Natural History Wanderings

June 15, 2023

Well folks, it’s not what you want to hear but it might be what you need: we have to close more roads for repair on the forest. Heres the news release:

Inyo National Forest renewed a Forest Closure Order today including the closure of nine additional roads due to severe storm damage and prediction of spring snowmelt runoff impacting them further. The forest asks the public to heed these closures for your own safety and for the protection of resources. The Closure Order will be lifted as soon as road conditions allow for safe travel.

The following roads will be closed via Forest Closure Order from June 15 – September 30, 2023:

White Mountain Ranger District:

Forest Road 6S02 (Silver Canyon Road, closed at Forest boundary)

Forest Road 6S01 (Wyman Canyon Road, closed at Forest boundary)

Forest Road 7S10 (Coyote Flat/Valley Road from Bishop, closed just past kiosk)

Forest Road 9S19 (Coyote Flat from Big Pine)

Forest Roads 32E311, 32E303, 32E307, 32E302, 32E303 (area west of Warren Bench, accessible from Sugarloaf or Glacier Lodge Roads)

Forest Road 7S01/7S15 (Buttermilk Loop is closed at Horton Lakes Trailhead junction at 7S01A and 7S01, and at Highway 168 and 7S15)

Forest Road 4S01 (White Mountain Road, closed where road turns to dirt just past Schulman Grove Visitor Center)

Mono Lake Ranger District:

Forest Road 1S23 (Walker Lake Trailhead)

Forest Road 1N106 (Bohler Canyon Road)

Forest Road 1N16 (Horse Meadow Road)

Forest Road 01S131 (At the junction of Bald Mountain Road and the junction of 01S70)

Forest Road 01S131A (At the junction of Bald Mountain Road)

Forest Road 01S131B (At the junction of Bald Mountain Road)

Maps for these roads are available on the Inyo National Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Maps (www.fs.usda.gov/goto/inyo/maps-pubs/mvum)

Travel over snow-covered roads during melting conditions has resulted in water runoff following ruts created by vehicles, causing more erosion. Damage has also occurred where motorized wheeled vehicles travelled off designated routes to avoid the damaged sections. This puts the user in danger and causes damage to the surrounding areas.

Furthermore, due to earlier winter road damage across the Inyo National Forest, and other forests within Region 5, there are competing resources which are delaying repair efforts.

“We are doing everything we can to make repairs and re-open roads as conditions allow,” said Inyo National Forest Flood Response Incident Commander Mike Wiese.

“Although Coyote Flats Road has been worked on recently, it will remain closed at this time due to heavy equipment still working in the area, hauling road fill material in soon.”

There is also sensitive meadow and spring habitat areas that need to dry out more before the public can access where Coyote Flats Road crosses these areas to avoid damaging resources.

“We hope to have Coyote Flats Road open within the next three weeks.” Wiese continued. “As for Wyman Canyon and Silver Canyon Roads, Southern California Edison is currently working on temporary fixes.”