The Mono Lake Committee’s current storefront remodel project is an exercise in planning, engineering, construction, and … art. Right in there with the deck, shade structures, greywater system, steps, lights, picnic tables, water fountain, and boulders, there is a spot dedicated to what will soon be a ten-foot by ten-foot map of Mono Lake inlaid into the concrete.

In early conversations with the architects the idea for using the outline of the lake in the plans materialized when looking at the space we had available, and it quickly became a signature feature.

You can see the outline of Mono Lake in the aerial view of the remodel.

Years later, with the asphalt torn up, it’s time to turn the idea (more…)

Last week the Mono Basin Visitor Center reopened for the year. Stop by and see their exhibits, visit the bookstore, and enjoy the beautiful view of Mono Lake from the back patio! The Visitor Center is open Thursday–Monday from 9:00am until 4:30pm.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Change is positive, necessary, and good. And change is what we’re about to see out in front of the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore starting tomorrow morning as the storefront remodel gets underway. Are you ready?

For the past few days I’ve been poking around out front taking photos to document what things look like before the remodel, and generally just getting used to the idea that this project, years in the making, is actually going to happen.

The Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore on the morning of March 27, 2012.

Today we took away all of the things we want to keep … the wine barrels for flowers, the river rocks that marked the garden areas, the signs from inside the kiosk out front. Yes, we kept the rocks.

Geoff McQuilkin and Rose Catron saving soil from the old planters before the construction crew arrives.

It’s impossible not to get excited for things like the new deck to welcome people into the store, the seating areas for visitors, the new greywater system, the ADA-accessible lift, and the drinking fountain and water bottle filling station.

A conceptual drawing of the storefront remodel. Drawing courtesy of Siegel & Strain Architects.

There’s a little bit of nostalgia too. I haven’t (more…)

Starting Tuesday, March 27, the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore storefront will begin to look quite different. The next phase of the outdoor remodel includes removing picnic tables, planters, and signs in order to tear up asphalt and prepare the storefront for some exciting new additions!

By mid-summer, we hope to have: an expanded retail space in the form of a patio, a wheelchair lift, amphitheater (more…)

Come on out to the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center next Thursday, March 22 for a fun day of sprucing up the building and grounds in preparation for season opening!

The Mono Basin Visitor Center. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Volunteers are needed starting at 9:00am, and the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association will provide lunch for everyone. Wear work clothes and bring gloves if you’d prefer to do outside clean-up work. Call the Visitor Center at (760) 647-3042 with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!

Read “A fresh heir in Muir country” in today’s Los Angeles Times—the article features Robert Hanna. Robert wears many hats, including that of California state park advocate, board member of the John Muir Association, and oh yes … he’s John Muir’s great-great-grandson.

Robert Hanna, third from left, celebrates the removal of Mono Lake's state park from the closure list on December 1, 2011. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

Robert’s enthusiasm and help was instrumental in getting the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve removed from the park closure list in December. He’s now working with other state parks around California that remain on the list; he says “66 state parks still need all the help they can get.”

Take a look at the article’s accompanying video, which features footage of Mono Lake on a typical windy fall day.

Keep an eye on the Mon0-logue for news about the new John Muir quote T-shirt we’re working on with Robert’s company, Range of Light!

One of the classic Mono Lake Committee history stories starts something like this … in the late 1970s, Mono Lake Committee founder David Gaines toured tirelessly around California with a carousel of slides and a call to help a dying lake—talking to anyone who would listen. Well, you know the rest of the story … so, clearly, it worked. To this day, we meet people who tell the tale of how they learned of the plight of Mono Lake and joined in the effort through one of Gaines’ slideshows. We continue the tradition by  (more…)

Happy holidays from everyone at the Mono Lake Committee!

The Information Center & Bookstore will be closed Christmas day, December 25, 2011 as well as New Year’s day, January 1, 2012.

For Mono Lake weather information, click here. Click here for road closures and conditions.

Hey all you Amazon.com holiday shoppers….

Did you know that by clicking on the shop for Mono Lake link on the Mono Lake Committee’s website, Amazon will donate 5% of your purchase to help the restoration, education, and protection of Mono Lake?

It’s as easy as that! If you are going to do your holiday shopping on Amazon, simply click this link or type “www.shopformonolake.org” into your browser, and it will take you to Amazon. From there, Amazon will track what you buy and give Mono Lake 5% of your total purchase.

When you’re done there, don’t forget to shop the Committee’s online store for all of your Mono Lake Committee logo gear!

As always, thank you for your support and have a wonderful holiday season.

Since the news that The Mono Lake Story film was accepted into the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Bristlecone Media has been hard at work putting together an official trailer to promote the film. We love this beautiful condensed version of the 27-minute film, and we hope it will make everyone want to see more!

Bristlecone Media also put together a snazzy dedicated website for The Mono Lake Story. In a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the filming process you can see a photograph of Jonah Matthewson capturing poconip—the Mono Basin’s unique freezing fog—from a precipice near Conway Summit! Check it out here.