The following is a press release issued by the Bureau of Land Management:
The Bureau of Land Management has completed installation of barriers along the access road that traverse Scott’s Creek, allowing visitors to drive to the South Cow Mountain Off-highway Vehicle Management Area in Lake County once again.
“Our Ukiah staff has done a remarkable job completing emergency measures to reopen public access to South Cow Mountain, while protecting habitat for the imperiled Clear Lake hitch,” said Ukiah Field Manager Nicholas Lavrov. “We welcome the public back to the area and remind visitors to be respectful of our access barriers near the water and avoid driving behind the barriers, while fish recovery efforts continue.”
Ongoing efforts to recover the endangered hitch will continue as pools become more defined and disconnected and until the larval fish are matured. This will make it easier to rescue fish and will make it easier on the extremely tiny larval fish to give them the best chance at survival. The BLM will continue ongoing partnerships with local Tribes, organizations and agencies to promote the protection of the species and prevent the imminent danger of extinction. This endeavor at Scott’s Creek is a key step to ensuring the prolonged survival of the species.
Please remain respectful and stay on designated routes to avoid crushing juvenile fish and to protect a valuable water resource critical to the Lake County community and Clear Lake hitch survival.
Recreate Responsibly and Pack It In – Pack It Out: Practice Leave No Trace ethics while recreating on public lands by packing out all your trash. Illegal dumping of waste is a public safety hazard and dangerous to wildlife.
For more information, please visit the South Cow Mountain webpage. For specific questions, contact the Ukiah Field Office at 707-468-4000 or by email at BLM_CA_Web_UK@blm.gov.
