Mono Lake Goes Online
Mono Lake hit the Internet over the summer with a site on the World Wide Web featuring information and services for visitors, students, Committee members, and Monophiles from around the world. In fact, in the first weeks of operation the site saw visits from as far afield as Indonesia and Germany.
The Mono Lake Web site can be found at http://www.monolake.org and covers three major areas of Mono Lake information. In the "About Mono Lake" section, geological and ecological information (a favorite with students working on reports) provides a firm background for understanding Mono Lake's natural history and the issues associated with its protection. Already popular is a page of concise Mono Lake statistics which includes the current lake level.
Information for visitors is featured in the "Visit Mono Lake" section. It offers guidance on current walks and activities at the lake; tips on travel, weather, and road information; and a complete listing of lodging and other services in Lee Vining. In coming months, look for local businesses to add photos and text detailing their establishments. Additionally, links to other regional web sites provide easy access to other places, events, and people in the Eastern Sierra.
Finally, a section on the Mono Lake Committee and the fight to save the lake rounds out the offering. The Committee section includes selected Newsletter articles, restoration information, a profile of the alternative water supplies available to Los Angeles, and a history of litigation and legislation relating to Mono. Of course, information on joining the Committee can be requested, and there's even a selection of merchandise from the Mono Lake gift catalog.
Beyond providing information, the Committee hopes that the Web site will recruit new members and supporters of the Mono Lake cause. Additionally, current Committee members can utilize membership services, such as registering a change of address, through the site.
MLC member Karen Rogers, who runs Clarity Internet Services (http://catalog.com/clarity) helped lay the foundation for the site in the spring by preparing a basic set of pages and links from material provided by the Committee. Development took off in the summer with the arrival of Committee intern Wendy Stanford, who has dedicated numerous hours to coding and expanding the homepage's contents. The page is suited for Netscape, Internet Explorer, and other up-to-date Web browsers.
"My favorite thing," Wendy says, "has been watching the site grow and seeing the increase in visitation. Many of the people who call us on the phone for information are excited to hear we have a Web site, and it's terrific we can provide this detailed, 24 hour information source."
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