Inyo National Forest

Projects & Plans - Mono Lake Trail Project

GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

The Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center (SAVC) sits approximately 1.1 miles from the western shore of Mono Lake. An average of 118,000 people visit the SAVC annually seeking to learn about the unique volcanic Mono Basin and recreate in the beauty of the Mono Lake and the Sierra Nevada range.

The need for this project is to provide access from the Scenic Area Visitor Center to the Mono Lake shore. Currently there is no marked trail or road that will take visitors directly from the SAVC to Mono Lake and vice versa. Visitors consistently inquire as to how they might walk down to Mono Lake and are disappointed to learn there is no practical way. This project would remedy this problem and enhance the recreation opportunities within the Scenic Area.

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

Project Update: 3/28/08
The Forest Service, Inyo National Forest, Mono Lake Ranger District, has completed and is adopting an Environmental Assessment/Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the "Mono Lake Trail" project, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  Through these analyses, it has been found that the selected alternative will not have a significant effect on the environment.  The joint document was circulated for a 30-day public review and comment period during which limited comments were received. 

In partnership with California State Parks and the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Forest Service has selected the "Modified Proposed Action" that authorizes the construction of an interpretive trail from the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center to the “Old Marina” recreation site within the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. 

A Notice of Determination, Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), associated findings, and copies of the EA/IS/MND are available in the pdf files below.

Additional information regarding this action can be obtained from:

Mike Schlafmann
PO Box 429
Lee Vining, CA  93541
Phone: 760-647-3010
E-mail: mschlafmann@fs.fed.us

Those who have provided comments or expressed interest in the proposed project during the above mentioned comment period are eligible to appeal the decision notice pursuant to 36 CFR part 215 regulations.  Appeals must be submitted to Jim Upchurch, Inyo National Forest, USDA Forest Service, 351 Pacu Ave, Suite 200, Bishop, CA  93514 within 45 days from the date of publication in the newspaper of record, Inyo Register.  Appeals may be submitted by FAX [760-873-2486] or by hand-delivery to the Supervisor’s Office, at the address shown above, during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm).  Electronic appeals, in acceptable [plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf) or Word (.doc)] formats, may be submitted to mschlafmann@fs.fed.us  with Subject: [Mono Lake Trail].

Laketrail Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (131 kb)
Laketrail Notice of Determination (477 kb)
Laketrail Mitigated Negative Declaration (126 kb)
Mono Lake Trail Final Evironmental Assessment (2.96MB)

Project Update: 8/24/07
The Mono Lake Trail Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public review and comment. We invite your participation in the environmental analysis process for this project and welcome your comments, suggestions, and feedback. For details about how to comment on the EA please click on the "Cover Letter and Commenting Procedures" link below.

Cover Letter and Commenting Procedures (43.8 kb)
Draft Environmental Assessment (3.19BMB)
Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (512.26 kb)

Scoping: February 2006
The two PowerPoint (ppt) documents below require Microsoft PowerPoint to be installed on the computer to view.

Scoping Letter (123 kb)
Lake Trail Scoping Map (1.3MB)
Scoping PowerPoint Presentation (.ppt, 2.0MB)
Scoping Field Trip PowerPoint Presentation (.ppt, 7.0MB)