Mono Lake Newsletter

Cover Photo

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:02:25 GMT

Cover photo of a Willow Flycatcher on Rush Creek, courtesy of Chris McCreedy.

Editor's Note

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:01:54 GMT

I never met David Gaines. In fact, none of the current staff ever did. This struck me at a recent staff meeting as we passed around a packet of newspaper clippings and other remembrances of him and his life. This year is the 20th anniversary of his tragic death, and the 30th anniversary of the Mono Lake Committee; bitter and sweet markings of time’s passing.

Outdoor Experiences meets More Kids in the Woods

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:01:29 GMT

In an effort to reverse the nationwide disconnect between children and nature, the US Forest Service is trying to get more kids to experience the natural world, beyond the fast-food, video game culture of today’s youth. Called More Kids in the Woods (MKIW), this program awards thousands of dollars in matching funds to outdoor programs around the country. The Mono Lake Committee’s Outdoor Experiences (OE) program received assistance in 2007.

FERC issues ruling on Mill Creek hydropower Project

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:00:56 GMT

Mill Creek, Mono Lake’s third largest tributary, once supported a rich fishery and amazingly productive streamside forests and wetlands, including rare bottomland wildlife habitats that have been virtually eliminated elsewhere in the Great Basin. For over a century, most of Mill Creek’s water has been diverted for local uses, leaving little if any in the stream. A recent ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) brings ecological restoration of the creek one step closer.

Mono Lake travels the world with Water, H2O = Life

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:00:31 GMT

I was roaming through the dark and misty wilds of an unknown place, swarmed by the shrills and shrieks of the local denizens, when I rounded the last corner and found myself surrounded by tufa towers with a lone California Gull wheeling in the breezeless air above me … wait a minute, a California Gull in early December?!

2008 Field Seminars

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:59:02 GMT

Visit www.monolake.org/seminars to register for these popular seminars led by highly-rated instructors!

Committee Annex and Field Station mortgage-PAID!

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:58:24 GMT

We’re celebrating here in the office and hope you will do so at home! Thanks to a fantastic outpouring of member support, we exceeded our goal and raised over $100,000 to pay off the mortgage on the Committee’s Annex property in Lee Vining. We mailed off the final payment in January!

Twenty years later: A Gaines family update

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:57:51 GMT

January 11, 1988 was the day my husband, David Gaines, was killed in an auto accident on Highway 395, leaving me a widow with two young children, ages two-and a-half and five. He also left a big hole in the Mono Lake Committee since he was the main founder and spokesperson.

State Water Board approves low flow variance for Rush Creek: Additional winter monitoring is key

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:57:21 GMT

A stream flow variance sought by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) has Rush Creek running 10 cubic feet per second (cfs) lower this winter than it would otherwise. While the variance has the potential to provide useful information for the adaptive management creek restoration process, it remains unclear if the additional winter monitoring will happen before spring arrives.

More changes in agency personnel

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:56:28 GMT

As reported in the Spring 2007 Newsletter, several key individuals associated with the ongoing restoration in the Mono Basin have moved on to other responsibilities or to retirement. Since that report, the Mono Lake Committee has continued to experience change in key agency positions responsible for on-the-ground restoration activities both at the State Water Resources Control Board and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP).

Letter provides insight on future of remaining Cunningham property: Committee undeterred by accusations

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:56:00 GMT

Last fall, an attorney representing Bill and Robin Cunningham sent a lengthy letter to the Mono Lake Committee outlining plans for the Cunninghams’ land near Mono Lake, accusing the Committee of poor behavior, and attempting to shore up an unpersuasive legal claim to ownership of the exposed bed of Mono Lake.

Policy Notes

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:55:29 GMT

Critical habitat proposed for bighorn sheep
US Forest Service route designation
Penalties for illegal OHV use
Noise over Mono

Stop and listen: Stories from the Outdoor Experiences program

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:54:58 GMT

Stop and listen to the creek tell you a story. The handwritten laminated card rests on a cobblestone path next to Lee Vining Creek. As the wind sings through the pine needles and water cascades towards Mono Lake, the creek tells a different story to each student passing by.

Defender of the Trust Award celebration

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:54:02 GMT

September 28, 2007 marked the 13th anniversary of the historic State Water Resources Control Board decision D1361. The Mono Lake Committee’s Board of Directors would be in town for their annual in-basin meeting, as would the Mono Basin Science Council, an independent group of scientists who provide guidance to the Committee on policy decisions. Since the Committee was planning to honor Jim Canaday with the Defender of the Trust Award, we decided to have a party!

