By Deb Muphy

Locals will get a chance to identify sustainable recreational projects in the Inyo National Forest during a series of workshops, starting Thursday evening at the Tri-County Fairgrounds. 

The two-year program, Regional Recreation Stakeholder Engagement, is being funded through a $618,750 grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, with Prop. 68 monies and managed by Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access. 

The first question at that workshop will probably be “what is sustainable recreation?” The answer comes from John Wentworth, a Mammoth Town Council member and head of Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access, in the form of an example. 

The bridge on the trail around Horseshoe Lake was in serious need of repair, he explained. Funding for the Forest Service is “trending downward.” The agency didn’t have the money necessary to get the work done so Mammoth Lakes Recreation and trails people stepped up with the funding for the Forest Service to fix the bridge. 

Potential areas for project development include new trails and facility planning and construction, hard infrastructure like bathrooms and utilities, trail maintenance, signage and campground service, visitor center services, county and town recreational infrastructure and new project identification and project planning through the environmental review process.

The goal is to provide a quality experience for visitors to the Eastern Sierra, Wentworth said. Sustainable recreation projects invite visitors, and locals, to explore a welcoming environment and take on new outdoor experiences. 

The workshop will be held in the Tallman Pavilion with an informal meet and greet running from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and public input portion going until 8 p.m.

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News release

Professional facilitator, Michael Ward (who you’ll remember from the Eastern Sierra Recreation Collaborative back in 2014/2016), will lead the group through an agenda that includes overviews and introductions to the “Eastern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership”, the “Sustainable Recreation & Tourism Initiative” and much more. We’ll have some light snacks as well, please bring your own water bottle or cup. The most important component of the evening will – of course – be YOU!

All Eastside recreation enthusiasts who are willing to work together and collaboratively to provide local knowledge that will help enhance Eastside recreation opportunities for the future are invited. Through your participation, you can determine what matters most to the outdoor recreation-based culture and economy of our region, and determine and prioritize projects for future funding opportunities. Everyone from Lone Pine to Markleeville is welcome, so please download the event flyer and share it with your friends!

Recreation Stakeholder Public Workshop – Part 1
September 26, 2019, 5:00 – 8:00PM
• 5:00 PM: Informal Meet & Greet + Guided Historical Review
• 5:45 PM: Introduction to The Sustainable Recreation & Tourism Initiative
• Location: Tallman Pavilion, Tri-County Fairgrounds, Bishop, CA

And please remember to save the date for our second event in October:

Recreation Stakeholder Public Workshop – Part 2
October 17, 2019, 5:00 – 8:00PM
• 5:00 PM: Informal Meet & Greet + Guided Historical Review
• 5:45 PM: Establishing a Regional “Table of Trust” and Criteria for Future Projects
• Location: Tallman Pavilion, Tri-County Fairgrounds, Bishop, CA

Funding for this project has been provided by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, an agency of the State of California, under the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 (Proposition 68) and in support of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program.

Please visit www.essrp.org for additional information about the program or upcoming workshops.