Friday, June 10th, 2011 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 (105) Contact Geoffrey
Reporter Lance Williams at California Watch posted a story today on the planned year-end closure of the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. Check it out:
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 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 (105) Contact Geoffrey
An article out today reports:
… a basic pact between parks and the public—the idea that parks will be easily accessible and affordable, and safeguarded by the state—is at risk.
Friday, May 20th, 2011 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 (105) Contact Geoffrey
The Mono Lake Reserve is on the list of 70 California State Parks announced for closure on May 13.
It doesn’t make any sense.
Closure of the Mono Lake Reserve will produce no actual dollar savings for the state and will damage the tourism-based economy of Mono County, jeopardize the ecological resources of Mono Lake, and shut down the Reserve’s substantial volunteer and private funding support programs.
Plus, the Reserve is not suitable for closure under legal criteria set forth this year by the legislature.
Monday, May 16th, 2011 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 (105) Contact Geoffrey
Friday’s announcement of the proposed closure of 25% of the California State Park system includes Mono Lake and is raising a lot of concern—and a lot of questions. More news to come soon. For the moment here’s a full list of the parks slated for closure in that announcement:
Park Closure List
Mono Lake Tufa SNR (!!)
Anderson Marsh SHP
Annadel SP
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Austin Creek SRA
Bale Grist Mill SHP (more…)
Saturday, May 14th, 2011 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
As one of the most popular state services, in recent years California’s state parks have been used as pawns in political budget games, but Friday’s shutdown announcement marks the first time in California’s history that
Mono Lake's state park hosted a NASA and Jet Propulsion Lab team last year for field testing of a Mars rover prototype. Closure of the park would shut down scientific research---and lose permitting fees for the state.
Friday, May 13th, 2011 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
The Sacramento Bee reported this afternoon that Mono Lake’s state park is proposed to be closed along with 25% of the California State Park system. It makes no sense, economic or otherwise, to close the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve and action by Mono Lake friends will be critical to reversing this plan. More details will be posted shortly.
“We regret closing any park,” Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks, said in a statement. “But with the (more…)
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 by Julia, Mono Lake InterncloseAuthor: Julia, Mono Lake InternName: Julia Runcie Title: Mono Lake Intern About: As a native of the diminutive Green Mountains, Julia is completely in awe of the Sierra but has to admit she sometimes misses real maple syrup. After her 2010 summer internship she stayed through the winter as a Project Specialist, and is now a Mono Lake Intern for her second summer. In her free time, Julia loves to hike, cook, write, and uproot invasive weeds.See All Posts by Julia (42) Contact Julia
The Mono Lake Committee was joined last Friday evening by a wonderful group of Andrea Lawrence’s family, friends, and supporters at the first annual Andrea Lawrence Award Dinner.
The gathering was held at McCoy Station on Mammoth Mountain, where guests had a spectacular sunset view of the landscape Andrea deeply loved. Ron Nichols, new General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, spoke to a packed house (more…)
Thursday, April 14th, 2011 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 (105) Contact Geoffrey
California’s dire state budget situation continues, and closures and service reductions in the state park system are almost certain. But what cuts, and where? That remains unknown. The Mono Lake Committee is developing an analysis of whether the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve qualifies for closure (stay tuned for details) and is following the issue closely.
Reporter Paul Rogers looks into the issue further in this recent article:
Monday, March 21st, 2011 by Lisa, Eastern Sierra Policy DirectorcloseAuthor: Lisa, Eastern Sierra Policy DirectorName: Lisa Cutting Title: Eastern Sierra Policy Director About: Lisa concentrates on the Mono Basin's policy issues such as protecting the integrity of the Scenic Area, coordinating with regional agency staff, and working with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and scientists on the ongoing restoration of Mono Lake and its tributary streams. Lisa uses sleuthing-out good fly fishing spots as another excuse for hiking, and it's always a treat when her happy golden retriever Abbey comes to visit the office!See All Posts by Lisa (6) Contact Lisa
Even if you can’t be there in person, you can help by sending a quick letter of support to this email address, and copy in your legislator. These letters will be delivered along with the message that our 278 state parks in California are a resource to be protected, preserved, and funded.
Yes, the California state budget crisis poses challenges, but big challenges require creative solutions. Awareness of the importance of our state parks is a fundamental message that legislators will hear tomorrow from our Park Advocacy Day representatives. Let’s help them deliver the message by adding our voice to theirs!
Friday, February 25th, 2011 by Lisa, Eastern Sierra Policy DirectorcloseAuthor: Lisa, Eastern Sierra Policy DirectorName: Lisa Cutting Title: Eastern Sierra Policy Director About: Lisa concentrates on the Mono Basin's policy issues such as protecting the integrity of the Scenic Area, coordinating with regional agency staff, and working with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and scientists on the ongoing restoration of Mono Lake and its tributary streams. Lisa uses sleuthing-out good fly fishing spots as another excuse for hiking, and it's always a treat when her happy golden retriever Abbey comes to visit the office!See All Posts by Lisa (6) Contact Lisa
Today we’re asking for your help. We need you to call or email Buck McKeon today related to an upcoming vote that could affect Mono Lake and many of our favorite places in the Eastern Sierra.
The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps program (SNAP) is in jeopardy of becoming the next victim of Congressional budget cuts. This proposed budget measure will immediately eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Services and all its programs, which includes the AmeriCorps program.
Reporter Lance Williams at California Watch posted a story today on the planned year-end closure of the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. Check it out:
