#1: The Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve is open!

December 31st, 2011 by Arya, Communications Director

By now I’m sure you’ve guessed it … our #1 highlight for Mono Lake in 2011 was getting the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve removed from California’s state park closure list. It was, first and foremost, a group effort—with Mono Lake Committee members playing a key role in writing and signing thousands of letters and petitions that got the attention of key decision-makers in Sacramento as they were hand-delivered to their offices each week. Finding creative solutions (the working mantra of the Mono Lake Committee) played a key role in the effort, and we are enthusiastic about The Bodie Foundation stepping up to implement the collection of a small parking fee at Old Marina that will go directly to keeping the park open.

Simply put, this sort of thing is why the Mono Lake Committee is here, working for Mono Lake day in and day out. It also highlights why it is so important to have a grassroots organization 16,000 members strong dedicated to the ongoing protection and restoration of Mono Lake.

The list of people to thank for this victory is much too long for The Mono-logue, so we’ll just say a universal “Thank you!” And then, we’ll say … come visit! It is, without a doubt, the best way to celebrate.

Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve supporters at the Reserve Boardwalk below County Park in June 2011. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Eight-year-old state park advocate Jessamine Turner shows off the many petition signatures she gathered with the help of grandparents Debbie Lurie and Gary Nelson. Photo by Morgan Lindsay.

Mono Lake Committee Sacramento Policy Associate (and dedicated deliverer of your letters) Betsy Reifsnider with parks advocate (and the great-great-grandson of John Muir) Robert Hanna at a Save Our State Parks rally in Sacramento. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

The press release announcing the removal of the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve from the closure list came during a power outtage in Lee Vining, but we managed to get the word out! Photo by Arya Degenhardt.