Relicted Lands Issue Chronology of Updates

May 2001
Mono County Board acts to rescind R00-12!

After more than a year on the books, the Mono County Board of Supervisors took action in May to rescind resolution R00-12. In a 4-1 vote, the Board eliminated the former resolution that contained language clearly, though perhaps inadvertently, calling for the elimination of the land base of the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve (MLTSR) – a key piece of the environmental protection puzzle at Mono Lake. Public concern over the impacts of R00-12 and over 2300 letters from members of the Mono Lake Committee raised awareness in the community of the unintended consequences of the resolution. We applaud the Board for taking such decisive action to support an integral component of environmental protection at Mono Lake! For more information call Lisa at (760) 647-6595.

December 2000
Citizens Group to Review Appropriate Land Uses on Relicted Lands

Well, the relicted land issue continues on – and on and on. The Mono County Board of Supervisors met in December to consider the possibility of rescinding the February resolution R00-12 once again. A full house attended the workshop. As it has seemed to go in the past, the board decided that because certain landowners were close to an agreement but had not yet concluded their land use negotiations with the State that the resolution should not be rescinded at this time. The board set a new date in February to look at this issue (again) and to consider adopting a new resolution that would replace R00-12. At the request of a few affected landowners, the board formed an ad-hoc citizen committee that includes local landowners and the Mono Lake Committee to try and shape a new resolution that works for everyone. It’s the Mono Lake Committee’s hope that this coalition can arrive at language that both protects the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve and acknowledges the legitimate historic land use opportunities on relicted lands. For more information call Lisa at (760) 647-6595.

Relicted land workshop - 3:30 pm, Tuesday, December 12, USFS Visitors Center, Lee Vining.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a workshop to address the ongoing issue related to private property owners’ use of relicted lands at Mono Lake. There is a chance that the board might rescind the resolution passed last February - a resolution calling for legislative changes in relicted land boundaries at Mono Lake which would eliminate the land base of the of the Tufa State Reserve. This resolution currently sits dormant on the desks of state Legislators. The Reserve needs your support. While we recognize that mid-afternoon may not be the best time to come to Lee Vining, especially with the industrial park issue later that evening in Mammoth, it is still important that you voice your concern. If you can attend this important meeting, please do. If not, please take a few minutes to call your supervisor and let him or her know how important the ongoing protection of the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve is to you. Ask them to rescind the February resolution for the sake of Mono Lake's protection and the Tufa State Reserve.

For more information, call Lisa at the Mono Lake Committee, 647-6595

October 2000

Negotiations between the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Lands Commission, and Mono Lake landowners regarding uses of the relicted lands have progressed. For background see the text below, and articles in our Spring and Summer 2000 Newsletter.

As a result of the progress in negotiations, the Mono County Board of Supervisors recently discussed the possibility of rescinding their February resolution (R00-12). This resolution was passed with the intent of stimulating movement towards an administrative solution to these land use issues. However, the resolution also included language that, if acted upon in the State Legislature, could eliminate the land base of the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve.

A public hearing will be held December 12 to consider rescinding the resolution.

May 2000

The Mono County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, May 2nd to review the status of negotiations between owners of land above the west shore of Mono Lake and the state. It was reported by state officials, Bob Macomber of the State Department of Parks and Recreation and Mary Scoonover of the State Attorney General’s Office, and the attorney for the landowners, Jim Reed, that negotiations were going well, that all the state needed at this time was an environmental checklist and a plot plan of proposed development, and that the only sticking point was whether the agreement would be drafted in the form of a lease.

The County Counsel, Marshall Rudolph, prepared an alternative resolution to R00-12, which passed in February. It was drafted with the input of Jim Reed, counsel for the owners, and Geoff McQuilkin, executive director-operations for the Mono Lake Committee. This alternative resolution would have served to rescind R00-12, acknowledge the progress made in negotiations, encourage a swift completion of negotiations, suggest that landowners and the state continue to “agree to disagree” on the point of landownership, and would formally state again the County’s support for the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve. Landowners, members from the Range of Light group of the Sierra Club, former supervisors Tim Alpers and Andrea Lawrence, Heidi Hopkins of the Mono Lake Committee, and other interested parties all addressed the Board. The comments ranged from support of the proposed resolution to anger at its proposal.

After hearing all comments, the Board decided to take no action on the proposed alternate resolution or on R00-12. Instead, they decided to ask for weekly updates on negotiations and to schedule a field trip to look at the land use and ownership issues more closely. This is a prudent course of action in light of the broad field of comments taken, however it leaves R00-12 on the table in Sacramento. While in limbo, R00-12 will continue to present an ongoing threat to the land base of the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve.

The Mono Lake Committee has been pleased with the thoughtful review the Board of Supervisors has given this issue and their commitment to seeing an administrative solution through. We also applaud their repeated statements of support for the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve.

Public support of the supervisor’s commitment to an administrative remedy and the protection of the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve would be greatly appreciated by us. We will continue updates on the status of negotiations and of R00-12. Do not hesitate to write or call your supervisors. Be sure to mention your support of an administrative solution to this land use issue, that you do not support any legislative action which lessens protections for Mono Lake, and that you appreciate their support for the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve.

March 2000

The Mono Lake Committee is greatly relieved by the Board’s recent expression of support for the Tufa State Reserve. But the Board’s February resolution remains on the desks of legislators in Sacramento - and will remain there until it is withdrawn or modified at the May 2 re-hearing of the issue. Letters to the Mono County Board of Supervisors in support of the Tufa State Reserve are still needed. If you cannot attend the May 2 hearing, please write to the Mono County Board of Supervisors (and cc us!) or print and send us the letter found here.

February 2000: Original Issue

On February 15, the Mono County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution that, if implemented, would threaten the Tufa State Reserve at Mono Lake (see links for more information). Subsequent public outcry against this poorly conceived resolution prompted the Board to reconsider its action. On March 14, the Board issued a letter that explains the Board’s support for the Tufa State Reserve. Click here to read the Board's resolution. Click here to read the Board's March 21st letter.

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