OurWork
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Organizing
Building Awareness
We provide educational opportunities and educational materials to raise awareness about the mining threats at Hot Creek.
We engage with activists, supporters, local organizations, and donors to help protect Hot Creek and inspire a new generation of leaders.
We work closely with organizations like Trout Unlimited to advocate for Hot Creek to be established as an Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW).
Adventure Advocacy
Political Advocacy
We both organize adventures shaped around advocacy and encourage supporters to share their own adventures that help tell the story of Hot Creek.
What is an ONRW?
ONRW’s are defined as “high quality waters that constitute an outstanding national resource” including waters of “exceptional recreational or ecological significance.” Suitable ONRW’s do not have to necessarily exhibit exceptional water quality; the designation is based upon the presence of unique characteristics such as recreational or ecological significance Under this designation, no new activities that would permanently lower water quality would be permitted. This includes mining, ensuring mining companies would no longer threaten Hot Creek.
An ONRW is designated through State and Regional water boards instead of the federal government, which is important to note, given the current administration’s focus on resource extraction. Our local water board is the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. There are already two established ONRW’s in the state of California: Lake Tahoe and Mono Lake. Both are managed by the Lahontan Regional Board, which makes it well poised for the establishment of a new ONRW for Hot Creek.
Outstanding National Resource Water
In Partnership with Trout UnlimitedIn 2025, Trout Unlimited began the hard work in recognizing Hot Creek as an Outstanding National Resource Water (ONRW). This designation would provide permanent protections for Hot Creek. After proposing the designation to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, the board voted in moving forward with examining the process by which this designation can occur. While the process has not been finished, the hope to protect Hot Creek from mining threats in the future remains.
