Inn Fire recovery effort: State Reserve boardwalk requires replacement

Recovery efforts are underway from the Inn Fire and a focus is the popular Mono Lake County Park and the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve boardwalk that crosses wetlands to the edge of Mono Lake. Mono County is actively repairing a damaged water system and ensuring public safety at the park, which is currently closed. This week, for the first time since the Inn Fire, we were able to take a close look at the burned State Reserve boardwalk.

Mono Lake Committee staff and State Reserve rangers were joined by Mono County personnel to discuss a collaborative, multi-partner effort that will include the Bodie Foundation and local community to rebuild the boardwalk as rapidly as possible.

Mono Lake Committee staff, State Reserve rangers, and Mono County personnel visited the boardwalk to discuss a collaborative, multi-partner effort to rebuild the boardwalk as rapidly as possible. Photo by Bartshe Miller.

The fire damage is both devastating and fascinating—large sections of the boardwalk, surrounding willows, and the observation platform have burned to the ground, and while some sections remain intact, intermittent burn areas have created holes in the boardwalk surface and destabilized the support structure. Much of the boardwalk winds through lush wetland and marsh, yet the 25-year-old redwood materials burned.

Due to the scale of the damage, the State Reserve anticipates that the entire boardwalk will need to be removed and replaced. The Committee is collaborating with the State Reserve, local partners, and the community to plan and hold volunteer workdays this summer to disassemble and remove what remains of the boardwalk in preparation for construction of a replacement.

The Committee is currently collecting donations specifically to support the reconstruction costs. The Bodie Foundation is accepting donations for the project as well, and the State Reserve is working to secure staffing resources and funding for the project. Mono County is making plans to support the workdays with equipment and staff. Volunteers will be needed and more information will be posted once plans are firmed up. A partnership effort will make this a success!

The viewing platform at the end of the State Reserve boardwalk. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

Rebuilding the boardwalk through the sensitive marsh habitat is a complex challenge that requires design and planning as well as volunteers and securing funding. Donations and the summer volunteer effort will help get this beloved Mono Lake visitation spot reconstructed sooner.

As a reminder, County Park and the State Reserve boardwalk are currently closed to public access. Fire crews, Mono County, and the State Reserve all have much work to do before the area is safe for visitors.

Due to the scale of the damage, the State Reserve anticipates that the entire boardwalk will need to be removed and replaced. Photo by Bartshe Miller.
Much of the boardwalk winds through lush wetland and marsh, yet the 25-year-old redwood materials burned. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

Top photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

One comment

  1. Such a bummer. We visit the boardwalk during every trip to the Mono basin.

    Anticipating the volunteer schedule!