BLM To Hold Public Meeting

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be hosting a meeting in Bishop at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Hall at 6pm on Monday, November 26 to discuss resource concerns involved with visitor uses - primarily bouldering and climbing - along the Chalk Bluff and within the Volcanic Tablelands.  The BLM is considering implementing a seasonal closure of BLM managed public lands west of "Happy Boulders" to protect nesting raptors.  The closure under consideration would prohibit foot access in the affected area from January 1 to July 31.

Studies conducted along the Chalk Bluff during the past 3 years have shown a sharp decrease in use of the area by raptors (birds of prey).  Foraging has dropped to near zero, while nesting  breeding pairs have dropped from 14 to zero.

During this same time period bouldering has grown tremendously throughout the Bishop area.  As an example, three years ago the Happy Boulders area had about 300 visits during the climbing season.  This past season Happy Boulders had over 15,000 visits.  Although the climbing community has worked with BLM to alleviate resource impacts, those impacts continue to mount.

The BLM is preparing an environmental analysis to determine what action should be taken to protect the resources in the Chalk Bluff area.  This meeting is to explain the current state of the resources, look at the uses and use patterns and talk about potential solutions to the problems.  Comments and suggestions will be accepted through December 5.

For more information contact Doug Dodge, Joe Pollini or Joy Fatooh at the BLM's Bishop Field Office.

- BLM -