Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation (MLTPA)

06/11/2026

Tuolumne County has now become the ninth regional entity to adopt California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience!

Rich in history and unique landscapes, Tuolumne County, CA - County Government is the eastside gateway to Yosemite National Park, connecting Sacramento and the bay area to the beauty of the Eastern Sierra. We recently visited the region as part of our advocacy efforts, attending the Sierra Nevada Regional Meeting of the CA Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force back in March. The Joint Strategy represents the culmination of a 12-month collaboration with federal, state, and regional representatives across the state, outlining key goals and actions necessary to protect the health, access, and economies of communities impacted by wildfires. This adoption of the Joint Strategy represents Tuolumne County’s desire to preserve access to sustainable recreation for its residents and visitors for generations to come.

MLTPA is working with regional entities and recreation partners across the state to ensure 20 Counties adopt the Joint Strategy before the end of 2026. We still have a ways to go, but if you want to help get the Strategy adopted in your county, you can find more information and resources at https://na2.hubs.ly/H065nyJ0

06/09/2026

Our work towards campground improvements in the Eastern Sierra took a big step forward last week.

During the week of May 28 - don't be fooled by the snow showers in the reel ❄️ - MLTPA and our project partners visited the sites of eight campground improvement projects. We are working with the land managers to advance these campgrounds through the planning phase and get them closer to “shovel ready," while improving access, sustainability, and climate resilience. This work will allow land managers to more easily pursue funding from state and federal sources for construction.

The campgrounds visited by our team included three in Lee Vining (Lower Lee Vining, Aspen, and Moraine), three in the Independence area (Onion Valley, Lower and Upper Grays Meadow), and two in the Mammoth Lakes and Bishop areas (Coldwater and Pleasant Valley). Despite some wild weather throughout the week, the site visits were a wonderful opportunity to get boots on the ground to evaluate current conditions and inform improvements that need to be made.

These efforts are being funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service - Inyo National Forest through the Great American Outdoors Act, and the "Eastern Sierra Regional Campground Improvements and Jobs Creation Project" funded by Sierra Jobs First through the Sierra Business Council.

06/04/2026

MLTPA is on the road again, advocating for sustainable OUTDOOR recreation economies in the Eastern Sierra and beyond!

John Wentworth is attending the inaugural California Outdoor Economy Summit in Eureka, CA, part of our role as industry sector coordinator for Sierra Jobs First, funded by Sierra Business Council. The Outdoor Economy Summit convenes those working in and alongside outdoor recreation to build more resilient economies through equitable careers, stronger natural landscapes, and place-based futures for communities across the state. We'll have a follow-up to share from what we learned at the Suumit next week.

Read more about the Summit here 👉 https://na2.hubs.ly/H05Y_n20

On Friday, John will be presenting alongside Calder Johnson of Redwood Region Rise for the “Building the Workforce” session, exploring current workforce needs across the outdoor recreation sector while highlighting existing initiatives and training programs underway in California. We’re extremely grateful for this unique opportunity to present the shared vision of MLTPA and Sierra Jobs first for a sustainable future with outdoor recreation economies, their communities and landscapes, and with professionals and advocates from across the state.

Find more info about Redwood Region Rise here 👉https://na2.hubs.ly/H05Y_pT0

📷 Elisabeth Swanson Johnson, Nevada Division of outdoor Recreation

Lands

05/28/2026

Want to shape the future of Sustainable Recreation in the Bishop area? There’s a critical opportunity to do so right now!

Located southwest of Bishop, Chipmunk Canyon is a beloved area that has long been used by hikers, bikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. MLTPA is working with Alta Planning + Design and the Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) to help identify opportunities for the Chipmunk Canyon Trails Existing Conditions Analysis Catalyst Project funded by Sierra Jobs First through the Sierra Business Council and we need your input!

Help us understand how people use the Chipmunk Canyon trail system today to ensure that it remains a well-managed, ecologically responsible trail system that reflects the needs of nearby communities. Your input will help guide future planning and management decisions by considering recreation, resource protection, and cultural values.

Fill out the survey and public input map here 👉 https://na2.hubs.ly/H05P8qy0

With input from local residents, Tribes, and public land agencies, the plan will identify where and how recreation can happen responsibly. By investing in local talent—like students from Cerro Coso Community College’s Outdoor Leadership program—and supporting planning and stewardship jobs, the project also advances a regional vision for a stronger, more inclusive outdoor economy. Thank you for taking part!

05/26/2026

Working or volunteering outdoors this summer? We’ve got the perfect opportunity to hone your skills and learn new ones!

MLTPA and Cerro Coso's Eastern Sierra Education and Recreation Jobs Creation Catalyst Project, funded by Sierra Business Council's Sierra Jobs First, is proud to host the first annual Outdoor Recreation Stewardship Academy at the Cerro Coso Campus in Mammoth Lakes. This low-to-no-cost, multi-day local opportunity is open to all participants and organizations, with multiple courses and trainings offered from June 1st through 10th.

Fill out the interest form here 👉 https://na2.hubs.ly/H05LfX_0

Make sure to fill out the interest form ASAP if you’d like to attend, or reach out to Peter Fulks for more info. Hope to see you there!

