Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (91) Contact Arya
We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2012 Mono Lake Committee Scholarship: Cory Forbes, Natasha McCullough, and Alek McKee of Lee Vining High School, and Cavanagh Gohlich of Coleville High School all wrote essays that won them each $500 to help with their education expenses.
The 2012 Mono Lake Committee Scholarship winners, from the top left: Cory Forbes, Alek McKee, Natasha McCullough, and Cavanagh Gohlich (with Mono Lake Committee Office Director Rosanne Catron).
Students respond to one of these two essay questions: How has Mono Lake or the Mono Basin influenced your life and your choice to go to college? What do you expect to do to change the world for the better with particular regard to solving natural resource issues?
From Cory Forbes’ essay: “The lake is an ever-changing being (more…)
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 by Morgan, Policy CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Morgan, Policy CoordinatorName: Morgan Lindsay Title: Project Specialist About: Morgan works to support the protection and restoration of Mono Lake and its tributary streams in the office and out in the field. She loves doing something different every day, from monitoring the lake's rise and groundwater patterns along the creek's bottomlands to researching policy issues. But after three summers sharing Mono Lake with visitors by canoe, Morgan's favorite job will always be making new friends for the lake. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College with an Environmental Studies degree in Water Science & Policy, there is nowhere Morgan would rather be than the Mono Basin. If she's not out hiking, skiing, or digging in the dirt with the Sierra Bounty CSA, Morgan's probably at rehearsal for the next Eastern Sierra theatrical adventure—eager for any socially acceptable excuse to sport a goatee.See All Posts by Morgan (33) Contact Morgan
Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted a record number of nature enthusiasts who flocked to Lee Vining for the 11th annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua.
Quick, everyone look over here! Photo by Rose Catron.
Two hundred and sixty-three nature appreciators of all ages attended over 80 field trips, workshops, and presentations. There were plenty of walks focused on bird appreciation, but plant, flower, dragonfly, butterfly, mammal, geology, astronomy, photography, art, nature journaling, and story-telling events were also very (more…)
Monday, May 14th, 2012 by Erica, Project SpecialistcloseAuthor: Erica, Project SpecialistName: Erica Tucker Title: Project Specialist About: Erica learned about Mono Lake Committee while attending the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua. She previously taught environmental education in Yosemite National Park and worked as a manager for a San Francisco Bay Area non-profit. During the winter of 2011-2012 she took a birding-focused, 13,000-mile cross country road trip, worked as a milker on a dairy goat farm, and built an 8’ x 16’ tiny house. Erica knows all the good birding spots around Mono Lake and is happy to share them!See All Posts by Erica (9) Contact Erica
It’s that time of year again, when the migratory birds are returning to the Mono Basin. They are singing their hearts out, defending territories, forming pairs, and making nests.
California Gulls build nests on Mono Lake's islands each spring. Photo by Russ Taylor.
We hope that you will be able to join us this season to witness all of this and more on one of our free weekly bird walks. In conjunction with Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve rangers, Mono Lake Committee staff will be leading walks on Friday and Sunday mornings at 8:00am atMono Lake County Park. Meet us there in the parking lot, and bring your binoculars! You never know what we might see in our leisurely two-hour walk as we explore the willows and poplar trees, and view the lakeshore from the boardwalk. No reservations necessary—come one and all!
Monday, April 23rd, 2012 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (91) Contact Arya
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…)
Sunday, April 15th, 2012 by Morgan, Policy CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Morgan, Policy CoordinatorName: Morgan Lindsay Title: Project Specialist About: Morgan works to support the protection and restoration of Mono Lake and its tributary streams in the office and out in the field. She loves doing something different every day, from monitoring the lake's rise and groundwater patterns along the creek's bottomlands to researching policy issues. But after three summers sharing Mono Lake with visitors by canoe, Morgan's favorite job will always be making new friends for the lake. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College with an Environmental Studies degree in Water Science & Policy, there is nowhere Morgan would rather be than the Mono Basin. If she's not out hiking, skiing, or digging in the dirt with the Sierra Bounty CSA, Morgan's probably at rehearsal for the next Eastern Sierra theatrical adventure—eager for any socially acceptable excuse to sport a goatee.See All Posts by Morgan (33) Contact Morgan
Registration opened today for the 11th annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua! Take a look at the program of over 70 events, begin the registration process to see which events are still open, and sign up … you won’t want to miss out. Mono Lake is for the birds—and you too! We hope to see you at the Chautauqua in June.
