Alerts & Closures

Alerts Archive

June 2024

• Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective July 1

  Date(s): Jun 27, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024

  Inyo National Forest will be in Stage I Fire Restrictions starting Monday, July 1 to protect natural resources and provide for public safety.

  Dispersed campfires on the ground will no longer be permitted. However, campfires in designated developed recreation sites and portable stoves still be allowed with a California Campfire Permit.

  The following acts are prohibited within Inyo National Forest:

  1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire except in Forest Service-provided campfire ring or in a standing grill within a Developed Recreation Site listed in Exhibit A. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(a).
  2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, within the Developed Recreation Sites listed in Exhibit A, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(d).
  3. Welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame. 36 C.F.R. § 261.52(i).

  Persons with a California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions above, however they may use a portable campfire ring/pit, stove, or lantern outside of a Developed Recreation Site, at least five feet from any flammable materials, provided that the portable campfire ring/pit, stove, or lantern only burns gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, and has a shut-off valve.

  Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.

  Click the link above for the official order. 

  Stage 1 Fire Restrictions 7-1-24 News Release

  https://www.fs.usda.gov/newsarchives/inyo/alertsarchives?cid=FSE_003753&navid=120000000000000&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&pname=Inyo+National+Forest+-+Alerts+amp&pnavid=null&position=Alerts&ss=110504&ttype=newsarchives
• PIZONA FIRE

  Date(s): Jun 26, 2024

  PIZONA, NV — At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management firefighters responded to a wildfire with a moderate to rapid rate of spread east of Adobe Valley in Nevada. Called the Pizona Fire, it is primarily wind-driven and burning through juniper-sage in a northeasterly direction, growing to 300 acres by about 5:30 p.m.

  Both ground and air resources are responding.

  Updates will be posted in News and Events and on our Facebook page: Inyo National Forest

• Dams along Bishop Creek under maintenance by SCE this summer/fall

  Date(s): Jun 20, 2024 - Oct 31, 2024

  Southern California Edison (SCE) plans to perform safety repairs to both Intake 2 and Sabrina Dams this summer/fall, and may impact public access and recreation.

  1. At the service spillway at Intake No. 2 reservoir from July 7 - October 31, 2024. Water levels will be reduced by ~13 feet. Monday-Saturday, sunrise to sunset; subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances including weather.

  2. At the Sabrina Dam, repairs will take place on the service spillway from July 8 - October 31, 2024. Water levels will be reduced by ~18 feet. The Sabrina Lake access trail, day use parking area, and dam embankment will be closed intermittently. Monday - Saturday, sunrise to sunset.

  Contact Information and updates:
  Matthew Paruolo (follow on "X" at: @SCE_MatthewP)
  (760) 851-4031

• Reds Meadow Road opens June 7, 2024

  Date(s): Jun 5, 2024

  Inyo National Forest, Devils Postpile National Monument, and partner agencies managing the Reds Meadow Road Reconstruction Project are on target for the summer 2024 schedule starting Friday, June 7.

  A Forest Order is in place closing the road Monday through Thursday, while keeping it open Friday through Sunday. During holiday weekends, there are extended public access hours. Vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian access is prohibited whenever the road is closed.

  The mandatory ESTA Shuttle Bus (Eastern Sierra Transit Authority) from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for public access will still be in effect. Personal vehicles will be permitted outside of these times, as is normally.

  One exception to the below schedule is on opening day June 7, and the following Friday June 14, the road will open at 7:00 a.m. instead of 9:00 a.m. This is due to the contractors not needing to move heavy equipment the night prior on these two particular days.

  For the full schedule and other information such as wilderness permits and camping in Reds Meadow, please visit: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/inyo/visit-us/alerts-notices/reds-meadow-road-reconstruction

  NEWS RELEASE: June 5, 2024

May 2024

• ESCCRP Final Environmental Assessment public comment period 5/30 - 7/14

  Date(s): May 30, 2024 - Jul 15, 2024

  Inyo National Forest has prepared a Draft Decision Notice and a Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Eastern Sierra Climate and Communities Resilience Project (ESCCRP), which includes ecological thinning, fuels reduction and restoration treatments to improve forest health and resiliency to wildfires surrounding the Town of Mammoth Lakes and beyond.

  The Final EA/FONSI and Draft Decision Notice are available at:  www.fs.usda.gov/project/inyo/?project=61827

  Read the full NEWS RELEASE

• Smoke Alert: Prescribed burning off Mammoth Scenic Loop

  Date(s): May 30, 2024

  Contact(s): Lisa.cox@usda.gov

  Wildland firefighters will be conducting several hundred acres of understory broadcast burning just north of Mammoth, off Mammoth Scenic loop starting the week of May 20 and continuing for approximately 2 weeks. Smoke will be highly visible from Conway Summit potentially down to Bishop. 

  Follow the Forest on Facebook for the latest breaking updates and photos @InyoNF. You may also message the forest public information officer on facebook for any questions, or call (760) 873-2427

  NEWS RELEASE - May 21, 2024

  NEWS RELEASE - May 1, 2024

• Wild Horse Draft Environmental Assessment public comment period 5/28 to 6/26

  Date(s): May 28, 2024 - Jun 26, 2024

  Comments may be submitted through the BLM National NEPA Register (preferred) by selecting the “Participate Now” button in left-hand margin. Comments may also be mailed to 351 Pacu Lane, Bishop, CA 93514, or emailed to: BLM_CA_Bishop_MPWHT@blm.gov. Please address comments to the “Outside of Montgomery Pass PEA”

  For more information or access issues contact: BLM_CA_Bishop_MPWHT@blm.gov.

