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Steve Pearce - Just 4 days into March, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee put a chill on the month’s warming temperatures with their advancement of Sell-Off Steve Pearce’s nomination to the position of BLM Director. Their 11-9 vote means a full Senate vote will decide whether the career anti-public lands politician and oil-industry CEO will be put in charge of 245 million acres of our public lands. As of today, there is no set date for this vote.

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - After voting in favor of Steve Pearce’s advancement, Sen. Mike Lee (UT) teamed up with Rep. Celeste Maloy (UT) to introduce a joint resolution that puts all national monuments in the crosshairs. With their resolution, they want to expand the use of the Congressional Review Act to permanently overturn the locally forged management plan of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah. Should this pass, the precedent would be set for Congress to weaponize the CRA against any national monument, nationwide.

The US Forest Service “Reorganization” - The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it's moving the U.S. Forest Service headquarters to Salt Lake City, closing all ten regional offices, and shutting down 50+ research facilities. In the process, they’re wiping out the scientists and career professionals who push back on bad policy. Make no mistake, this isn't a reorganization. It's a deliberate dismantling, designed to hand control of 193 million acres, including the Inyo National Forest, to political appointees aligned with state governments and extraction industries. Read this article by More Than Just Parks to learn more.

On Our Radar in April:

Scott Socha - Trump’s nominee for National Park Service Director is an executive for a hospitality company known for covertly trademarking iconic names within Yosemite NP and winning a $12 million settlement.
The Public Lands in Public Hands Act - This bipartisan bill bans the sale or transfer of most public lands. Rep. Kevin Kiley, our Eastern Sierra representative and sitting member of the Public Lands Caucus, hasn’t signed on to this bill.

Join us in Lone Pine, CA, on April 17-19, 2026, for the 11th Annual Owens Lake Bird Festival.

Several trips have already sold out, so don’t delay and get your tickets today!

More About the Keynote

Join us for dinner on Saturday evening for our keynote, Science In Your Backyard: Monarch Butterflies, Weeds, and the Cities We Live In.

Richard Rachman, plant ecologist, community scientist, and volunteer with Xerces Society and California Native Plant Society, will lead a demonstration on the app and website, iNaturalist, and discuss the basics of community science involved with the Western Monarch Butterfly and the 2026 City Nature Challenge.

Richard Rachman is a queer Jew who grew up in Southern California and now lives in Bishop, with a background in fire, invasive species, and spatial ecology from Cal State Northridge and Boise State University (BS and MS in Biology and Geospatial Information Systems). He’s worked with various government agencies and non-profits, and is fascinated with why various organisms are where they are.

What’s For Dinner at OLBF?

Our good friends at Coachwhip Cafe will be back this year, serving up fresh seasonal ingredients to make food from scratch, with love.

We will be serving Mediterranean-style meatballs (ground lamb/ beef meatballs) with tahini-yogurt sauce and fresh herbs. For our vegetarians, we have roasted carrots and sweet potatoes with tahini-yogurt "butter", pistachios, and fresh herbs. Both entrees are served with Greek-style rice pilaf, and seasonal Spring salad with local produce from Blue Heron Farm in Bishop, CA. Dinner starts at 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 18th.

For your convenience, Coachwhip Cafe will also be set up at the Lone Pine Museum of Western Film History for lunch, 11 am - 4 pm, on Saturday and Sunday with their full menu.

Coachwhip Cafe creates delicious, made-from-scratch cuisine, house-made desserts, and beverages. We use local ingredients whenever possible, and focus on sustainability. We cook with the seasons, offering seasonal specials to showcase fruits and vegetables at their best. We are all-inclusive, offering healthy and diet-conscious options for Vegetarians, Vegans, and gluten-free diets.

Trips With Spaces Left

Sat. AM 7:30-11:30am:

Non-Technical Bird Photography on Owens Lake with Martin Powell.

Martin will lead attendees on a trip out to Owens Lake to look for birds and photograph them in a relaxed manner. Attendees are encouraged to bring a camera with a lens of at least 400mm.

