Restoration Days 1999: September 3-6
Restoration Days are a new tradition here at Mono Lake. Here’s your opportunity to see friends and explore the magic of Mono Lake and the surrounding area. If you come for one event or stay for the entire weekend, you’re sure to have a lot of fun! See you in the field ...
F r i d a y ,
S e p t e m b e r 3
• 5:00-7:00pm Garden Reception
Restoration Days start off with a
reception at the Mono Lake Committee garden. Stop by to
meet up with friends, watch the new Mono Lake slide show,
and meet our newest Board member, Andrea Lawrence.
• 6:00pm Guided South Tufa Walk
The most famous tufa grove at Mono Lake,
South Tufa, receives thousands of visitors from all over
the world every year. Sunset provides a wonderful
experience as the light of evening illuminates the tufa
towers, the birds welcome nightfall, and the shadows of
the desert grow long. Join a Mono Lake Committee
naturalist for an in-depth look at this wonderful place
and a general introduction to Mono Lake’s
fascinating ecosystem. Tours are 11/2
hours long and meet at the South Tufa kiosk in the
parking area. South Tufa is a federal fee area; adults
are charged a $2 fee, which is good for a week and also
works at the USFS Visitor Center. Children under 12 are
free.
S a t u r d a y , S e p t e m b e r 4
• 7:00am Bird Watching in the Mono
Basin
Come join the phalaropes, avocets, grebes,
pintails, and many more birds during this exciting
exploration with an experienced Mono Basin ornithologist.
Part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network,
Mono Lake is one of the premier birding spots in
California. Meet at the Information Center and Bookstore.
Approximately 11/2
hours.
• 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am Mono Lake Canoe
Tours
Dip your paddle into clouds of brine
shrimp and experience Mono’s fascinating ecosystem
from a unique and unforgettable vantage point. Tours
leave from Navy Beach and explore South Tufa from the
water for about an hour. The fee is $17 for adult and $7
for children ages 4–12. Sorry, no children under 4
or pets. Reservations are required and can be made by
calling the Committee at (760) 647-6595. Meet at Navy
Beach 20 minutes prior to your reserved time.
• 9:00am Lee Vining Creek Walk
Join a Committee naturalist for a walk
along Lee Vining Creek and learn about this vital Great
Basin habitat, its past, and its future. This walk
explores one of the best examples of what was lost due to
diversions and discusses restoration goals. Meet at the
Information Center and Bookstore.
• 10:30am A walk on the wild side
This is not your average wildflower walk. Join Jean
Dillingham, Mono Basin flower finder, for a hike up Lundy
Canyon to find end of the season wildflowers. Perfect for
wildflower lovers, this moderate hike will explore many
natural wonders. Meet at the Information Center and
Bookstore.
• 1:00pm Sign Painting
Don’t miss the tradition of painting
your own sign for the Rehydration Ceremony. Everyone meet
at Old Marina.
• 1:30pm Rehydration Ceremony
With the lake rising, we celebrate by
sharing Mono stories and marking where we think the
shoreline will be next year. Come prepared to swim to
find last year’s mark! Lucy Parker, a descendant of
the Yosemite Miwok, Mono Lake Kuzedika’a, and Pomo
peoples, will highlight the ceremony by offering a
blessing for the lake. Meet at Old Marina to participate
in this inspiring ceremony.
• 3:00pm Annual Meeting & Picnic
Bring your picnic, blanket, or chair and
relax while getting the yearly update on what’s been
happening at Mono Lake. Hear Committee Board Members,
Executive Director Frances Spivy-Weber, and staff share
stories about the rising waters of Mono and changes in
the Mono Basin.
• 4:30pm Native American Culture
& Basketry
Join Lucy Parker at the Information Center
and Bookstore as she demonstrates basketmaking in the
tradition of the regional Paiute. Lucy learned
traditional handiwork from her mother, a master basket
weaver, and will pass on some of her knowledge in this
special workshop.
• 6:00pm South Tufa Tour
Once again, here is an opportunity to join
a Mono Lake Committee naturalist for an in-depth look at
this wonderful place during the best time of the day.
Tours are 11/2
hours long and meet at South Tufa.
• 6:00pm Mono Basin Birds
As many of you know, Mono Lake is an
important stopover for millions of migratory birds each
year. Join longtime Committee friend and supporter David
Wimpfheimer as he shares his extensive knowledge about
birds that live in and visit this area. Meet at the
Information Center and Bookstore.
S u n d a y, S e p t e m b e r 5
• 7:00am Birdwatching in the Mono
Basin
Here’s a chance to test what you
learned from yesterday’s workshop. Meet at the
Information Center and Bookstore. Approximately 11/4 hours.
• 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am Mono Lake Canoe Tours
The incredible Committee canoe tours are again offered, so if you haven’t made it onto the lake yet, here’s another chance. Tours leave from Navy Beach and explore South Tufa from the water for about an hour. The fee is $17 for adult and $7 for children ages 4–12. Sorry, no children under 4 or pets. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (760) 647-6595. Meet at Navy Beach 20 minutes prior to your reserved time.
