For Release: September 17, 2007

Contact: Diana Pietrasanta (760) 872-5028
CA-CC-07-75 

The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office proposes to restore and protect important meadow habitat and provide sustainable recreation access near the hot springs at Hill Top Tub, Long Valley. The proposed project is just north of the Benton Crossing Road in Mono County.

 

“The BLM welcomes public use of this area, but impacts to the alkali meadows have reached unacceptable levels,” said Field Manager Bill Dunkelberger. “This project is intended to restore the meadows and minimize future impacts by providing responsible recreation access.”

 

BLM is inviting public comments on the proposed project.

  

The elements of the proposed project are: (1) Modify the current road and parking areas to better protect adjoining meadow habitat from vehicle trespass; (2) Construct parking areas (including informational/educational signs) in desert scrub habitat at the meadow’s edge; (3) Improve the existing quarter-mile access road to the parking areas to improve drainage and reduce cross-country vehicle trespass and (4) Construct a “meadow compatible” trail from the parking area to provide access to the tub site and protect adjoining wetlands from human impacts.

 

This proposal conforms to the BLM’s Resource Management Plan’s prescriptions for the Long Valley area and objectives of the Bishop Field Office Programmatic Off-Highway Vehicle Route Restoration Environmental Assessment decision record. Work will likely begin in fall of 2007 and be completed in 2008. 

 

The BLM is accepting public comments on the proposed project through Oct. 12, 2007. Additional information requests or comments on the proposed project can be addressed to Diana Pietrasanta, Outdoor Recreation Planner, BLM – Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, Calif. 93514, call (760) 872-5028.