Government
Records Trace Years of Noncompliance as Tecopa Hot Springs Operator Approaches County Deadline
Since issuing a formal 30-day notice last month demanding that the operator remedy longstanding deficiencies, Inyo County officials have largely refused to answer any questions about the status of the Tecopa Hot Springs Pools and Campground. Instead, inquiries from this publication have been treated as formal public records requests — a move that effectively allows…
Culture of Fear Alleged at Tecopa Hot Springs Campground as County Issues Ultimatum
A long-simmering culture of fear surrounding the management of the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground has come into sharper focus this week—just as Inyo County has issued a 30-day ultimatum to Tecopa Hot Springs Conservancy LLC, the current concessionaire, to bring the facility into compliance or face termination. Representatives of the Conservancy have not responded to…
Inyo County Issues 30-Day Ultimatum as Future of Tecopa Hot Springs Campground Hangs in the Balance
The future of the Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground—one of Southeast Inyo County’s most treasured public amenities—continues in uncertainty, as the current operator has been given a 30-day deadline to cure a series of contractual deficiencies or face eviction. Inyo County issued a statement: “Regarding the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools, numerous deficiencies…
Future of Tecopa Hot Springs Campground in Question as County Enters Closed-Door Talks
As the slow summer season begins, Inyo County supervisors are entering closed-door negotiations over the future of Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground—a publicly owned, culturally significant site operated under contract by a private concessionaire. In a high-stakes closed session today, Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors is set to discuss…
Death Valley and Inyo County Expand Partnership in Face of Shrinking Federal Resources
In the sun-scorched expanse of eastern California, Inyo County and Death Valley National Park are tightening their coordination in the face of extreme weather, federal staffing cuts, and aging infrastructure. Together, they are managing a uniquely challenging intersection of rural resilience and world-renowned tourism. Death Valley National Park’s Superintendent Mike Reynolds and Management Analyst Abby…
Heard Around Town: Government Edition
TecopaCabana.com will be previewing highlights and offering special coverage of this week’s Inyo County Board of Supervisors meeting in Tecopa. The Board is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, at the Tecopa Community Center, 400 Tecopa Hot Springs Road. The annual spring session in Southeast Inyo offers residents of the region…
Southern Inyo Fire Board Works on Long-Term Plans Amid Delays and Recruitment Challenges
The Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD) board convened to address long-term planning efforts on March 13, including recruitment efforts and two key fire station projects in the works. One project involves a new station in Tecopa Heights, while the other focuses on a new substation in Charleston View. Both projects have received grant funding…
Failure to Protect: The Amargosa Wild and Scenic River and the Neglect of a Desert Ecosystem
The Amargosa Valley, a rugged and starkly beautiful desert straddling the California-Nevada border, is a region of historical significance and ecological fragility. Home to the rare Amargosa vole and the unique hydrology of the Amargosa River, this area has long been a focal point for conservation efforts. Despite its designation as a Wild and Scenic…
National Parks in Crisis: Job Cuts, Budget Freezes, and the Fight for Public Lands
A storm is brewing across America’s national parks, but it’s not just the weather causing concern—it’s the deepening crisis of budget cuts, staffing shortages, and the struggle to maintain some of the country’s most cherished landscapes. In the latest wave of terminations, Death Valley National Park, Great Basin National Park, and Lake Mead National Recreation…
Community Rallies to Protect Ash Meadows as Amargosa Conservancy Launches Major Restoration Projects
In a significant show of support for environmental protection, the Amargosa Valley recently hosted a powerful public rally and meeting aimed at securing the future of Ash Meadows. The event, held on February 27 at the Amargosa Valley Community Center, brought together local residents, conservationists, and key stakeholders to voice their unified support for a…
Save the Vole: Borehole Spring BLM Lawsuit Explained
In a legal battle aimed at protecting one of North America’s most endangered mammals, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) filed a lawsuit in 2022 against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for failing to take necessary action to protect the Amargosa vole and its critical habitat at Borehole Spring in the Mojave Desert.…
Fire Devastates Borehole Spring, Endangered Amargosa Vole Habitat
A devastating wildfire broke out at Borehole Spring near Tecopa, California, overnight on February 11, inflicting catastrophic damage to the hot spring which is also a delicate wetland habitat of the endangered and endemic Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis). The fire consumed a significant area of critical bulrush habitat surrounding the spring, posing a severe…
Inyo County Sheriff’s Office Will Not Enforce Federal Immigration Laws
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release on January 30, ten days after the second presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, to reassure residents that enforcing federal immigration laws is not within their local law enforcement duties. Their primary focus, they emphasize, is safeguarding the community and fostering trust between law enforcement and the…
Local Environmentalists Profiled in The New York Times Magazine
Our little corner of the world was covered in the New York Times Magazine recently. The article “Nevada’s Lithium Could Help Save the Earth. But What Happens to Nevada?” was published on January 24, 2025 and written by Meg Bernhard, a writer based in Las Vegas (who also wrote this profile of Wonderhussy). The sub-headline…
What to do Before and After a Power Outage
A power pole caught fire near Death Valley Brewing, while another on Highway 127 emitted alarming sparks on Sunday morning, plunging Tecopa into its second 24-hour blackout in a week. The prolonged outage left residents grappling with yet another disruption to their daily lives. Recent windstorms across Southern California have caused widespread power outages, leaving…
Local Communities and Tribal Members Secure Mineral Withdrawal to Protect Ash Meadows and Amargosa Valley
Federal Action to Safeguard Sacred Lands and Water Resources The federal government has initiated the mineral withdrawal process for approximately 308,890 acres of public land in Nevada’s Amargosa Valley. This action temporarily halts new mining claims in the area, allowing for a two-year review of the valley’s ecosystems, groundwater reserves, and culturally significant landscapes. The…
Biden Establishes Two New Monuments in California, Foreshadowing Amargosa Basin
At one of the final White House ceremonies in President Joe Biden’s term, the president highlighted the dedication of the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments as part of his administration’s broader environmental agenda. He underscored the significance of protecting culturally and ecologically valuable land in California, emphasizing its importance for biodiversity, climate resilience, and honoring…
Commission Approves $7.8M Active Transportation Corridor Project for Tecopa
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has officially approved the Active Transportation Program staff recommendations for the Connecting Tecopa: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Corridor project, a significant initiative aimed at improving transportation safety in the rural communities of Tecopa and Tecopa Hot Springs by establishing bicycle lanes and sidewalks. The approved project will establish a 2.9-mile active transportation…
Residents Rejoice: State Route 127 To Reopen
Residents of Tecopa, Shoshone and businesses across the area rejoiced at the news that came in over email from Caltrans late last Friday evening: State Route 127 to Baker has a reopening date: December 4. The date is still technically tentative, as weather could still postpone it. The opening is also a partial one –…
Guardians of the Desert: Southern Inyo Fire Protection District in Tecopa
In the vast expanse of the Mojave Desert, where arid landscapes meet the boundless sky, the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD) stands as a crucial guardian of the community in Tecopa, California. This dedicated team of firefighters not only safeguards lives and property but also plays a vital role in preserving the delicate balance…