From Trout Unlimited:

Help us protect Hot Creek from mining.

Hot Creek is a unusually productive stream, ecologically – its distinctive water chemistry and temperature regime influenced by the hydrothermal inputs up and down its length, combine to produce huge volumes of aquatic plant growth and macroinvertebrates, which in turn support one of California’s most famous wild trout fisheries, known for its impressive biomass (number of fish/mile).

But Hot Creek is threatened by gold mining. A proposal now before the Lahontan Regional Water Board would permanently protect the water quality in Hot Creek from being degraded by mining waste by designating it an Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW). 

We have until May 5 to urge the water board to make this critical designation.

In September of 2021, the Inyo National Forest approved a project that involves “exploratory drilling” for gold near Hot Creek, one of California’s most famous wild trout streams. The drilling site is located about one-third of a mile from the creek, in Mono County. In the wake of widespread public opposition and litigation by partner organizations, the Forest Service’s approval of the project was overturned in 2024.

But the threat of future mining near Hot Creek remains, especially given the federal government’s new emphasis on increasing mineral production on public lands. 

Together, we can help to secure permanent protections for Hot Creekand its legendary trout fishery by submitting comments before May 5th to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board to designate Hot Creek as an Outstanding National Resource Water.

Even if it were not threatened by mining, Hot Creek deserves this designation, which is reserved for waters with the highest water quality characteristics and which prevents permanent degradation to water quality while protecting existing uses such as recreation, angling, and ranching.

Urge the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board to designate Hot Creek as an ONRW here!