Public Meeting for the Eastern White Mountains Road Management Project

Inyo National Forest Seeks Input and Announces Public Meeting for the Eastern White Mountains Road Management Project

The White Mountain Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest has initiated the environmental analysis process for the proposed Eastern White Mountains Road Management Project.

There will be a public meeting on Thursday, February 27 at 5:00 pm at the Fish Lake Valley Community Center in Dyer, Nevada (milepost 11 on Hwy. 264) to discuss the details of this project.

The project would address human health and safety concerns around the Red Rock Mine and address discrepancies between the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) and conditions on the ground, improve/maintain motorized access, and ensure resource protection in Esmeralda County, Nevada in the eastern White Mountains.

Many designated Forest System roads located on the eastern slopes of the White Mountains have been severely degraded from past storms and lack proper road maintenance, which has restricted access in the area. This has led to excessive erosion, which negatively impacts soil productivity, degrades water quality, and impacts motorized access to the forest.

Trespass has also occurred at multiple locations where vehicle use was observed into closed, unauthorized roads. Roads currently on the Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) as open to all high-clearance vehicles are not actually usable by full-sized vehicles, creating a confusing user experience. In addition to these issues, human health and safety is a concern with use of the road adjacent to Red Rock Mine. The project will provide access to the forest with a safe and sustainable Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) experience.

The full proposed action for this project can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57318.