The Inyo National Forest is seeking comments for the Mammoth Lakes Basin Bike Path Construction Project. This project proposes to issue the Town of Mammoth Lake a special use permit to construct and maintain 0.75 miles of paved multiple-use path to facilitate pedestrian and bicycle access in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. The new, paved path would travel from the Pokenobe intersection of Lake Mary Road, across the Lake Mary outlet, up to the Lake George parking area, and would include a short spur to connect users back to the Lake Mary Road.

To facilitate path construction and improve visitor safety, the forest proposes to authorize these additional actions:

• Realignment of approximately 1/16th of a mile of Lake Mary Road, north of the Lake Mary outlet.
• Relocation of 0.35 miles of soft-surfaced trails used under permit by Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit.
• Restoration of approximately one acre of user created trails.
• Placement of boulders, logs, and other obstacles along and adjacent to the newly constructed path and adjacent to the Lake George Road.
• Issuance of a ten-year special use permit to the Town of Mammoth Lakes to maintain public roads within the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

The proposed trail project has been designed and engineered to minimize tree removal, to avoid removal or impacts to any of the western white pine trees that grow within the project area, and to avoid and mitigate other potential resource impacts. For a full project description, maps of the proposed project, and information on how to submit comments, please visit this webpage or obtain copies at the Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center, 2500 Main Street, Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Please direct questions and comments to Jon Kazmierski, District Recreation Officer, at 760-924-5503 or jkazmierski@fs.fed.us.To be most helpful, comments should be received by March 13, 2015.