July 1st, 2009 by Greg, Information SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information Specialist About: Since his Committee internship in 1995, Greg has been involved with Mono Basin stream restoration and with maintaining the Committee's computers, Websites, and Research Library, and researching and compiling information for our programs. He is also an EMT on the Lee Vining Volunteer Fire Department. His B.S. degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Forestry and Natural Resources with a concentration in Environmental Management and a Senior Project in Hydrology reflects his interest in natural resources management, administration, planning, environmental analysis, and restoration. He is a member of the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the Watershed Management Council.See All Posts by Greg (26) Contact Greg
It has warmed up, with most days this past week in the 80s. We have afternoon thunderstorms and a bit of smoke from two small fires in Yosemite. The mosquitoes are out, and there is still plenty of snow above 11,000 feet.
WEATHER
Hot, with highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s. Nearby thunderstorms the last two days have created amazing sunsets. A massive thunderstorm to our west Monday evening caused a brief windstorm with a peak gust of 40 mph, damaging some … more »
July 1st, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (40) Contact Geoffrey
Add this to the ironies surrounding the money-losing proposal to shut down most of California’s State Parks, including Mono Lake and Bodie: … more »
July 1st, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (40) Contact Geoffrey
The month of June is over and California does not have a revised budget for the new fiscal year, despite late night emergency activities in Sacramento.
This deepens the threat to State Parks at Mono Lake, Bodie, and across the state. Here’s how: … more »
June 30th, 2009 by Greg, Information SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information Specialist About: Since his Committee internship in 1995, Greg has been involved with Mono Basin stream restoration and with maintaining the Committee's computers, Websites, and Research Library, and researching and compiling information for our programs. He is also an EMT on the Lee Vining Volunteer Fire Department. His B.S. degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Forestry and Natural Resources with a concentration in Environmental Management and a Senior Project in Hydrology reflects his interest in natural resources management, administration, planning, environmental analysis, and restoration. He is a member of the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the Watershed Management Council.See All Posts by Greg (26) Contact Greg
This week we received LADWP’s forecast for Mono Lake levels for the 2009 Runoff Year (April 1, 2009-March 31, 2010). The lake is expected to be at its peak right now (the current elevation of Mono Lake is 6382.53 feet above sea level ), and fall about 1/2 foot by early September, and fall a total of about … more »
June 25th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (40) Contact Geoffrey
Funding for state parks was scheduled for a vote Wednesday June 24 in Sacramento as part of the state’s full budget package. But when the first package element lacked the necessary 2/3 majority vote, further action was put off leaving the future of State Parks funding in doubt.
The proposed State Parks Access Pass, which would fund all state parks including Mono Lake and Bodie by adding $15 to vehicle license fees in exchange for year-round free parks access, was part of the package but did not come up for a vote.
It is still critically important to show support for parks. The overall budget package is likely headed into a series of negotiations between the governor and legislature and it’s important that parks funding is preserved!
Write a letter to the negotiation leadership and we’ll hand-deliver it to them in Sacramento! And stay tuned for further updates.
June 22nd, 2009 by Elin, Communications CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Elin, Communications CoordinatorName: Elin Ljung Title: Communications Coordinator About: Elin's job at the Committee consists of some of her favorite things: finding typos, experimenting with layouts, and figuring out how best to communicate the Committee's work to the world. She also oversees the Field Seminar program and coordinates grant-writing efforts. Elin volunteers on the Lee Vining Fire Department, loves sitting at Latte Da Coffee Cafe immersed in a good book, and watches English Premier League football (soccer) at any opportunity.See All Posts by Elin (12) Contact Elin
An alpine lily gets a closeup. Photo courtesy of David Gubernick.
With an unusually cool and rainy spring season in the Mono Basin, the flower displays are amazing! Desert flowers are still putting on a good show, with higher-elevation species coming into full bloom in the canyons. It’s a great time to visit Mono Lake.
This flower year will be spectacular for photographers. If you’ve ever thought about getting into wildflower photography, now is your chance! This weekend accomplished photographer David Gubernick will be teaching a Mono Lake Committee workshop: The Art of Wildflower Macrophotography. David offers a relaxed and supportive atmosphere for beginners, and his wealth of knowledge will benefit experts too.
Sign up this week to join what promises to be a great class!
June 21st, 2009 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (19) Contact Arya
In an inspirational show of support for the Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve, Bodie State Park, and all State Parks, over 100 people gathered at the Tufa State Reserve Boardwalk at Mono Lake to participate in the Save Our State Parks effort in support of State Parks around California today.
The concern for the future of State Parks runs deep in this neck of the woods, … more »
June 18th, 2009 by Greg, Information SpecialistcloseAuthor: Greg, Information SpecialistName: Greg Reis Title: Information Specialist About: Since his Committee internship in 1995, Greg has been involved with Mono Basin stream restoration and with maintaining the Committee's computers, Websites, and Research Library, and researching and compiling information for our programs. He is also an EMT on the Lee Vining Volunteer Fire Department. His B.S. degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Forestry and Natural Resources with a concentration in Environmental Management and a Senior Project in Hydrology reflects his interest in natural resources management, administration, planning, environmental analysis, and restoration. He is a member of the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the Watershed Management Council.See All Posts by Greg (26) Contact Greg
Two days until the Summer Solstice, and sure enough it is starting to warm up, but not yet starting to dry out–it rained for about an hour last night. The Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua starts tomorrow, lots of birders are in town, and excitement is … more »
June 18th, 2009 by Morgan, Canoe Program CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Morgan, Canoe Program CoordinatorName: Morgan Lindsay Title: Canoe Program Coordinator About: Morgan is back for her second summer in the Mono Basin. She had so much fun last year as an intern that she jumped at the chance to be the Mono Lake Committee's Canoe Program Coordinator this summer. When she's not out in a canoe making new friends for the lake, you can find Captain Morgan hunting for buried treasure in long lost legal documents and battling unruly copiers to protect California's state parks. This past May, she graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts with an Environmental Studies degree in Water Science and Policy, so working for the Mono Lake Committee is her dream job. Morgan also enjoys growing, cooking and eating food, especially pie, and hopes to try out many new recipes this summer.See All Posts by Morgan (1) Contact Morgan
As a returning Intern, and this year’s Canoe Coordinator for the Mono Lake Committee, I look forward to doing something new every day to help protect and restore this incredible place. This past Monday was a typical example of the unexpected diversity of tasks I can expect to do every day I come to work. … more »
June 17th, 2009 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (19) Contact Arya
The Mono Lake Committee is excited and proud to announce the winners of the 2009 Mono Lake Committee Scholarships! Justin Frederick Diem of the Eastern Sierra Academy, Erika Flores of Lee Vining High School, and Juan Carlos Pina of the Eastern Sierra Academy wrote moving essays that won them each $1,000 to help with their pursuit of higher education.
Justin answered the question: “How has Mono Lake or the Mono Basin influenced your life and your choice to go to college?” … more »
