Current Mono Lake News and Events

Calendar

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:18:35 GMT

May 3: Help plant trees along Rush Creek
May 11-17 Salt lake conference in Utah
May: Bird Walks begin at Mono Lake County Park
End of May: Average Tioga Pass opening date

State budget cuts spare Mono Lake but undermine State Park System

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:18:20 GMT

State budget cuts spare Mono Lake but undermine State Park System. Follow this link to learn how you can help save California's State Parks!

Saving the Sierra Radio Documentary: Mono Lake

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:14:11 GMT

Saving the Sierra Radio Documentary. Public Radio program now airing features 20-minute segment on Mono lake's protection and Mono Lake Committee's youth education programs. It can be heard streaming on the Internet (note: Mono Lake segment starts at minute 30).

Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua June 20-22

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:15:40 GMT

Web registration is open for the 7th Annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua! A full program schedule is posted on the Website. Register now and make your reservations soon for the June 20-22 weekend!

More Kids in the Woods: US Forest Service grant helps the Outdoor Experiences Program

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:12:00 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.

Mono Lake Committee Field Seminars

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:55:20 GMT

Mono Lake Committee Field Seminars are now open to the public for registration. Many are full or are filling fast, so register online or on the phone soon!

Photos of the Week: Lake-effect Snow

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:09:12 GMT

40 hours of continuous snowfall brought 2 feet of snow to Lee Vining and even more to June Lake--far more than Mammoth Lakes received!

Victory!! Shoreline subdivision saga at an end

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:36:35 GMT

Breaking news! The threat of illegal subdivision along Mono Lake’s western shore has ended with the purchase of 90% of the Cunningham property by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA). The land will become part of a proposed land trade with the US Forest Service, assuring that it will be protected in its natural state for future generations.

Mono Lake Private Lands Preserved

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 19:17:23 GMT

The high desert landscape surrounding Mono Lake has moved one large step toward remaining unspoiled with a 3,748-acre gift from The Wilderness Land Trust. The Trust purchased the acreage from a developer in 2005 and donated it July 13th to the Bureau of Land Management, which administers nearby land as Wilderness Study Areas. Join us for a celebration from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Saturday September 8th, 2007.

Storm Over Mono--Out of print, but read it online

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:58:28 GMT

Storm Over Mono, by John Hart, is the best book on the Mono Lake story. Unfortunately, it just went out of print this year. Luckily, you don't have to wait until a new updated version is produced--you can read it online! The online version is missing the photos, but the wonderful story is there.

Illegal OHV Use on Mono's Shore

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:31:01 GMT

On a weekend in late April, ironically close to Earth Day, Lee Vining resident and Friends of the Inyo Executive Director Paul McFarland found himself chasing down three motorized dirt bikes that were illegally riding on the Lee Vining Creek trail below town. To make matters worse, the off-highway vehicle enthusiasts continued on towards the shore of Mono Lake at Old Marina, laying down deep treads of damage on the fragile shoreline and even venturing into the shallow lakeshore waters before continuing up to the US Forest Service Visitor Center.

Inyo National Forest Centennial

Wed, 30 May 2007 00:25:51 GMT

On Friday, May 25th, 2007, the Inyo National Forest celebrated its 100th Anniversary.

State Water Board visits Mono Lake

Tue, 01 May 2007 17:36:15 GMT

The State Water Resources Control Board visited Mono Lake at the end of April. The focus was on how things are going since the Mono Lake Water Rights Decision 1631 and the Restoration Orders 98-05 and 98-07. These orders mandated higher lake levels and stream and waterfowl habitat restoration.

Scenic Area Subdivision Threat Returns

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:17:22 GMT

The already lengthy story of the 112-acre property in the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area has just begun a new chapter: the Cunningham family owns the property once again after two years of Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA) ownership. A letter sent by their realtor confirms their intent to attempt to subdivide it for a resort home development. Not only is subdivision of the steep, scenic hillside a bad idea, but such an action would also be a direct violation of the federal law protecting the Scenic Area surrounding Mono Lake.

Mono Lake Values Blog

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:49:48 GMT

What do you value about Mono Lake? Share your thoughts on our new Value Blog! This Webpage has our planned new formatting--look for the full Website revision this fall!

Restoration Compliance Report Filed

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:45:45 GMT

The Mono Lake Committee and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) have jointly submitted a Status of Restoration Compliance Report to the State Water Resources Control Board. This comprehensive document summarizes and categorizes all of DWP’s restoration requirements ordered under Decision 1631 and Orders 98-05 and 98-07.

Frances Spivy-Weber Appointed to State Water Resources Control Board

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 21:07:27 GMT

Frances Spivy-Weber of Redondo Beach has been appointed to the State Water Resources Control Board. She served as the Executive Director for Policy for the Mono Lake Committee from 1997 until last September, and currently works for the L.A. Mayor's office. The Mono Lake Committee wishes her congratulations and the best in her ongoing work guiding California to a sustainable water future.

Mono Lake Featured in California Academy of Sciences Exhibit

Wed, 14 Feb 2007 22:58:12 GMT

The California Academy of Sciences currently has an exhibit on life in extreme environments. Mono Lake is featured under "Saline Lakes." Mono Lake has a pH of 10 and a salinity more than double that of the Pacific Ocean. Anything that can survive in these conditions is considered an "extremophile." Most of Mono Lake's extremophiles are microbes.