05/22/2026

As part of our work towards statewide adoption of the CALREC Vision Joint Strategy, MLTPA was thrilled to present at the California State Association of Counties Legislative Conference this year, alongside Greg Williams and Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship

The Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources session on Wildfire and Energy, attended by a wide array of legislators and leaders from counties across California, was an incredible opportunity for Sustainable Recreation advocacy. Greg Williams shared the latest on the “Fire-Hardened Trails Prescription,” a cross-discipline collaborative concept for intentional trail design as assets for combatting wildfires and protecting our forests, while John Wentworth presented "California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience" to counties across the state who have yet to adopt the strategy.

Learn more about Fire-Hardened Trails here 👉 https://na2.hubs.ly/H05HqTs0

As California prepares for the summer wildfire season, both projects present key opportunities and unique strategies for protecting our communities and public lands. Joint Strategy adoptees from across the state were in attendance along with members of the California Wildfire Taskforce’s leadership, and together we’re striving for a sustainable future for outdoor recreation.

MLTPA is working with regional entities and recreation partners across the state to ensure 20 Counties adopt the Joint Strategy before the end of 2026. We only need 10 more counties to adopt the strategy in order to meet our goal, so if you want to help get the Strategy adopted in your county, you can find more information and resources at https://na2.hubs.ly/H05HqMW0

05/20/2026

The Natural Ecosystems of the Eastern Sierra are vital resources for outdoor recreation, and protecting them is key to MLTPA’s mission.

In 2021, MLTPA, in partnership and funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Proposition 68, facilitated the Sustainable Recreation and Tourism Initiative, which produced “A Changing Climate: Vulnerability in California’s Eastern Sierra.” This report, developed specifically through the lens of the region’s Sustainable Outdoor Recreation economy by PlaceWorks, Atlas Planning Solutions, and ICF, evaluated ~15,000 square miles of the Eastern Sierra and documented both the threats to these ecosystems and the direct value they provide to economies, communities, and the state. In this way, the report demonstrates the dangers of a changing climate to the region and provides a clear argument for investment in mitigation and protective actions by local, state, and federal entities.

Read more here 👉 https://na2.hubs.ly/H05DfXn0

This work has been directly followed by our complementary role as the Recreation and Tourism Industry Sector Coordinator for Sierra Business Council's Sierra Jobe First initiative, where we continue to emphasize that sustainable outdoor recreation and the ecosystems that enable it are key economic drivers and an engine for job creation in our region and the state of California.

05/19/2026

Wildfire risk is rising. Outdoor recreation is part of the solution.

There's a bold strategy from the CA Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force to transform outdoor recreation assets into community defense and resilience.

Led by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service, MLTPA produced "California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience" for the Taskforce, which earned "Partnership of the Year" for the Sustainable Recreation / CALREC Vision Working Group.

The Joint Strategy delivers four goals and 31 key actions to protect communities from the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires while leveraging and protecting recreation assets. Jurisdictions across California are adopting the Joint Strategy, let us help you do the same.

Here's an inspiring short film that shows us how.

https://na2.hubs.ly/H05B8720

Find more info, resources, and support at https://na2.hubs.ly/H05B7Sv0

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

05/08/2026

For 20 years, MLTPA has worked to protect outdoor access and sustainable recreation economies across the Sierra. Now, we’re proud to co-sponsor AB 2578.

The “Outdoor Access and Recreation Economy Act,” authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers of California’s 2nd Assembly District and sponsored by the California Outdoor Recreation Partnership, looks to establish a state-recognized NGO to support state investment into equitable access, recreation infrastructure, and outdoor jobs. This organization will work to sustain and grow California’s outdoor economy, stabilize funding for California’s sustainable outdoor recreation initiatives, and eliminate barriers to outdoor recreation access to public lands.

More info here 👉https://na2.hubs.ly/H05m8wk0

Through all of MLTPA’s past efforts, the consistent missing player has been state leadership. The time for that leadership is now, and AB 2578 is the right first step. Join folks from across the state in supporting the “Outdoor Access and Recreation Economy Act” and its adoption by the state legislature.

Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation

05/06/2026

Training the next generation of Outdoor Recreation professionals is vital to California’s public lands, and last week, five students stepped into that future.

MLTPA and its partners Cerro Coso Community College and Columbia College, as part of Sierra Jobs First through the Sierra Business Council and California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)'s California Jobs First, initiated the Climate and Recreation Jobs Creation Catalyst project, which is building the pipeline for the next generation of forest, recreation, climate, and conservation professionals as part of a degree pathway program and opening new job and career opportunities in the seven county Sierra Jobs First Region.

Find more info on the program here 👉 https://na2.hubs.ly/H05kwKl0

Last Wednesday, we celebrated a praiseworthy project milestone as five students gathered on stage at Columbia College and received their certifications. They are now looking forward to careers protecting and stewarding the public lands we all love as they strengthen the region's outdoor recreation economy. And it looks like they'll get started right away, per Peter Fulks, Department Chair and Professor at Cerro Coso: "All five students have received open job offers, with two accepting positions on the western slope and three considering job placements along the eastern Sierra!"

We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and dedication, and we wish them all success and happiness going forward. And many thanks to all of the partners, and especially to Sierra Jobs First and California Jobs First.