This post was written by Morgan, 2011 Project Specialist.
The Bodie Hills, one of the nation’s treasures located just north of Mono Lake, contain outstanding natural and cultural values that deserve special protection. Now a gold mining company wants to reopen the Bodie Hills to mining, with a presentation to the Mono County Board of Supervisors scheduled for February 15. Letters from concerned members of the public can make a big difference; details are available from The Bodie Hills Conservation Partnership.
The remote and spectacular Bodie Hills overlook Mono Lake, and were recently named to a short-list of sites up for possible consideration as a National Monument. They comprise some 200,000 acres of mostly public land, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and include Bodie State Historic Park, a gold rush era ghost town and one of California’s most popular state parks.
However, the current high price of gold is prompting mining companies to take an interest in mining gold in the Bodie Hills, particularly in the Bodie Wilderness Study Area, located northeast of Bodie State Historic Park.
More importantly, people come to Mono County and the Bodie Hills from all over the world to experience the area’s vast open spaces and clean air, its scenic beauty, birds and wildlife, small historic towns, and the feeling of isolation and wildness that they convey. Tourism is a critical mainstay of the local economy and over time will ultimately be more sustainable than boom-and-bust mining.
Protection of the spectacular Bodie Hills is critical to ensure that the historic, cultural, biological, and scenic values of this area will be available for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. Please consider sending a letter to the Mono County Supervisors today.