Acting Public Affairs Officer for the Forest Service, Marty Hornick, recently responded to citizen complaints about unrepaired facilities on the Forest. Hornick points to serious money shortages and the “massive amounts of funding and resources” that had to be spent on the severe tree blow down in the Reds Meadow area last year.
A commenter on our website questioned the unrepaired parking lot access road, washed out three season ago, at the Yost and Fern Trailhead in the June Lake area. The commenter said nothing has been done except for placement of what was described as a “dangerous log bridge over the creek.”
Hornick said there are a number of reasons for this delayed repair. He said there are specific requirements related to aquatics and watershed, but he said the biggest hurdle has been the need for sufficient money. Hornick said the Forest Service has requested funds numerous times from multiple funding sources to replace the bridge with something that “meets today’s engineering and environmental standards and won’t get washed out like the last one.”
Hornick said that coincidentally the Forest did just recently receive partial funding for the bridge replacement and will try to figure out how to “squeeze the remainder from our other very tight programs on the Forest.” He said they hope to have the bridge installed this calendar year.”
The other citizen complaint was about the deterioration of the Silver Lake boat launch dock with holes and exposed rebar. Hornick said the Forest Engineer is aware of the conditions of the Silver Lake boat launch but did not determine it was an imminent safety hazard that required closure. Hornick said the engineer has been looking into funding for replacement of the dock. The engineer will evaluate the dock this spring to see if it can remain open until repairs can be made.
Hornick emphasized that the Forest has serious money issues and has to prioritize projects. He pointed to the “massive amounts of funding” and other resources on the clean-up of the severe tree blow down in the Reds Meadow area last winter. He said this expense was in direct competition for money and resources with many other important projects which had to be deferred. He said some of the funds initially earmarked for Mount Whitney Trail reconstruction were “channeled into the disaster response in the Reds Meadow area.” This response, Hornick said, was a higher priority than the Fern Lake Trailhead.
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Marty Hornick is completely out of touch with what happens on the ground. I’m always encouraging him to step away from his desk and visit the forest – he claims that he’s “too busy.” What a shame!
Marty also supports the taking of green sticker grants (By the Friends of the Inyo), to be used on projects that do NOT support a sustainable green sticker program. Why do they continue to do this?
Marty’s Friends of the Inyo are too embarrassed by their work, hence the reason they do not mention any of it (log barricading and illegal trail destruction/modification) on their website. Why all the secrets, that’s what I want to know.
Marty’s FOI should be ashamed of themselves and of their failed OHV management program (back door deals). I will pray for them, but ultimately the user groups will decide their fate.
good luck everyone in Mammoth/Bishop!
there is a Civil Rights office in Washinton D.C that you can call or file complaints regarding abuse of power from our U.S.F.S department in Inyo and Mono County. Look on the latest June Lake story regarding Dusty’s land Swap. Scroll down and you’ll see a posting of who to report what’s going on in Inyo and Mono Counties forest. I’ve already filed 2 complaints and working on third. Roberts number is his cell phone, Send a email to. It’s the only way to get some justice in our area. Also call the Mono county Supervisor directly (in the phone book) and tell them don’t sign on the O.H.V grant. Fred Stump,Tim Alper,Tim fesko, and Byng Hunt. No sign, No Money honey!!
all government run agencies need to be managed by an “honest”group of elected officials,who actually are concerned about where peoples hard earned tax dollars are being spent,you see spending problems from the bottom to the top,in every branch of government.you say you want a revolution?
This is simply a smoke screen by the Forest Service. They have applied for a grant from OHV funding of about $500,000 ($300,000 of which will be given to Friends of Inyo) to close and “restore” roads that are not on the 2009 Travel Management Plan. This is their priority! This is where the money is going. Only public awareness and comment can change their idea of what is appropriate stewardship of our land. Comments must be received by April 1. Information can be found on the Forest Service website and the grants can be reviewed and commented on at the CA OHV site. http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1164
The USFS in the Eastern Sierra is run like a criminal organization with the Friends of the Inyo doing their dirty work for 30 pieces of silver. Disgusting.
Why is it that government always “never has enough money”? Just another excuse to try to steal more money from the people that are productive..WHERE HAS ALL THOSE BILLIONS OF STIMULIS DOLLARS GONE? Cool, so we can sue on poorly maintained FS property?i.e The Silver Lake boat launch dock.There is a reason we call it the Forest Circus
“Hey Boo Boo, let’s go get us a pic-a-nic basket”.
From The December 11, 2012 Monrovia Patch-
The United States Forest Service held an open house and dedication ceremony for its new $14 million Angeles National Forest headquarters at 701 Santa Anita Ave. in Arcadia on Tuesday.
http://monrovia.patch.com/articles/first-look-new-forest-service-headquarters#photo-12539224
$14 million !!
They should be working out of tents.
This is more USFS lies. They are going to cut all the $12.00 an hour people who do the maintenance and leave the high dollar desk jockeys like Hornick in place. Hornick spends hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars to close roads that have been open to the public for decades.
The USFS goal is to punish the American public so they can claim they need more money. Don’t fall for it folks!