Eastern Sierra Council of Governments: Chipmunk Canyon Recreation Area Phase I

The Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) is hereby soliciting proposals from qualified firms (Respondents) who can provide ESCOG with the following services: an existing conditions analysis of an unauthorized trail network to inform projects descriptions for future environmental review processes (NEPA/CEQA), assessment of feasibility for a formal trail system, identification of appropriate recreation infrastructure, and engagement of Tribal Nations and interested community stakeholders. The final product will include identification of collaboratively developed project area, established existing conditions, initial Tribal engagement, and identification of additional recreation assets. .

Submissions to this RFP are due on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 12:00 am . Submission instructions, a detailed scope of work, terms and conditions, and the applicable contract can be found below.

The Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) agency representing City of Bishop, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, Inyo County, and Mono County.

The ESCOG coordinates regional planning and economic development efforts throughout the Eastern Sierra, working cooperatively with local, state and federal partners to support community development, economic diversification, sustainable recreation, ecosystem management and climate resiliency for a more prosperous, sustainable, and resilient region. The “ESCOG: Community Economic Resiliency Fund Pilot Program” provides for ESCOG to coordinate and engage with regional economic development opportunities in collaboration with Member Agencies through the State of California’s “Community Economic Resiliency Fund” Planning Phases (CERF); which has been re-branded to "California Jobs First" as a statewide program and "Sierra Jobs First" regionally. In 2025, ESCOG was awarded funding to convene stakeholders and develop economic activation strategies on a number of subjects, including recreational use of the Chipmunk Canyon area.

Chipmunk Canyon is a user-created unauthorized trail network spanning Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Inyo National Forest (INF) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) lands southwest of Bishop, CA. The area is a highly popular destination; however, it has not undergone any environmental review allowing agencies to permit recreational use. The network consists of approximately 50 miles of unauthorized user created trails identified using openstreetmaps, none of which have been ground truthed. Recreation planning and environmental review are required for remediation of and assessment to formalize Chipmunk Canyon as a recreation area, plan for necessary infrastructure, identify resource concerns, and appropriate route corridors to plan for ongoing trail stewardship and mitigate impacts to sensitive resources.