Range of Light Group

03/12/2026

https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0601578&id=701Po00001ZyHasIAF&data=96870a7c527f2c4d11b4f9e5308645ec39120960fd3897128f9cd006f09276f3404374cce05f494cb785a88e0ba2292b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sierraclub&utm_campaign=ourwildamerica&utm_content=CARMPE2

Trump's Bureau of Land Management want to open California's public lands to oil & gas drilling, Send in a public comment by 3/13 to stop them in their tracks!

02/23/2026

Wildflowers at Red Rock Canyon, CA, this weekend.

12/21/2025

Jaguars are returning to the U.S. Southwest, crossing from Mexico into Arizona to explore and hunt. But the Trump administration is about to shut jaguars out — by building walls through their last migration corridors. Take action.

12/14/2025

Urgent Action to Oppose the Mining Regulatory Clarity Act!

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act (MRCA), a massive giveaway to mining companies, will likely be voted on in the US House of Representatives next week. If your organization is not signed on in opposition already, please add your organization to this sign-on letter ASAP. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewRP51bhVA1lM0RPP82btU7V57yvsN-yunP1U89MtBBG26zg/viewform

Individuals can call your representatives and urge them to vote no. You can also use this action alert to easily email your representative. https://act.earthworks.org/page/89807/action/1?locale=en-US

Please sign your organization onto the below-linked letter opposing the "Mining Regulatory Clarity Act." This legislation would weaken the already outdated 1872 Mining Law and give even more control over our public lands to the mining industry. If passed, this bill’s provisions will have a devasta...

11/22/2025

Our nation's waters have been dealt a MASSIVE blow. This week, the EPA proposed a Polluted Water Rule, which would drastically eliminate streams and wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act. By the EPA's own estimates, the proposed rule cuts protections for 80% of wetlands and 5 million miles of streams. This rule hands corporate polluters a license to damage and degrade our country's streams and headwaters.

Major rivers and lakes cannot be effectively protected from pollution if the small streams that flow into them are unprotected. Tens of millions of acres of wetlands lost protections. Wetlands protect our communities during floods, provide safe drinking water, improve our water quality, and provide wildlife habitat. This move ignores science and puts safe drinking water at risk for millions of people.

There is a huge disconnect between the administration and the vast majority of people across the country who value clean, safe water and have no interest in more pollution in their water. A 45-day comment period opened today that will close January 5, 2026. Please help us demonstrate that we DEMAND clean water protection!

https://act.sierraclub.org/actions/National?actionId=AR0594070&id=701Po00000gF50nIAC&utm_medium=web&utm_source=Bitly&utm_campaign=ourwildamerica&utm_content=waterrulebitly

11/20/2025

A new industrial mining expansion is threatening Castle Mountain, in the heart of the Mojave National Monument region.

The proposed Castle Mountain Mine Phase II project would expand an open-pit gold mine. The site, located in San Bernardino County about 60 miles south of Las Vegas, sits amid the Castle Mountains and Avi Kwa Ame national monuments, and the Mojave National Preserve. These cherished places are habitat for desert tortoise, bighorn sheep, and countless bird species -- and are treasured public recreation areas beloved for their access to solitude, dark skies, and sweeping desert vistas.

A new industrial mining proposal, called the Castle Mountain Mine Phase II Expansion project, is threatening some of our most iconic desert landscapes.

11/17/2025

Action alert requested by the Mono Lake Committee to send a letter of support for The Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners who recently approved a major water recycling and groundwater replenishment expansion.

Visit monolake.org for more info.

11/17/2025

https://www.monolake.org/today/dwp-commission-links-local-water-supply-expansion-to-mono-lake-protection/

11/05/2025

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Confirmed in Mammoth Lakes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mammoth Lakes, CA (November 4th, 2025) - Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) continued to expand its mission across the Eastern Sierra this September through the Mammoth Lakes Project, a high-altitude cleanup and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) research initiative conducted at McLeod, George, Mary, Mamie, and Twin Lakes. The goal was to evaluate submerged litter accumulation, document aquatic invasive and native species, and strengthen regional partnerships that advance the understanding of alpine freshwater ecosystems. Laboratory test results confirmed the presence of the aquatic invasive species, Eurasian Watermilfoil, in Twin Lakes.

“This discovery is extremely significant for the entire Sierra Nevada region,” said Colin West, Founder and CEO of Clean Up The Lake. “It provides critical information that will help us prevent the further spread of this invasive species into lakes that are not yet affected. We all have a role to play, by cleaning, draining, and drying our gear in order to protect the health of our waterways.” CUTL's Operations Manager Klemen Robnik who facilitated much of the sampling program in Mammoth Lakes this year added that "This means Mammoth Lakes locals and visitors will also need to monitor their movements between lakes and avoid going directly into unaffected lakes after fishing, kayaking or paddle boarding in Twin Lakes". The organization is looking forward to working with agencies to help mitigate the spread of this invasive species moving forward.


This season's work in Mammoth Lakes for CUTL represents one of the highest-elevation cleanup efforts ever completed by the team, combining scientific data collection, AIS sampling, and logistical problem-solving in some of California’s most challenging terrain.

