Inyo National Forest Supervisor, Lesley Yen Discusses Forest Closures with Inyo Supervisors

[ericmcornelius]

From Sierra Wave: Eastern Sierra News

Inyo National Forest Supervisor Lesley Yen gave the Board of Supervisors a rundown on forest closure policies, put in place in the late summer of 2020 and 2021, explaining the decisions as a “last resort.”

With little winter precipitation and record-setting heat waves across the West, the Forest Service had to make draconian decisions on closures and restrictions. The Inyo National Forest campgrounds and trails were closed to overnight campers two years in a row. According to Yen, the closures were initiated due to staffing levels. As an example, she explained the number of Hot Shots available for INF fires had been reduced from 30 to 20 due to deployments to other wild-land fires.

Big fires are the issue, Yen said. “We look at fuel moisture, weather. These are the things that inform restrictions.” While she agreed with the closures, Yen explained “they were not entirely my decision.”

Yen outlined steps being taken to improve surge capacity to deal with the growing intensity and frequency of forest fires. Part of that solution involves funding to address wages as well as fuel reduction programs.

The town of Mammoth Lakes is currently the center of a “donut,” as crews thin the trees surrounding the donut hole. In the event of a forest fire, the intensity and growth of future fires would be reduced for lack of fuel, allowing time for a strong defense of the community.

The Forest is putting together a “playbook,” Yen said, to establish procedures going forward. One element of those procedures is signage to notify visitors of closures and fire restrictions. Also under consideration is a system of staged closures, allowing day-use but no overnight camping in the back country.

Communities on the Eastside saw an influx of new campers, identified as the source of a lot of the problems, during 2020 as So.Cal. residents seemed to pour up U.S. Hwy. 395 to escape Los Angeles during COVID restrictions and closures. The campers were the issue. As Yen said, “hikers don’t start forest fires.”

Supervisor Matt Kingsley and forest lease holders Lynn Greer and Supervisor Jennifer Roeser requested modification to full closure orders. Kingsley suggested different levels of closures, allowing permitees to continue to operate. Greer pointed out INF lessees could help educate visitors as to what restrictions were in place.

https://sierrawave.net/72146-2/#comments

[ericmcornelius]

Sounds like we might at least get more transparency after the back to back season blanket closures - and possibly a more logical and tailored escalation policy based on resourcing (and, hopefully, some actual geographical understanding).