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Saving the meadows in hot tub land |
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Monday, 24 November 2008 |
BLM works to protect area surrounding Hilltop Hot Tub
By Stacey Powells
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
Years of devastation to the meadows surrounding the alkali ponds near one of the best known and most favorite of all hot tubs in the Long Valley Caldera has caused the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to take action.
No one really knows exactly when Hilltop Hot Tub was created but what is known is that years of abuse by hot tub seekers, doing whatever they could to make the trek from their cars to the hot water, took its toll on the land.
“Spring is the worst time for cars to get stuck out in the mud,” said BLM’s Diana Pietrasanta.
“The water table fluctuates so much out there. Cars would get stuck and sometimes the tow trucks that were called to pull them out would also get stuck. It was a mess.”
According to Pietrasanta the area was checkerboarded with tire tracks from all kinds of vehicles and the delicate meadow ecosystems surrounding the tub were on their way to ruin.
In September of 2007, the BLM did some environmental work on the area.
They consulted with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) because even though the existing trail, which was made up mostly of pallets and boards, was on BLM land, Hilltop Tub itself was on LADWP land.
The U.S. Forest Service, recognized as expert in the field of trail management, was also brought in to consult. The consensus was unanimous: something had to be done about public access to Hilltop Hot Tub.
“The experience of being out here and sitting in the tub is wonderful,” Pietrasanta said. “We didn’t want to deny access, but we needed to change the way people accessed the area. And with Hot Creek being closed, more and more people were using this tub, as well as the other tubs in the area.”
The work began during the summer of 2008. Backhoes and loaders and CalFire personnel were brought in to remold the landscape and remove the trash that had been left from years and years of abuse.
“We would find pieces of carpet and planks stuck in the mud and dirt three to four feet down that were used by people who were trying to get their cars out of the mud,” she said.
The guys from CalFire also filled a dump truck full of trash taken from the area.
“They found diapers, condoms, carpets, appliances... all sorts of trash. It was pretty disgusting,” Pietrasanta said.
“People need to use the same rule out here as they do when they backpack. If you pack it in, pack it out.”
A new fence was put up along the dirt road that led to the parking area, which was also made smaller. “We are trying to thwart too many people from being here at the same time,” Pietrasanta said.
The pallets that used to be the trail to the tub were removed and the causeway was raised, leaving a more efficient trail in its place. The goal is to restore the natural contour of the land. “For the most part the people like what we’ve done,” Pietrasanta said. “But there is more that needs to be done so people can keep using the tub without harming the surrounding meadows.”
The BLM may put a stewardship program in place that will include diehard hot tub enthusiasts who can help them take care of the tubs. “We are actively seeking to get a group of people together who care about the tubs and the surrounding area,” Pietrasanta said.
“We know that there are a lot of people who want access to the tubs to continue and we need their help.”
Those interested in becoming stewards of the hot tubs on and helping the BLM, may contact Diana Pietrasanta at (760) 872-5028. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 December 2008 )
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