• 9:00am Restoration Work
Now that the restoration plans are final,
this year’s work will help the Committee fulfill its
commitment to DWP to help the scientists with much-needed
volunteer work. The science team in charge of the
restoration plans is still putting their heads together
to finalize this summer’s work, so our exact tasks
have not been determined yet. Come ready to get going on
the ground floor of the new restoration plans! Be
prepared for hot sun and bring water, sunscreen, a hat,
and sturdy shoes. Meet at the Information Center and
Bookstore. You’ll be in the field for approximately
3 hours.
• 1:00pm Aqueduct Tour led by the
Department of Water and Power
This tour was so popular last year
we’ve had calls asking us to offer it again! Learn
about the Los Angeles Aqueduct by visiting Lee Vining
diversion dam and other Mono Basin facilities. The tour
will be led by DWP officials and will show how water is
moved and stored on the way to Los Angeles. Meet at the
Information Center and Bookstore.
• 3:30pm Is Lee Vining Creek healthy? Is
Mono Lake?
Back again by popular demand is biologist
Dave Herbst’s exploration of the life in Lee Vining
Creek. Dr. Herbst will focus on bioassessment of stream
health, demonstrating how invertebrate and vegetation
analysis can reveal much about a stream ecosystem. Dave
will also lead those are interested to the lakeshore to
talk about the current mereomixis state of the lake. This
tour takes about 2 hours and meets on the west side of
the County Road crossing of Lee Vining Creek. Dave is a
long time Mono Basin researcher and a fascinating
speaker—don’t miss this thought-provoking
event!
• 6:00pm Volcano Tour at Panum Crater
Join us as we explore the youngest of the Mono Craters!
Merely 640 years old, Panum’s abundance of pumice
and obsidian—plus its spectacular views of the Mono
Basin—make this a pure delight! This 11/2 hour walk begins at the Panum Crater
parking lot and ventures to the top of Panum’s rocky
plug dome. Meet at the Panum Crater parking lot.
• 6:00pm South Tufa Walk
How were the tufa towers formed?
Here’s one more chance to learn more about this
magnificent area. Tours are 11/2 hours long and meet at the South Tufa
area.
• 8:00pm Star Talk
Janet Carle, a Mono Lake Tufa State
Reserve ranger, will present a star talk at Mono
Lake’s South Tufa area. Bring a blanket to lie down
on while Janet reads the stories of the stars. Meet at
the South Tufa parking area.
M o n d a y , S e p t e m b e r 6
• 7:00am Bird Watching Expedition
Here’s one last chance to see that
snowy plover, black-necked stilt, or juvenile California
gull! Meet at the Information Center and Bookstore.
Approximately 11/2
hours.
• 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am Mono Lake Canoe
Tours
It’s almost the last chance until
next year to float among the tufa towers and brine
shrimp. Treat yourself to this very special way of
experiencing Mono Lake before the paddles and canoes are
put away for the season. The fee is $17 for adult and $7
for children ages 4–12. Sorry, no children under 4
or pets. Reservations are required and can be made by
calling (760) 647-6595. Meet at Navy Beach 20 minutes
prior to your reserved time.
Planning for the weekend
The Mono Lake Committee Information Center and Bookstore will be your headquarters for the weekend. The kiosk in front of the Committee will have a schedule of events posted, and will be a place to leave notes for friends.
The Weather
Visiting Mono Lake at the end of summer is usually very
pleasant. Most of the mosquitoes are gone, the
rabbitbrush is blooming, and grebes cover the lake. The
days tend to be warm, but temperatures rarely exceed 85
degrees. At night, temperatures drop into the 40s.
Thunderstorms are always a possibility.
What to Wear
The days are warm, so shorts and T-shirts usually
suffice. The intense sun makes hats, sunglasses,
sunscreen, and water bottles necessary. It’s worth
packing a rain jacket too, especially if you’ll be
out hiking. Bring warm clothing and hats to ensure
evening activities are enjoyable.
Appropriate footwear can also make your trip more enjoyable. For most events, sandals and tennis shoes should be fine, but it’s worth bringing some lightweight hiking boots as well. If you are going on a canoe tour, extensive walks at the lake, or helping with restoration work, bring shoes you won’t mind getting wet.
Accommodations and Camping
This will be a very busy weekend for Lee Vining, so
please make your hotel reservations as early as possible.
If you want to camp, we’ve arranged camping at
County Park on Saturday night (only) and other options
are available either in or just outside of town. Sorry,
no camping at the High School this year due to
rebuilding.
Final Notes
The Mono Lake Committee Information Center and Bookstore
will be open from 9:00am to 10:00pm throughout the
weekend, and staff will be available to assist you.
If you want to go on a canoe tour, please make your reservation as early as possible by calling (760) 647-6595.
Information and updates will be posted on the kiosk in front of the Committee Information Center and Bookstore.
Please try to carpool whenever possible, as parking in some locations is limited—plus, it’s the right thing to do.
Now ... have fun!
Return to Summer 1999 Newsletter
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