Last Spring we told you about all the great things we had planned for the 2026 Summer of Stewardship, and now we can tell you about all the great things we did!!!
We started by partnering with Mono County Sustainable Outdoors and Recreation in April at Gull Lake for a clean up of the June lake Loop. In Mammoth, the season kicked off with a clean up for National Trail Days and closed out with the Annual Lakes Basin Clean Up. New this year, the TOML Office of Outdoor Recreation spearheaded monthly events for clearing fishing line, picking up trash, and performing trail work.
What makes all of these events so special isn't just the work that gets done. It's the people who show up. Whether volunteering for the first time or returning year after year, every person who gives their time contributes to something bigger. We're grateful to the volunteers, community organizations, and agency partners who make these stewardship opportunities possible. Their dedication reflects the strong culture of stewardship that makes the Eastern Sierra such an extraordinary place.
CLEAR THE LINE
Through our Tangle Free Waters program, Clear the Line events brought volunteers together to collect, sort, and prepare discarded fishing line for recycling. Removing fishing line from our waterways and shorelines helps prevent wildlife entanglement, protects aquatic habitats, and keeps our lakes beautiful for everyone.
4 events
44 Volunteers
19 Gallon bags of fishing line removed
25 Pounds of trash removed
TRAIL DAYS
Trail Days gave volunteers an opportunity to get their hands dirty caring for the trails we love. From trail maintenance to improving recreation infrastructure, these events demonstrated how a few hours of volunteer work can have a lasting impact on the quality and sustainability of our trail system.
June 6: National Trails Day at Sherwin Meadows Trailhead
58 volunteers
Collected 134.7 pounds of waste
112.7 pounds of trash
22 pounds of recycling
.25 miles of new trail cut
1.5 miles of brushing
3 signs (9a) installed
12 new informational signage (no overnight camping) installed at the trailhead parking area
1 broken picnic table fixed
September 19: Annual Lakes Basin Cleanup
47 volunteers
Collected 71.5 pounds of waste
70 pounds of trash
1 pounds of recycling
½ gallon of fishing line
8 Check Steps installed
3 water Bars installed
1 mile trail rehabilitation
3 picnic tables painted
5 trailhead parking barriers restored
TRASHY THURSDAYS
Sometimes stewardship is as simple as picking up what others leave behind. Trashy Thursdays brought community members together to tackle litter and debris in our outdoor recreation areas. These efforts help protect wildlife, improve the visitor experience, and remind us that keeping Mammoth beautiful is everyone's responsibility.
4 events
400+ Volunteer Hours
768.2 Pounds of Trash Collected
141 Pounds of Recycling Collected
WEDNESDAY WORKNIGHTS
Wednesday Worknights offered another opportunity for volunteers to give back through hands-on trail maintenance and improvement projects. These regular gatherings brought people together to build new trail and care for existing trails while connecting with those who share a passion for outdoor recreation.
4 events
49 total volunteer signups
SHARP Trails
¾ mile new trail construction
¼ mile new trail rough cut, raking, brushing, and a lot of rock removal
small section (100 ft) of finish work on new trail
Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy this summer. Your efforts are helping ensure that Mammoth Lakes remains a place where outdoor recreation, healthy ecosystems, and community pride thrive together.
Love Mammoth. Give Back. Keep It Beautiful.
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.