The BLM seeks public input on management of the Cottonwood Creek Wild and Scenic River
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RIDGECREST, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Ridgecrest Field Office, in partnership with the Inyo National Forest, is seeking public input on the comprehensive river management plan and environmental assessment for the congressionally designated Cottonwood Creek Wild and Scenic River in Inyo County.
The purpose of the proposed management plan is to identify methods to protect Cottonwood Creek’s free-flowing waters, water quality and outstanding remarkable values, including scenic, recreational, riparian, wildlife and plants in accord with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, which established the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Cottonwood Creek Wild and Scenic River runs through the White Mountains and includes approximately 17.4 miles of river on U.S. Forest Service public lands and 4.1 miles on BLM-managed public lands.
The draft management plan and environmental assessment incorporate input from the previous public scoping period and evaluates river corridor conditions, and focuses on resource protection, land use, user capacity, water quality, and management practices.
The deadline to submit comments is April 14, 2022. Comments can be submitted on the BLM’s ePlanning site, which links to the Inyo National Forest’s website: https://bit.ly/3sxtJoB. The draft management plan and environmental assessment are available for review through the ePlanning website. For additional information, please contact the BLM Project Manager, Caroline Woods at cwoods@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.