Public review begins for county wildfire protection plan

Community event set for March 7

Inyo County Office of Emergency Services (OES), in collaboration with

SWCA Environmental Consultants, the

Whitebark Institute, and Wildland Fire Associates, is pleased to announce the commencement of the public review period for the 2024 Inyo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

The review period is scheduled from March 7, 2024, through April 15, 2024.

The review period will kick off with an in-person community event hosted by Inyo County OES, the Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Tribe, the Whitebark Institute, and SWCA on March 7, from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Tribal Wellness Center located at 1145 E-Sha Road in Lone Pine.

All county residents are welcomed and encouraged to attend and participate.

The 2024 Inyo County CWPP is a collaborative effort to enhance the safety and resilience of the community from uncharacteristic wildfires. This plan aims to identify and address vulnerabilities while emphasizing the protection of lives, property, and valued resources.

Inyo County OES seeks the active participation and engagement of Inyo community members as it enters this crucial public outreach phase.

All community members (full and part-time residents, property owners, individuals in the workforce) are invited to review the draft CWPP and accompanying Story Map as well as the Community Risk Explorer (web application) and provide invaluable feedback to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with the unique needs of our varying communities.

The draft CWPP, Story Map, and Community Risk Explorer will be available for review and comment starting on March 7, 2024.

To access these items and participate in the review process, interested parties can visit the Inyo County OES dedicated website https://inyo-coun

ty-cwpp-inyocounty.hub. arcgis.com/. Visitors to the website will find a comment submission form to submit feedback.

Inyo County OES extends its sincere appreciation to the community members, organizations, and agencies involved in this collaborative endeavor. Together, officials hope to create a proactive path towards a more resilient, fire-adapted Inyo County.

For more information or to ask any questions, contact Project Manager Montiel Ayala, at Montiel. ayala@swca.com or Assistant Project Manager, Lia Webb, at Lia.webb@ swca.com.

To contact the Inyo County Wildfire Coordinator, Kristen Pfeiler, email kristen.pfeiler@inyocounty.us.