Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Great Sierra River Cleanup: September 21, 2013

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Julia Frankenbach, 2013 Canoe Coordinator.

Looking for a new way to enjoy the incredible outdoors of the Eastern Sierra as the crispness of autumn approaches? Why not spend a morning with us enjoying the fresh air and helping to clean up one of the Mono Basin’s beautiful freshwater lakes?

Each year, the Mono Lake Committee helps to clean up an area in the Mono Basin as part of the Great Sierra River Cleanup, a greater Sierra-wide waterway clean-up effort led by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. On Saturday, September 21, we will be leading our clean up at the June Lake Beach.

We will be meeting at 8:30am in the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore, located in Lee Vining at Third Street and Highway 395. You may also meet us at the June Lake Beach at 9:00am. To get to June Lake Beach from the Mammoth area, drive north on Highway 395. After about 10-15 minutes you will see the turn for June Lake on your left-hand side. (If you are coming from the north, drive south on Highway 395 and take the second turn-off for the June Lake Loop.) Once you have made this turn drive for a little under a mile and turn right onto the June Lake Beach Road. Follow this road down to June Lake Beach. Park in the first parking lot on the right-hand side. You will see us there.

Please wear close-toed shoes and layers and bring your own water! Snacks will be provided. Here is a short video about the Cleanup; it provides good information on the need for the Cleanup, what to expect, and how to prepare.

We can’t wait to start cleaning up this heavily-used recreation area at beautiful June Lake, and we’re looking forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions, please contact either Rose or Julia at (760) 647-6595.

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is a California state agency that works to promote the environmental, economic, and social well being of the Sierra Nevada’s land and people. It depends on volunteer organizations to coordinate local clean-ups; the Mono Lake Committee is delighted to be on board for another year!