Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has announced a public meeting to discuss concepts for building large scale solar power generation facilities in the Eastern Sierra. The meeting will be held in Bishop on Monday, January 11, at 7 pm at the United Methodist Church.
The Committee has been tracking this concept very closely as it has a number of major implications for the future management of the city’s lands and water resources throughout the Eastern Sierra.
I’ll be attending the Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) open house Thursday January 7 from 4-6pm in advance of the LADWP presentation and urge anyone interested to do so as well. It will be a good opportunity to share information and ideas. The details of the ESLT event are available here.
Pieces of the proposal have been reported on here:
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
Mono Lake’s Spirochaeta americana is on Cosmos Magazine’s list of eight “impressive examples of life lived at the extreme.” Have a look and enjoy exploring the rest of the roster!
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<td><a href=”http://www.monolake.org”><img src=”http://longlive.monolake.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/18299.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Wishing you and your family a joyous and peaceful holiday season and a happy New Year. Lake level gauge with ice” width=”600″ /></a></td>
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<td width=”100%” height=”25″ bgcolor=”#660000″ align=”center” style=”background-color: #660000; border-collapse:collapse; font-size: 90%; font-family: ‘Century Gothic’; color: #ffffff;”>Wishing you and your family
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<td><a href=”http://www.monolake.org/”><img src=”http://longlive.monolake.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/18296.jpg” alt=”Broomball in the Mono Basin” border=”0″ width=”600″ height=”160″ /></a></td>
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<td width=”100%” height=”25″ bgcolor=”#660000″ align=”center” style=”background-color: #660000; border-collapse:collapse; font-size: 90%; font-family: ‘Century Gothic’; color: #ffffff;”>a joyous and peaceful holiday season</td>
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<td><a href=”http://www.monolake.org/”><img src=”http://longlive.monolake.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/18295.jpg” alt=”Glassy winter Mono Lake” border=”0″ width=”600″ height=”159″ /></a></td>
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<td width=”100%” height=”25″ bgcolor=”#660000″ align=”center” style=”background-color: #660000; border-collapse:collapse; font-size: 90%; font-family: ‘Century Gothic’; color: #ffffff;”>and a happy New Year</td>
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<td><a href=”http://www.monolake.org/”><img src=”http://longlive.monolake.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/18303.jpg” alt=”Snowy storefront” border=”0″ width=”600″ height=”159″ /></a></td>
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<td height=”25″ bgcolor=”#660000″ align=”center” style=”background-color: #660000; border-collapse:collapse; font-size: 90%; font-family: ‘Century Gothic’; color: #ffffff;”>from the Mono Lake Committee</td>
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<br>
Your support keeps Mono Lake rising
and all the Committee’s <br />
protection, restoration, and education programs vibrant. <br>
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As 2009 comes to an end <br>
we’d greatly appreciate your tax-deductible year-end donation.<br>
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In exchange, we’ll put your gift toward our work
to achieve the maximum benefit <br>
for Mono Lake, its tributaries, and surrounding lands
in 2010. <br>
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Plus year-end donations earn matching funds for the Committee and can qualify you for a Mono Lake Calendar, notecards, or unique artwork.<br>
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Long Live Mono Lake!
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To contact us, hit reply now, call, email us at <A title=”E-mail monolakecommit...@monolake.org” style=”FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: #4F6AAC; font-family: ‘Century Gothic’; TEXT-DECORATION: underline” href=”mailto:monolakecommit...@monolake.org”>monolakecommit...@monolake.org</A>,
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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
The Los Angeles Times is running a great profile of Eastern Sierra bird experts extraordinaire Tom and Jo Heindel! Read it here:
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
Governor Schwarzenegger is now promising that far fewer than 100 state parks will be closed.
While not a guarantee for the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve or Bodie State Historical Park, park supporters are now breathing a little easier.
Representatives for the Governor stepped away from the closure plan yesterday after (more…)
Thursday, September 17th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
The release of the list of 100 state parks slated for closure, originally scheduled for this week, has been delayed. It’s not much of a surprise to learn that assembling the list is no easy task!
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
If you’re in the Mono Lake area in the next few days, it’s worth your time to make a visit to Ellery Lake, up on Tioga Pass. The lake has been drawn down to a very low level because Southern California Edison is conducting maintenance on the hydropower intake structure. The result? Some lakebed surprises. (more…)
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
Dawn at the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, September 15, with State Parks trail construction equipment.
Day by day we await the list of state park closures developed in response to severe budget cuts and forecast to contain 100 parks. Will Mono Lake be on the list?
Yet the natural rhythms of Mono Lake continue. The sun rises, crisp fall weather returns, the phalaropes skim the lake’s surface, plentiful Eared Grebes dine on brine shrimp.
The State Park trail crew continues to make progress on the new public Mono Lake trail at Old Marina, a remarkable rehabilitation that is already popular with visitors. The trail and boardwalk are wheelchair accessible and will be among the longest such trails int he State Park system.
The rebuilt Gaines Boardwalk, part of the State Reserve, leads toward Mono Lake at sunrise. Photos by Geoff McQuilkin.
Mono Lake is more popular than ever with both birds and people. Twice the size of San Francisco, unmatched in the state in ecological productivity, a foundation of the tourism economy of Lee Vining, designated by the legislature 27 years ago as a unique site worthy of state park protection, doesn’t closing the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve seem just a tad shortsighted?
Monday, September 14th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
We’re still awaiting the park closure list scheduled for release this week. Today, the Mercury News is running an article that looks at the big picture of closing parks and the lack of vision it represents for California.
Friday, September 4th, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
Supporters of Mono Lake and Bodie know the park closure saga we went through earlier this year as the California budget negotiations threatened almost all state parks with closure. (You can read more in our action alert center).
Well, get ready for a second round. The budget for (more…)
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (57) Contact Geoffrey
The Sacramento Bee points out the many problems, and a few solutions, to the State Parks budget woes:
For starters, the park closures would save only $14 million, or one-twentieth of 1 percent of the $26 billion shortfall the entire budget plan sought to solve. For that relatively tiny amount of money, the state is going to go through, and cause, a tremendous amount of heartache.