The Mono Lake Committee commented last October on the Inyo National Forest’s Proposed Action for Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation, focusing on the project area surrounding Mono Lake and in the greater Mono Basin.
The Inyo sought comments from the public as part of a process to determine where motorized OSVs such as snowmobiles will be allowed, and which areas should be designated for non-motorized winter activities such as skiing. In the Mono Basin, the Proposed Action designates OSV trails on existing roads around Mono Lake and retains the non-Wilderness areas west of Highway 395 for OSV use.
The Committee’s letter stressed the importance of monitoring and future adaptive management solutions, citing the possibility of climate change bringing unpredictable changes in snow cover and shifting recreation use that may impact soil, vegetation, wildlife, springs, water quality, cultural resources, and scenic values. In particular, the Committee pointed out that Parker Meadows may require additional monitoring given the effort to repatriate Bi-State Sage Grouse there and the possibility for OSV use to occasionally overlap with springtime lekking activity.
This post was also published as an article in the Winter & Spring 2024 Mono Lake Newsletter. Top photo by Nora Livingston.