Yellow-headed Blackbird at Mono Lake. Photo by Ben Winger.
Thursday, April 5th, 2012 by Morgan, Policy CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Morgan, Policy CoordinatorName: Morgan Lindsay Title: Project Specialist About: Morgan works to support the protection and restoration of Mono Lake and its tributary streams in the office and out in the field. She loves doing something different every day, from monitoring the lake's rise and groundwater patterns along the creek's bottomlands to researching policy issues. But after three summers sharing Mono Lake with visitors by canoe, Morgan's favorite job will always be making new friends for the lake. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College with an Environmental Studies degree in Water Science & Policy, there is nowhere Morgan would rather be than the Mono Basin. If she's not out hiking, skiing, or digging in the dirt with the Sierra Bounty CSA, Morgan's probably at rehearsal for the next Eastern Sierra theatrical adventure—eager for any socially acceptable excuse to sport a goatee.See All Posts by Morgan (33) Contact Morgan
Don’t miss your chance to participate in the eleventh annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua on June 15–17. Join us for three full days of fascinating field trips, workshops, and presentations exploring the natural wonders of the Mono Basin. This family-friendly event is open to everyone, and kids under age 12 attend for free.
Wilson's Phalaropes on the wing at South Tufa. Photo courtesy of Marie Read.
Registration opens Sunday, April 15th bright and early at 6:30am so be sure to mark your calendar with that important date. We recommend you take the time to identify your first and (more…)
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 by Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistcloseAuthor: Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistName: Carolyn Weddle Title: Project Specialist About: Graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Policy, Carolyn loves the outdoors and the Eastern Sierra and is known to make forays in the Nevada hills for further exploration. After spending summer 2011 as a Retail Assistant in the Information Center & Bookstore, Carolyn stayed through winter 2012 as a Project Specialist.See All Posts by Carolyn (22) Contact Carolyn
Andrea Mead Lawrence.
Please join the Mono Lake Committee for this year’s Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner. The evening will be one of good food, friends, and inspirational discussion. The dinner will feature a keynote address by Robert Hanna, descendent of John Muir and state park advocate, followed by the presentation of the Andrea Lawrence Award to a local organization for passionate engagement in community and the land.
2012 Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner
When: Friday, April 27, 2012 Time: 5:30pm
Where: Parallax Restaurant, McCoy Station, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
You can reserve your tickets with a $60 donation. Please contact Carolyn Weddle at (760) 647-6595 by Tuesday, April 3 to make your reservation. We hope to see you there!
Monday, March 12th, 2012 by Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistcloseAuthor: Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistName: Carolyn Weddle Title: Project Specialist About: Graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Policy, Carolyn loves the outdoors and the Eastern Sierra and is known to make forays in the Nevada hills for further exploration. After spending summer 2011 as a Retail Assistant in the Information Center & Bookstore, Carolyn stayed through winter 2012 as a Project Specialist.See All Posts by Carolyn (22) Contact Carolyn
Lively discussions followed the premiere of The Mono Lake Story at intermission. Mono Lake Committee Board member Vireo Gaines chatted with festival attendees at the Landmark Theater West Los Angeles. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 by Bartshé, Education DirectorcloseAuthor: Bartshé, Education DirectorName: Bartshé Miller Title: Education Director About: Bartshé directs the Committee's Outdoor Experiences Program, Canoe Program, and Interpretive Programs, and manages the Mono Basin Field Station. He has been an Eastern Sierra resident since 1993.See All Posts by Bartshé (30) Contact Bartshé
Have you heard? Mono Lake is for the birds … the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua planning team is hard at work putting together the eleventh annual weekend. Make sure June 15–17, 2012 is marked on your calendar.
Wilson's Phalaropes in flight at South Tufa. Photo courtesy of Marie Read.
Check out the recent updates to the website, and stay tuned as we add this year’s program and schedule. Remember to get up early to register on Sunday, April 15 since spaces fill so quickly.
Monday, January 23rd, 2012 by Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistcloseAuthor: Carolyn, Former Project SpecialistName: Carolyn Weddle Title: Project Specialist About: Graduated from Humboldt State University with a degree in Environmental Policy, Carolyn loves the outdoors and the Eastern Sierra and is known to make forays in the Nevada hills for further exploration. After spending summer 2011 as a Retail Assistant in the Information Center & Bookstore, Carolyn stayed through winter 2012 as a Project Specialist.See All Posts by Carolyn (22) Contact Carolyn
