NOTEBOOK: MAMMOTH READY TO OPEN TODAY OPENING LIMITED TO ONE RUN, ONE LIFT.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

Mammoth Mountain will make its guaranteed date for the 2001-02 ski-season opener, but the resort's Joani Lynch admits it will be a limited opening today.

The resort was able to make a foot of snow last week, but the weather warmed before turning cool again. Snow-making was done Wednesday night and is planned for tonight.

There will be one run and one lift open. Lynch says snow is on the forecast for later this week. Early-season lift tickets are $42 for adults.

--Forest-plan hearing: A public meeting to review the Forest Service Plan, proposed by the four Southern California national forests, will be Tuesday at the Pasadena Conference Center, 300 E. Green St.

The meeting is designed to accept public input in future land and resource management plans in the Angeles, San Bernardino, Los Padres and Cleveland national forests.

Other meetings will be Nov. 19 at the Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd., and Dec. 4 at the Cal State L.A. Student Union, Room A and B, 5154 State University Drive. All meetings are scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

For more information, call [phone] or visit the Web site www.r5.fs.fed/sccs.

--Outdoor school: The Sierra Club's annual Wilderness Travel Course will again be offered in the San Gabriel Valley.

The course, which consists of 10 night classes and four weekend outings, explores hiking, backpacking, mountain travel, map and compass navigation, first aid, food planning, basic rock climbing, snow travel and winter camping. Trips will be to Joshua Tree and the Sierra.

The San Gabriel Valley class will begin Jan. 21 and will be Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Montebello's Bella Vista School, 2410 S. Findlay.

Classes will also be in Long Beach, Orange County and West L.A. The course fee is $190 for club members, $205 for nonmembers. There is a $15 discount for those who register before Dec. 15.

For more information, call [phone] or visit the Web site www.angeleschapter.org/wtc.

--Trout alert: Trout Unlimited is reporting that a provision in the energy bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives and under consideration by the Senate would destroy some of California's best trout fisheries.

The measure, buried in H.R. 4, would require the Department of Interior to maximize energy production at federal hydropower plants regardless of impact on fish, fishing, boating, water quality and river health.

``It doesn't even give lip service toward balancing our energy needs with the natural interests in natural resources and environmental preservation,'' Trout Unlimited president Charles Gauvin said.

The Lower Sacramento River below the Shasta and Keswick dams and the Trinity River below the Trinity Dam would be affected in California.