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Twenty Years of Advocacy
1978 • Mono Lake Committee • 1998
Early in this century,
Los Angeles leaders like William Mulholland turned to the
Eastern Sierra for water to keep pace with the
city’s growth. In 1941, they first opened the gates
of the aqueduct which takes water from Mono Lake’s
tributary streams.
The streams dried up and the lake level dropped
dramatically, allowing winds to pick up toxic dust off
the exposed lakebed and threatening to collapse the Mono
Lake ecosystem.
A group of young
scientists from Davis studied Mono Lake and became
alarmed at what they found. They formed the Mono Lake
Committee in 1978. Co-founders Sally and David Gaines
realized saving Mono Lake would depend on letting the
world know about Mono Lake’s wonders and its plight,
and turning people into advocates.
In the early 80s, grassroots support was growing,
enabling the Committee to open a storefront and small
office in Lee Vining, not far from Mono Lake. Slideshows,
guidebooks, bumper stickers, and other materials helped
spread the word. Birders, hikers, and tourists stopped in
to learn the latest news.
From the early days, the
Committee reached out to legislators,
state agencies, other environmental groups, and local
communities to build coalitions, to ensure that all
viewpoints were heard, and to explore every option for
solutions to Mono’s plight.
Mono enthusiasts staged events to raise
awareness and funds, including the annual Bike-A-Thon,
which started with a scoop of water from DWP’s
reflecting pools and ended with the water’s return
to Mono Lake.
Canoe trips and guided tours exposed
nature lovers to Mono’s birds and beauty, raising
ire about Mono Lake’s peril. These excursions are
still popular summer programs, helping to increase
appreciation for the natural wonders of Mono Lake and the
importance of our continuing stewardship.
Detailed scientific
studies proved necessary for truly understanding the
effects of water diversions. For example, experiments
helped to show the impact of the dwindling lake’s
increasing salinity on the health of brine shrimp and
alkali flies—and ultimately, the millions of
migratory birds that depend on them.
Executive Director Martha
Davis worked diligently to assure that protecting Mono
Lake wouldn’t require diverting water from some
other natural area. Her solution was to secure state and
federal funding for conservation and waste water
recycling programs in Los Angeles that would more than
make up the loss of Mono Basin water. And then she
persuaded DWP to actually use the money!
Reclamation facilities
are now being constructed in Los Angeles which will
conserve 145,000 acre-feet of water per year—about
one-and-a-half times the amount DWP typically diverted
from Mono Lake over the past 25 years.
Homeowners in Los Angeles are conserving
water with low-flow toilets which are distributed by
community organizations working with local youth. The
Committee played a key role in securing funds for this
program as well as funds for water recycling projects,
and negotiated with DWP so that the water saved would be
credited to Mono Lake.
In 1993, the State Water
Resources Control Board held 43 days of public hearings.
The Committee and its allies, as well as the Department
of Water and Power, presented complex legal arguments and
scientific evidence.
All parties agreed to accept the historic
1994 Water Board decision requiring a higher lake level
and restoration of Mono Basin streams and waterfowl
habitat while allowing some diversions to LA. The parties
were asked to cooperate on developing and implementing
restoration plans.
In 1978, young biologist
David Gaines envisioned a healthy Mono Lake. Twenty years
later, the dream is partially fulfilled. Yet, the
situation is a fragile one. The Public Trust Doctrine,
critical to Mono’s protection, has been challenged
in other arenas, and there are rumblings from DWP that
suggest it may ask the Water Board to revisit its 1994
decision. The only way to ensure long-term protection on
Mono Lake is to ensure the long-term vitality of the Mono
Lake Committee. The next twenty years are just as
important as the first twenty years!
Note:
In the newsletter, this article contained photos. Coming
soon to the Webpage: 20th Anniversary Photo Gallery!
Return to Winter
1998 Newsletter
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