorite hikes? Well then, you sound like the perfect hike leader volunteer! Not just hikes, but anything you're interested in outside - kayaking, bird watching, whatever your passion. Contact rangeoflight.sc@gmail.com to learn more.

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Every Last Drop: Calm Before the Storm

On April 1, LADWP and Mono Lake Committee staff met on the shores of Mono Lake to read the lake's water level. It is an annual ritual. It was 6379.99' (elevation); just one hundred of an inch below the level (6380') where LADWP would be able to export 16,000 acre foot (AF) of water from the Mono Basin. Mother Nature saved the day. LADWP is allowed to take only 4,500 AF this runoff year. It would have made a difference to the lake if they took 16,000 AF whereas 4,500 AF will not. Read more...

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If you would like to help us protect the environment, contact us. We'd love to have your help and input! Thank you!