Welcome to the COSA
The Conservation Open Space Area (COSA) is a 24.8 acre wetland and alkali meadow upland located on the Bishop Paiute Reservation.
The COSA was set aside for conservation, research, education and outdoor recreation. Please utilize the 1.2 mile walking path and explore this website for more ways to enjoy the plethora of unique plants and wildlife present on the refuge. The COSA is currently managed by the Natural Resources Program.
COSA Refuge Vision Statement
“The COSA Refuge will be a model for conserving the natural diversity of plants and animals, preserving cultural resources, and providing opportunities for research, environmental education, and quality outdoor recreation. The refuge will link other wildlands with vital habitat for threatened and endangered species, migratory birds, and resident wildlife, and it will protect the natural resources of the Bishop Paiute Reservation. Conservation of the natural health and beauty of the refuge is our promise to the community and future generations.” (Bishop Paiute Tribe Conservation Open Space Area Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Bishop Paiute Tribe Environmental Management Office, 2014).
COSA Location
The main entrance to the COSA is located behind the Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center at 2300 West Line Street, Bishop, CA. You may park in the Cultural Center parking lot and walk to the pathway from there. You can also access the COSA from the parking lot of the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Buildings at 351 Pacu Ln #200, Bishop, CA.
There are also COSA entrances on See Vee Lane, behind the hospital, and from the Bishop Elementary School playground.
Explore the COSA
Explore native plants growing in the COSA and their traditional Paiute uses on your own schedule! Our guide begins at the main entrance behind the Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center. The COSA trail is only open during daylight hours for public safety. Please be mindful, wildlife is known to use the COSA too and may be active in the very early mornings. Enjoy your walk!
The Eastern Sierra Audubon Society hosts bird walks along the COSA pathway the second Saturday of every month. These events are an exciting way to become more familiar with native birds, help improve the COSA comprehensive list of bird species, and meet community members who share a love of the outdoors! Please visit their Facebook page for current information about bird walks.
The COSA Corner is an educational resource located in the Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center. Adults and children alike are welcome to stop in and learn about native plants and animals in the COSA, as well as ongoing restoration and education efforts. Afterwards, go and experience the adjacent COSA trail firsthand! Make sure not to miss the native fish tanks!
Get Involved
There are two ongoing outdoor education programs that take place in the COSA: Taking Root (3rd grade) and Branching Out (5th grade). Both programs are run in collaboration with the Inyo County Office of Education (ICOE). Visit the ICOE website to learn how you can become a volunteer docent for these programs!
Join us for one of our monthly Friends of the COSA stewardship events! Each monthly event brings together a group of volunteers to help take care of the COSA through a project. If you are a tribal member, there is an incentive program for attendance. Fill out this survey if you are interested in the program.
If you are interested in staying up to date with everything going on in the COSA check out our Instagram and Facebook pages!
For more information on how to get involved with the COSA, please contact the COSA Education and Outreach Coordinator.