Around the world at Mono Lake

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:53:36 GMT

Celebrated “Barefooter” Randy Arnold (also of Mono Lake Committee Birding Intern and Wine Flight fame) outpoured himself once again for the Defense Trust weekend’s Around the World Wine Tasting. The Committee was honored to work with this expert who recently surpassed his goal of pouring wines at 1,000 philanthropic Barefoot Wine Tastings.

Statewide water droplets

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:53:02 GMT

New leadership at DWP
Meeting with Villaraigosa
MWD’s contingency plan
Newest State Water Board member confirmed

Rush Creek variations: high times and deep blues for the Mono Basin's endangered songbird

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:52:19 GMT

Editor’s note: Chris McCreedy is a Staff Biologist with PRBO Conservation Science. His ongoing work on Willow Flycatchers is one example of scientific research facilitated by the Committee’s Mono Basin Field Station.

An unexpected result of the revival of Mono Lake’s tributaries has been the return of Willow Flycatchers to Rush Creek. Willow Flycatchers are small brown songbirds that...

Streamwatch - Lowest streamflow in 15 years; lowest runoff in 30

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:51:17 GMT

2007 had 42% of average runoff: the lowest April-to-September runoff since 1977 (the driest year on record). The dry year minimum flow for lower Rush Creek for October through March is 36 cubic feet per second (cfs). This is the first winter since 1995 that this flow was released. But due to a variance granted by the State Water Board, on November 2, 2007, the flow released into Rush Creek from Grant Lake Reservoir was lowered to 26 cfs, and will stay at that level until April 1, 2008.

Lakewatch - Mono Lake drops 2.4 feet since 2006 high point; meromixis ends

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:50:54 GMT

A very dry fall ended with December storms that brought 6 inches of snow to the Mono Basin. These storms were unable to abate the continuous drop in lake level since April, which ended when the lake hit a low of 6382.7 feet above sea level around New Year’s Day. The last time the lake was at that same level was in February 2006.

Mono Basin Journal - A roundup of quiet happenings at Mono Lake

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:50:21 GMT

There are local legends that grow wherever people live and work and in the world of the Mono Lake Committee, there’s a large set of them connected to leading public walks at South Tufa. It’s well known, for example, that the summertime evening tour leads up to a wonderful and often dramatic sunset that spreads oranges and reds across the sky. And it’s certainly true that stormy weather adds drama, with dark clouds rumbling overhead and swaths of grey rain wavering across the lake. Now I’m pretty sure it’s true that one group, exploring on such an evening, made the call to cancel the tour due to lightning when people’s hair started to stand on end. But really, did lightning ever strike a spotting scope forgotten in the rush of this fateful eve, vaporizing it never to be seen again? So the legends grow.

Benchmarks

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:49:18 GMT

February 2007: Frozen foam and poconip fog frame a South Tufa view with Mono Lake at 6384.6 feet above sea level.
February 2008: A clear morning reveals more lakeshore exposed with the lake at 6383.1 feet above sea level.

BLM moves forward with Conway Ranch plans: Historic building restored

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:48:44 GMT

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently completed restoring one of the historic ranch houses in the north part of the Mono Basin on Conway Ranch. In addition to completely restabilizing the foundation and structural integrity of dwelling, the BLM has also installed an interpretive sign for visitors.

From the Information Center & Bookstore

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:47:55 GMT

A selection of items that you can find in our store in Lee Vining, CA and order on the Web at www.monolake.org/bookstore/ or on the phone at 760-647-6595.

Staff migrations

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:47:08 GMT

Here’s the roundup on the comings and goings of Mono Lake Committee staff since last fall!

From the mailbag: News from members and friends

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:46:29 GMT

Winter is a quiet time in the Mono Basin, but not at the membership desk! The response to the year-end “Burn the Mortgage” appeal was phenomenal. I opened more than 1,300 envelopes, almost every one containing a donation. Our members are simply wonderful!

Back page

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:39:46 GMT

Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua: June 20-22, 2008
Owens Lake Big Day: April 19, 2008
Come work at Mono Lake this summer!

2007 Free Drawing Winners

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:02:45 GMT

Congratulations to all the lucky winners in the 2007 Free Drawing! Thank you for supporting Mono Lake.