Sat. PM 12:30-4:30pm:

Desert Ecology Walk in the Alabama Hills with Sierra Forever's Matthew Bernstein.

With the Eastern Sierra as a backdrop and the whimsical rock formations of the Alabama Hills as a stage, learn about the area's ecology and plant species.

Sat. PM 12:30-4:30pm:

Revealing Payahuunadu: Understanding the Impacts of Water Extraction with Friends of the Inyo’s Emily Ontiveros.

Visit sites in the Owens Valley where groundwater pumping has had an effect on the landscape. Understand how the LA-Inyo Long-Term Water Agreement relates to current groundwater management.

Sat. FULL DAY 8:30am-4:30pm:

Historic Mining Town of Cerro Gordo with Tim Katthagen.

A fascinating look at early western mining history, with stunning views of Owens Lake, Saline Valley, the Panamint Mountains, and Death Valley along the way. High-clearance vehicles strongly recommended. Bring binoculars for this all-day tour. Yes, there are birds up there, away from Owens Lake. You never know what you may find up there. Also, in this old mining town, there is a stunning opportunity to glance down into Saline Valley, just a few minutes' walk from the town.

Sat. FULL DAY 8:30am-4:30pm:

Conglomerate Mesa Hike with Friends of the Inyo's Jordan Marbury.

Visit the beautiful Conglomerate Mesa before K2 Gold and its subsidiary Mojave Precious Metals' proposed gold mining exploration begins. While we wait for the Record of Decision on the proposal to be released, we will hike to see the area in its current condition. Caravan in your high-clearance vehicle (required, but carpooling is an option) past extensive Joshua Tree groves leading to Conglomerate Mesa for a hike with stunning desert views, and a look at mining threats to the area.

Sun. AM 7:30-11:30am:

Lower Owens River Project with Friends of the Inyo's Lauren Rose and Sierra Club's Lynn Boulton.

94 years after water was diverted to the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Owens River began flowing again as part of a settlement between stakeholders in the Owens Valley and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Lauren and Lynn will be taking participants on stops along the Owens River, discussing the history of the River and the LADWP project known as the LORP (the Lower Owens River Project).

Sun. AM 7:30-11:30am:

Plein Air Session Overlooking the Owens River with Edie Trimmer.

This Sunday-morning plein air event is on a bluff overlooking the meandering Owens River, with great views of the Alabama Hills and the Sierra Nevada. There will be a brief introduction to setting up for a plein air session (more challenging than painting in a studio), followed by a couple of hours of painting. Participants may bring their own supplies (any medium is welcome) or purchase a basic watercolor kit for $15. This kit includes a small palette of colors, an 11” by 15” sheet of Arches cold press paper, and a couple of ok watercolor brushes. Participants will need to provide a camp chair, a water container, a ceramic or plastic plate for mixing colors, and a sturdy board for the watercolor paper. There are no restrooms or shade, so plan accordingly.

Sat. AM 7:30-11:30am:

Introduction to Birding for Kids in Spainhower Park and Edwards Field with Maggie Riley.

This tour is open to kids aged 6-12. No experience needed. Parents are welcome if you want to bird with your child. First, we’ll learn how to use binoculars safely and effectively to observe birds. Then, we will learn how to identify common birds using field marks and behavior, using bird books (provided), along with take-home Common Birds posters and printed checklists to keep track of what you find. After introductions and learning how to use binoculars and our other tools, we will spend time finding and identifying birds in the park and nearby wild areas. Binoculars, Bird Books, Common Birds posters, checklists, and pencils provided. This outing is FREE, but kids must be registered.

CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS

Come volunteer with Friends of the Inyo and the Bishop Climbing Rangers THIS Friday at the Happy Boulders from 8:30 to 12:00.

We’ll provide the coffee, donuts, tools, and plants. You provide the manpower and planting prowess!

This event is hosted in collaboration with Patagonia, and rumor is there’ll be some Patagonia goodies for volunteers!

BIG NEWS! Our 2026 Backcountry Volunteer Work Weeks are officially on the books!