PROJECT SNAPSHOT

Lakes Surveyed: McLeod, George, Mary, Mamie, and Twin

Elevation Range: 7,500–9,333 ft

Depths Surveyed: Surface to approximately 30 ft

Total Cleanup Dives: 14

Weight Removed: 396 lbs

Items Removed: 1,331

Fishing Gear Items Removed: 697

Aquatic Species Sampled: 32

11/05/2025

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Confirmed in Mammoth Lakes
We were forwarded this press release and I'm posting it in its entirety...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mammoth Lakes, CA (November 4th, 2025) - Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) continued to expand its mission across the Eastern Sierra this September through the Mammoth Lakes Project, a high-altitude cleanup and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) research initiative conducted at McLeod, George, Mary, Mamie, and Twin Lakes. The goal was to evaluate submerged litter accumulation, document aquatic invasive and native species, and strengthen regional partnerships that advance the understanding of alpine freshwater ecosystems. Laboratory test results confirmed the presence of the aquatic invasive species, Eurasian Watermilfoil, in Twin Lakes.

“This discovery is extremely significant for the entire Sierra Nevada region,” said Colin West, Founder and CEO of Clean Up The Lake. “It provides critical information that will help us prevent the further spread of this invasive species into lakes that are not yet affected. We all have a role to play, by cleaning, draining, and drying our gear in order to protect the health of our waterways.” CUTL's Operations Manager Klemen Robnik who facilitated much of the sampling program in Mammoth Lakes this year added that "This means Mammoth Lakes locals and visitors will also need to monitor their movements between lakes and avoid going directly into unaffected lakes after fishing, kayaking or paddle boarding in Twin Lakes". The organization is looking forward to working with agencies to help mitigate the spread of this invasive species moving forward.

This season's work in Mammoth Lakes for CUTL represents one of the highest-elevation cleanup efforts ever completed by the team, combining scientific data collection, AIS sampling, and logistical problem-solving in some of California’s most challenging terrain.

PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Lakes Surveyed: McLeod, George, Mary, Mamie, and Twin
Elevation Range: 7,500–9,333 ft
Depths Surveyed: Surface to approximately 30 ft
Total Cleanup Dives: 14
Weight Removed: 396 lbs
Items Removed: 1,331
Fishing Gear Items Removed: 697
Aquatic Species Sampled: 32

FIELD CONDITIONS
High-altitude operations required precision, planning, and adaptability:

Thin air and cold water demanded Nitrox utilization, extended surface intervals, and detailed dive planning.
Steep, rocky access points at McLeod required pack mules to transport dive cylinders, and equipment.
Shallow thermoclines and fluctuating visibility affected bottom times and required meticulous QA/QC of photo and field records.
Regional wildfire impacts created last-minute logistical hurdles for crew scheduling and transport.

Despite these challenges, the team successfully completed all planned dives, gathering critical data on litter trends and aquatic sampling across the Mammoth Lakes Basin.

AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES UPDATE

Of the 32 aquatic species samples collected, 27 were sent for laboratory testing to establish a baseline of native and invasive aquatic plants in the Mammoth Lakes region. During surveys at Twin Lakes, Clean Up The Lake, in collaboration with the California Department of Agriculture, identified three aquatic plant samples from the Myriophyllum genus, commonly known as milfoil. Because native and invasive species in this group can appear nearly identical, the samples were submitted for genetic sequencing to confirm their identification. Results revealed that two samples were Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil), a aquatic invasive species, while the third was Myriophyllum sibiricum (Northern watermilfoil), a native species.

CHECK OUT OUR PROJECT REPORT & MEDIA ASSETS HERE
For more information please feel free to CLICK HERE to view our project report.https://files.constantcontact.com/ebad0e92801/bd5b9281-d50a-4484-8d1a-9994d3523e50.pdf

For more access to professional photography of this project, please CLICK HERE https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MrA879w02F1CPl8KVRK9Jix-pc--SO7Q.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was made possible through the support from Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Mammoth Community Water District, Town of Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation, Sun & Ski Sports, Laundry Annex, Kittridge Sports, Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit, Pokonobe Marina, Distant Brewing, Convict Lake Resort and collaboration with California Department of Agriculture. We’d also like to recognize other generous donors: Clay Murray, Kirk Wallace, Betsy & Brent Truax, Pat Foster, Paige Fisher, Lawson Reif, Gary & Julie Thompson, Tom Smith, Rob Patterson, John Urdi, and John Thayer.

10/29/2025

LA Times article about groundwater pumping in the Owens Valley:

In the Owens Valley, Los Angeles siphons water from Sierra streams and also pumps groundwater from wells. Native tribes are calling for the city to take less water.

10/29/2025

LA Times video/article by Ian James about the effects of groundwater pumping in the Owens Valley featuring Noah Williams of the Bishop Piute Tribe.

In the Owens Valley, Los Angeles uses water from Sierra Nevada streams and also pumps groundwater. Leaders of Native tribes are calling for the city to take less water.