In 1994, the State Water Resources Control Board issued Decision 1631, restoring Mono Lake and its tributary streams through a plan of reduced water diversions to Los Angeles. At that time, the decision considered LA’s water supply projections:

The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP) projects that the city will use approximately 700 thousand acre-feet per year by 1995, increasing to 756.5 thousand acre-feet by 2010 due to population growth. DWP cautions, however, that large uncertainties exist regarding future projections.

The decision went on to (more…)

Today we’re asking for your help. We need you to call or email Buck McKeon today related to an upcoming vote that could affect Mono Lake and many of our favorite places in the Eastern Sierra.

The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps program (SNAP) is in jeopardy of becoming the next victim of Congressional budget cuts. This proposed budget measure will immediately eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Services and all its programs, which includes the AmeriCorps program.

Several environmental organizations in the Eastern Sierra depend on staffing support from this program. These include organizations such as the Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Friends of the Inyo, and the Sierra Nevada Alliance. (more…)

The Mono Basin’s wet weather suddenly ended January 3rd, and aside from 0.16 inches of precipitation on January 30th, there was no measurable precipitation until February 16th! That is 27 dry days in a row, then one day of precipitation, followed by another 16 dry days! Total January precipitation in Lee Vining added up to (more…)

The discovery of bacteria at Mono Lake that can incorporate arsenic into their DNA has generated a huge amount of interest–and scientific pushback. An article published this week takes a step back for an overview worth reading. Here’s an (more…)

After six weeks of warm, dry weather, winter has returned to the Mono Basin with a vengeance. The storm started late Tuesday night and continued through most of Wednesday, accompanied by fierce winds and leading to road closures and chain controls throughout the region. The biggest dose of snow came Friday night, delivering 16 inches of light, fluffy powder in just a few hours. Local ski areas are reporting 76 to 92 inches of snow, just in time to cater to Presidents Day Weekend visitors.

This week the sun is shining and the storm’s aftermath is revealed: acres of blinding white surrounding a bowl of deep Pacific blue. Although the temperature remains well below freezing, now is the perfect time to head out with skis or snowshoes and enjoy the particular beauty of a high desert winter.

The forecast is clear for the next few days with a chance for more wintry weather toward the end of the week. Here at the Committee our fingers are crossed for another big storm — after all, more snow means more water for Mono Lake!

A corner of Mono Lake's northwestern shore. Photo by Julia Runcie

How much water do you use every day?

It might be relatively easy to estimate the amount of water you use at home and in your yard, but do you know how much water it takes to grow and produce your dinner from last night? What about to produce the energy you’re using this winter to keep warm? Or the items you bought last weekend at the mall?

National Geographic’s water footprint calculator takes you through an easy survey to estimate your complete water footprint. (more…)

Mono Lake's endemic brine shrimp (Artemia monica).

A few days ago I cross-country skied out to the shoreline to measure Mono Lake’s exact height above sea level, now 6381.99 feet. I knelt down at the water’s edge to admire the still green water, and could hardly believe my eyes.  First one tiny hatchling, then another, then five more full-size brine shrimp sculling in circles on their backs—I counted over twenty in all. (more…)

A summer sunset in the Bodie Hills. Photo courtesy of John Dittli.

The Bodie Hills, one of the nation’s treasures located just north of Mono Lake, contain outstanding natural and cultural values that deserve special protection. Now a gold mining company wants to reopen the Bodie Hills to mining, with a presentation to the Mono County Board of Supervisors scheduled for February 15. Letters from concerned members of the public can make a big difference; details are available from The Bodie Hills Conservation Partnership.
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If you went on a Friday morning bird walk last summer, you most-likely met Birding Intern Nick Neely. Among Neely’s many accolades, being a writer for High Country News’ “Writers on the Range” series, is one. His recent article, “Alien life, it turns out, is much closer than Mars” deftly weaves the story of the discovery of GFAJ-1 with its home turf at Mono Lake. I highly recommend giving his article a read.

Each year the Mono Lake Committee supports local students pursuing higher education who display a personal connection with Mono Lake and the Mono Lake story with two $1,000 scholarships. Mono County resident high school seniors who have firm plans to attend a two- or four-year college within a year of graduation qualify. Students must write an essay to qualify.

If you are interested in applying, you can find the application here. The application deadline is 5:00pm Wednesday May 11, 2011.

If you would like to read the essays of past (more…)