BLM
Heard Around Town: Desert Mornings and Mountain Snow
Autumn has arrived in the Amargosa Basin, bringing crisp mornings, clear skies, and — for the first time this season — snow on Telescope Peak. On October 14, residents spotted a fresh white cap dusting the summit of the Panamint Range, a sure sign that winter is edging closer to Death Valley. Down in Tecopa,…
Heard Around Town: Rain, Renewal, and Resilience
It’s been a dramatic start to October in Tecopa, where the desert sky has delivered both a rare soaking and an early taste of winter. On October 9, residents watched dark clouds gather over the Amargosa Basin, bringing a flash flood warning and more than half an inch of rain — the third-largest rainfall in…
Heard Around Town: Waiting on the Record
Inyo County has confirmed that it is still in the process of negotiating the concessionaire contract with the selected respondent for the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools. As a result, officials say, TecopaCabana’s public records request related to the submitted applications remains on hold. “This PRA will be resumed once negotiations are complete,” the…
Tecopa’s Community Plan Explained
The unincorporated community of Tecopa, in collaboration with Inyo County, laid out its vision for the future after a series of public meetings starting in 2015, preparing a draft document called the Tecopa Community Plan and releasing it in 2018. We thought it might be helpful to refresh our collective memory of what is even…
Heard Around Town: Water, Wildflowers, and Willpower
SIFPD Declines Water Tank Offer, Focuses on New Fire Stations and 2026 Tax Measure At the most recent meeting of the Southern Inyo Fire Protection District (SIFPD), the board turned down a proposal from local landowner Jon Zellhoefer, who had offered the district use of a water tank located on his property—currently listed for sale…
Big Fix, Big Risk: Inyo County Lays Out Hurdles for Tecopa Hot Springs Revival
The future of the historic Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools continues to be the biggest news in Tecopa as Inyo County seeks proposals for a new concessionaire to operate, maintain, and—ideally—revitalize this aging desert oasis. TecopaCabana submitted twenty detailed questions to the County, which recently released partial answers to about half of them, below,…
Final Notice: County Letter Reveals Why Tecopa Hot Springs Operator Walked Away
In Southeast Inyo County, the Tecopa Hot Springs Campground and Pools — a longtime draw for tourists and a vital amenity for local residents — is once again changing hands. The private concessionaire that has operated the site for a decade has opted to vacate its lease after receiving a formal 30-day cure notice from…
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…
Heard Around Town: Artful and Deceptive
On our most recent rainy day, March 13th, Tecopa received 0.20 inches of precipitation at the Tecopa CEMP station, bringing the total for March to 0.35 inches and for February to 0.59 inches. While the area remains in a significant long-term rain deficit, the past 30 days have brought 1 inch of rain, or about…
Hot Springs Etiquette in Tecopa: How Nudity and Showering First Protects the Amargosa River
Hot springs have long been revered for their therapeutic and spiritual benefits, from Japan’s ancient onsen culture to Iceland’s steamy geothermal lagoons. These natural baths provide relaxation, healing, and a connection to the earth’s mineral-rich waters. Yet, despite their tranquil allure, many newcomers overlook an essential etiquette rule: showering before soaking. In Tecopa, California—home to…
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…
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…
Heard Around Town: Water is Life
False spring has arrived in Tecopa. February’s warmth has set the frogs singing in the hot springs district, while green shoots push through the burn-scarred meadow surrounding Borehole Spring—a testament to nature’s resilience. A meeting will be held at the Tecopa Community Center on March 2, 5pm, to discuss the Center for Biological Diversity’s lawsuit…
Heard Around Town: Under the Full Moon
It was a week of both devastation and renewal in Tecopa, marked by the luminous presence of a full moon. Our cherished Borehole Spring was ravaged by fire, with over 9 acres burned. “A BLM Fire investigation is ongoing, with no obvious source of ignition determined from physical evidence,” reports the Amargosa Conservancy, intimating that…
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…
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…
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…
Heard Around Town: High Winds and Hot Soaks
It was a windy one with the Santa Ana winds blowing through town for a few days starting on Tuesday, January 7. Tecopa had two short power outages during that afternoon when gusts were forecasted in the high 30s. But as Dan Leseberg noted on Facebook, “It’s not windy in Tecopa unless someone loses a…
Heard Around Town
Welcome to our first edition, where we share what we’ve heard around town. Party People There will be a Community Healing Solstice Party on December 20 starting at 4pm at Thelma and Louise, all are welcome. Bring chairs, firewood, blankets, beverages, snacks, and your unique self. Tecopa Takeover once again featured local favorites MEGA-SCOPES, but…
Unveiling the Serenity: Borehole Hot Spring in Tecopa
Visit our Borehole Spring page to learn more. Nestled amid the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert, Tecopa, California, is home to a hidden oasis that beckons seekers of relaxation and natural tranquility – Borehole Spring. This unique geothermal gem, cradled within the desert landscape of Tecopa on Bureau of Land Management land, offers visitors…