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Mono Lake and Los Angeles are connected by a common need for the same water, and thus Mono Lake's future is tied to water conservation in the city and public support for natural areas. Because of this intimate connection between the city and the lake, the Mono Lake Committee works actively on projects in L.A. that enhance public understanding of Mono Lake and support water conservation efforts. The Mono Lake Committee offers educational programs and works with Los Angeles community organizations to promote water conservation and an understanding of Mono Lake. One of these programs, The Los Angeles Water Conservation Council (LAWCC), is an informal organization of Los Angeles community organizations, the Mono Lake Committee, and other interested groups working together to promote water conservation and protect the environment. Members of the LAWCC work on water conservation projects in their respective communities and many groups have enjoyed coming to Mono Lake as part of the Outdoor Experiences Program. Another program, the Ultra-Low
Flush Toilet Distribution Program was sponsored by the
L.A. Department of Water and Power and made up of
community groups that distributed free low flush toilets,
helping conserve water and money. The program was a
victim of its own success, and was recently discontinued after fully
saturating the market! In fact, protection of Mono Lake will not adversely affect Los Angeles' water supply at all. Due to recent water rights decisions, some of the water which once flowed to L.A. now keeps the lake healthy, and it will be more than replaced by specific conservation and water recycling projects in the city, creating positive solutions to the Mono Lake problem at both ends of the aqueduct. The goal of the Mono Lake Committee has always been to protect Mono Lake and meet real water needs without transferring environmental problems to other areas. The Committee has worked with the Los Angeles community to identify and fund alternative water supplies for Los Angeles which are local, good for the economy, and environmentally sound. These supplies allow Mono Lake to be protected without placing additional water demands on places like the San Francisco Bay Delta or the Colorado River.
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Combined, the Mono
Lake Committee and the people of Los Angeles are working
to protect Mono Lake forever, and make L.A. more
drought-proof!