Backcountry Volunteer Work Weeks are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore parts of the Inyo National Forest you may not otherwise experience, while making a tangible difference in the health of the landscape. Volunteers join Friends of the Inyo and the U.S. Forest Service on 3-5 day backcountry trips to complete restoration projects in the White Mountains and the Sierras, always making time for recreation opportunities like fly fishing and exploring nearby peaks. These trips are a unique way to give back to public lands, while creating memories that last a lifetime.

Read about our 2025 Golden Trout Wilderness trip in this article, written by one of our amazing backcountry volunteers and Lone Pine local, Chuck Minor!

Cottonwood Creek Fence Removal: June 19-21

Volunteers will head into the White Mountains for a long weekend along Cottonwood Creek, a federally designated Wild and Scenic River. Days will be spent dismantling obsolete barbed wire fencing, which not only impairs the wilderness character of the area and impedes recreational access to the creek and meadows, but also presents an entrapment hazard for wildlife. The group will use a dispersed camping site, accessible via high clearance, off-road capable vehicles (personal vehicles may be used, though FOI and USFS vehicles are provided).

Little Whitney Meadow Fence Removal: July 23-27

This may be the most physically challenging stewardship trip yet! Volunteers will hike 15 miles deep into the beautiful and remote Golden Trout Wilderness and spend 3 nights camped along Golden Trout Creek, home of the California state fish: the Golden Trout. USFS mules will pack in all camp gear and tools! Volunteers will work for two and a half days on dismantling and removing obsolete barbed wire fencing and repairing trail infrastructure in Little Whitney Meadow. There will be a half day of rest/free exploration and fishing on Golden Trout Creek, Volcano Creek, and elsewhere.

Chiatovich Meadow Restoration: September 4-7

Volunteers will spend three days in the White Mountains, helping restore a degraded meadow by constructing low-tech restoration structures in small stream channels. We will be installing rock dams, beaver dam analogs, and bank reinforcements to revitalize the meadows upon which deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, and other species rely for water and foraging. Attractions for exploring nearby include Fishlake Valley Hot Springs, Red Rock Mine, and Boundary Peak Trail.

If any of these projects caught your eye, email izzy@friendsoftheinyo.org to get more information and to start the registration process.

This is YOUR chance to become a 2026 Trail Ambassador!

Support the Inyo & Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests through public outreach, naturalist programming, and maintenance of hiking trails from May to October.

Job Description: Trail maintenance and improvement in backcountry wilderness and front country areas: work with tools and natural materials in a variety of topographies, environments, and weather conditions, occasionally overnight in the backcountry. Developing and leading interpretive activities addressing the many ologies of the Eastern Sierra. Engaging and communicating with members of the public

Compensation and Benefits:

$21/hour plus a $200 gear stipend

Wilderness First Aid training, 4/10 schedule, outdoor industry pro-deals, and 3% retirement match during employment

TO APPLY, email your resume and a cover letter to izzy@friendsoftheinyo.org by Friday, April 10.

SnowSchool was a blast this year!

The snow held out just long enough for Mammoth, Bishop, Round Valley, and Big Pine students to join Friends of the Inyo and Sierra Forever for a day of snow science and adventure. Students dug snow pits to learn about the snowpack and built watershed models in the snow when they weren’t playing camouflage or building snow tunnel mansions. Whether students are on the ski team at Mammoth Mountain or have only had a few opportunities to play in the snow, every day of 2026 SnowSchool was full of joyful learning, teamwork, and enthusiastic engagement with the Eastern Sierra winter landscape.

SnowSchool simply wouldn’t be possible without all of the volunteers who help teach it! We really can’t express just how grateful we are to this year’s volunteers for showing up with a smile every day, ready to impart the joy of winter to the next generation. And a special shoutout to Beth Jeffrey, who volunteered for all 5 days of SnowSchool!

Join Friends of the Inyo's Water Empowerment Organizers for the remaining Water Management Workshops - part of a FREE virtual series about water management in Payahuunadü.

There is one in-person Water Walk and one Virtual Workshop left in the series: