Comments on: A Mono Lake anniversary
http://www.monolake.org/today/2012/09/28/a-mono-lake-anniversary/
A refreshing collection of all things Mono Lake brought to you by the Mono Lake Committee staffMon, 21 Jan 2013 11:23:44 +0000http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1By: Larry Holt
http://www.monolake.org/today/2012/09/28/a-mono-lake-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-1257
Larry HoltFri, 12 Oct 2012 00:34:55 +0000http://www.monolake.org/today/?p=9643#comment-1257We first started visiting Lee Vining just before Decision 1631 came out. At the time the attitude seemed to be "yeah - we won - now the lake will jump back to 6392 in no time flat!" Clearly nature has spoken and we are 10-ish feet away from the goal. My concern for the upcoming 2014 review of the decision is that DWP will fire up their PR fog machine and go back to the "not now, not ever, and litigate forever" mentality. I am afraid that we all have to be ready for a big fight. It will take the time, talents, and treasure of everyone to preserve the goals of 1631and to make the changes necessary to achieve those goals.
I am delighted for what has been accomplished so far but fear another Storm Over Mono.We first started visiting Lee Vining just before Decision 1631 came out. At the time the attitude seemed to be “yeah – we won – now the lake will jump back to 6392 in no time flat!” Clearly nature has spoken and we are 10-ish feet away from the goal. My concern for the upcoming 2014 review of the decision is that DWP will fire up their PR fog machine and go back to the “not now, not ever, and litigate forever” mentality. I am afraid that we all have to be ready for a big fight. It will take the time, talents, and treasure of everyone to preserve the goals of 1631and to make the changes necessary to achieve those goals.
I am delighted for what has been accomplished so far but fear another Storm Over Mono.
]]>By: Greg, Information & Restoration Specialist
http://www.monolake.org/today/2012/09/28/a-mono-lake-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-1252
Greg, Information & Restoration SpecialistSat, 29 Sep 2012 01:20:47 +0000http://www.monolake.org/today/?p=9643#comment-1252Thanks Adrian for your insightful comments. We have been tracking this, especially over the last two years since Great Basin produced its <a href="http://www.monobasinresearch.org/images/monorfp2010.pdf" rel="nofollow">2010 PM10 SIP update</a> asking similar questions. Up until 6 months ago, there was still a chance that with a repeat of early 1980s hydrology, the lake would reach 6391 (the post-transition trigger level) by September 28, 2014. The dry year of 2012 guarantees (based on historical hydrology) that will not happen. As a result, we are now assuming there will be a hearing in two years on the need for reducing or eliminating exports in order to raise the lake faster.
As for your point about the Mono Basin not being able to spare any water, the hydrologic modeling used in Decision 1631 appears to have been quite reliable, although no model is perfect. All available evidence shows the lake has not stabilized and will still reach the 6391 trigger, albeit over a longer period of time. Once that level is reached, annual runoff rates (as well as any changes in climate) will have a larger effect on annual exports.Thanks Adrian for your insightful comments. We have been tracking this, especially over the last two years since Great Basin produced its 2010 PM10 SIP update asking similar questions. Up until 6 months ago, there was still a chance that with a repeat of early 1980s hydrology, the lake would reach 6391 (the post-transition trigger level) by September 28, 2014. The dry year of 2012 guarantees (based on historical hydrology) that will not happen. As a result, we are now assuming there will be a hearing in two years on the need for reducing or eliminating exports in order to raise the lake faster.
As for your point about the Mono Basin not being able to spare any water, the hydrologic modeling used in Decision 1631 appears to have been quite reliable, although no model is perfect. All available evidence shows the lake has not stabilized and will still reach the 6391 trigger, albeit over a longer period of time. Once that level is reached, annual runoff rates (as well as any changes in climate) will have a larger effect on annual exports.
]]>By: Adrian Pols
http://www.monolake.org/today/2012/09/28/a-mono-lake-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-1251
Adrian PolsFri, 28 Sep 2012 20:17:01 +0000http://www.monolake.org/today/?p=9643#comment-1251Yes, who'd have thought the lake would be so far...It seems reasonable to say the lake may never reach 6392 under the present scheme; it looks very much as though, after some initial rise, a new equilibrium has been reached. An Endorheic Basin like Mono can't really spare ANY water just as a Pig can't spare any ribs.
My first overnight at Mono was in September of 1994 when I stayed at what was once the "Sky Blue Motel" and enjoyed conversing with the Late Bob Stephan.
As year 20 approaches the time is coming when pressure needs to be brought to bear for reducing diversions by 6-8K acre feet if further rises can be expected and, furthermore, the annual diversions really have to be based on individual annual run-off rates....Yes, who’d have thought the lake would be so far…It seems reasonable to say the lake may never reach 6392 under the present scheme; it looks very much as though, after some initial rise, a new equilibrium has been reached. An Endorheic Basin like Mono can’t really spare ANY water just as a Pig can’t spare any ribs.
My first overnight at Mono was in September of 1994 when I stayed at what was once the “Sky Blue Motel” and enjoyed conversing with the Late Bob Stephan.
As year 20 approaches the time is coming when pressure needs to be brought to bear for reducing diversions by 6-8K acre feet if further rises can be expected and, furthermore, the annual diversions really have to be based on individual annual run-off rates….
]]>By: David Carle
http://www.monolake.org/today/2012/09/28/a-mono-lake-anniversary/comment-page-1/#comment-1250
David CarleFri, 28 Sep 2012 17:04:25 +0000http://www.monolake.org/today/?p=9643#comment-1250We were traveling that day in Yellowstone National Park, but knew it was happening and the moment was in our thoughts. When the bison calves started jumping around like little kids, we figured they were celebrating (wasn't the whole world?) 18 years already! Who'd have thought the lake would still be so far from 6392 feet above sea level.We were traveling that day in Yellowstone National Park, but knew it was happening and the moment was in our thoughts. When the bison calves started jumping around like little kids, we figured they were celebrating (wasn’t the whole world?) 18 years already! Who’d have thought the lake would still be so far from 6392 feet above sea level.
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