Fall 2015 Mono Lake Newsletter now available online

This fall, more than others, it feels as if the Mono Basin is full-speed hurling itself toward home base, and the promise of winter. On the surface, it looks a lot like another spectacular fall—trees ablaze in vibrant color along waterways, deliciously crisp morning air, and countless Eared Grebes dotting the glassy surface of Mono Lake. But we’ve been keeping a close eye on the lake, streams, and reservoirs—they’re shrinking, and there just isn’t a whole lot of buffer left.

It’s really tempting to think that El Niño is going to kick in with a doozy of a winter and everything will be fine. Our models tell us that there is about a 50/50 chance of El Niño turning out favorably enough in this watershed to keep Mono Lake above the point identified by the State Water Board when all water diversions must stop. We also know that just one big winter can’t undo over five feet of elevation loss from the past four years.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t have things to celebrate.

The progress the Mono Lake Committee has made for Mono Lake can’t solely be measured in lake levels. Years of diligent protection, restoration, education, and science have staved off a much, much worse fate, and have created the buffer that got us to what is hopefully the drought home stretch we’re in right now. The Committee’s 16,000 members have made sure that even in this record-setting drought we are able to cross home plate this year and hear the umpire yell “Safe!”

Every point the Mono Basin gains will eventually add up to a win for Mono Lake if we stay vigilant. So, I say, get out there and celebrate these victories in the beautiful, crunchy, golden, light of fall—and don’t forget to throw this issue of the Mono Lake Newsletter into the picnic basket.