  NEWS RELEASE: May 28, 2024

• Coyote Flat OHV Draft Environmental Assessment public comment period 5/18 - 6/17

  Date(s): May 18, 2024 - Jun 18, 2024

  Inyo National Forest (Forest) announces the release of a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Coyote Flat Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Enhancement Project and 30-day public comment period from May 18 to June 17, 2024.

  View the EA at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/project/inyo/coyote-ohv and scroll down to the “Project Documents” Box folder widget.

  NEWS RELEASE: May 18, 2024

April 2024

• Wood collection permit season begins May 20

  Date(s): Apr 26, 2024

  NEWS RELEASE: April 26, 2024

  Due to the late onboarding of seasonal staff, Inyo National Forest will begin personal fuelwood collection season until May 20, with staggering opening dates for each visitor center.

  In future years, the forest expects wood collecting season to open mid-May to early-June from now on, due to the timing of regional collective hiring that must be worked around.

  Permits available	Visitor Center	Hours
  May 20	Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center 2510 Highway 203, Mammoth Lakes, CA (760) 924-5500	Available 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  May 20	Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center Highway 395 (overlooking Mono Lake), Lee Vining, CA (760) 647-3044	Available Thursday, Friday – Tuesday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  May 21	White Mountain Public Lands Info Center 798 N. Main Street, Bishop, CA (760) 873-2500	Available Tuesday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  May 22	Eastern Sierra Visitor Center Highway 395 and State Route 136 Lone Pine, CA (760) 876-6200	8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. May 22 – 29 June 19 until end of season: Wednesday – Sunday

  All wood collection permits must be purchased in-person at one of the above visitor centers, and it is recommended that you call ahead. Forest employees do not issue permits via email or mail, as this was a pandemic-era practice.

  Electronic versions of fuelwood maps will be available on our website:

  www.fs.usda.gov/goto/Inyo/FirewoodPermits

  Maps are also mobile-friendly without the need for cell service, navigable on Avenza for free:
  https://store.avenza.com/products/2024-inyo-fuelwood-map-us-forest-service-r5-map

   

March 2024

• Pile Burning in South Fork, Bishop Creek on March 20

  Date(s): Mar 19, 2024 - Mar 22, 2024

  Inyo National Forest Hotshots will be burning approximately 3 acres of piles adjacent to the neighborhood of South Fork, in the Bishop Creek drainage. There will be minimal smoke and expected to drift down-canyon. For questions, contact (760) 873-2427

February 2024

• SMOKE ALERT: Pile burning in Mammoth Lakes area

  Date(s): Feb 27, 2024 - Feb 28, 2024

  Inyo National Forest fire personnel will be conducting 3 acres of pile burning operations Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th of February in the Sherwin Creek area of Mammoth Lakes, California. 

  Inyo National Forest wildland firefighters will be finishing up approximately 3 remaining acres of the 218 target acres for this pile burn operation at Sherwin Creek area of Mammoth Lakes.

  There should be very minimal smoke, but it will be visible from that area. Please do not report.

• Off-Highway Vehicle Grants Public Comment period ends May 6

  Date(s): Feb 21, 2024

  The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office and the Inyo National Forest are seeking input from the public on how to ensure off-highway vehicle trails are safe and well maintained on public lands throughout the Eastern Sierra. A separate Law Enforcement grant proposal seeks funding to help ensure off-highway vehicle user safety, education, and regulatory compliance.

  On-line Grants Application (OLGA) for the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division's Grants and Cooperative Agreements program (Grants Program)

  PUBLIC COMMENTS INSTRUCTIONS: READ FIRST

  To provide public comments, Review Preliminary Application

  Please note:

  • Comments must be submitted to both the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division and to the BLM Bishop Field Office or Inyo National Forest by May 6.
  • Separate comments must be made for either agency's Law Enforcement grant.
  • Comments may also be emailed to Brett Holman at the Bishop Field Office at bholman@blm.gov, or to Adam Leidy at the Inyo National Forest at adam.leidy@usda.gov.
  • For additional information about the Law Enforcement grant contact Laura James, Law Enforcement Patrol Captain at laura.james@usda.gov.
• Pile Burning in Aspendell 2/15 - 2/16

  Date(s): Feb 13, 2024

  Thursday, 2/14 and potentially Friday 2/16, Inyo National Forest firefighters will be burning approximately 10 acres of piles in Aspendell, west of Bishop, during the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  
  Burning these piles will help remove hazardous fuels to aid in the protection of the town of Aspendell by providing an area for firefighters to work in the event of a wildfire.
  
  Smoke should be minimal and dispersing to the northeast.

  Please do not report. For questions, call (760) 874-2427

• Trail Grooming Updates: Winter Sports page

  Date(s): Feb 9, 2024

  • A, B, C, G, H, L were all completed over the 2/9-2/11 weekend.
  • C and H Trails: Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures typically grooms this trail from Woolley's Tube Park to the Inyo Craters. 
  • Shady Rest non-motorized trails are groomed by Town of Mammoth Lakes staff: www.mammothtrails.org/trail-conditions/ (please check here for the latest).

  Updates will be posted on Facebook first, then on our Winter Sports page.